UCF rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit last time out to beat the Redbirds as B.J. Taylor sunk a pair of free throws with one second remaining. It was a dramatic win to keep the Knights’ season alive and paid off well for those who backed them on the moneyline.
Illinois used a big second half to rout Boise State in its second round affair. The Fighting Illini have to play this game on the road because of a scheduling conflict but have the stronger body of work so they may be favored in this matchup.
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College Basketball Odds
UCF is 23-11 straight up and 16-13 against the spread on the season. The Knights have played in 12 home games on the season and have covered in seven of them. UCF is 9-5 against the spread as the underdog on the season.
Illinois is 20-14 straight up and 17-16 against the spread. The Fighting Illini has played in nine road games on the season and has covered in only three of them. Illinois is 10-6 against the spread as the favorite on the year. Illinois wasn’t great in the Big Ten but has fared better against some lower competition in the NIT.
Last Time Out
Illinois trailed by a point to Boise State at halftime in the second round but played well down the stretch to eventually turn the game into a blowout. The Fighting Illini shot 41 percent from three-point range in the game, which was huge as they pulled away.
Tracy Abrams led the way with 18 points and Illinois had four different starters in double figures in the win.
UCF needed to play really well in the second half against Illinois State and did so, coming back from a double digit deficit. The Knights trailed by five points with five minutes remaining and by one with four seconds left before coming away with the slim victory.
The Knights didn’t buckle under the pressure and hope to use that experience to their benefit if this one is close with a berth in the NIT semifinals on the line.
Player to Watch
Taylor -- The hero of the second round game, the UCF star will aim to have another huge impact on this game. He is averaging 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game on the season.
Taylor is a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Orlando is shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point land. He had 22 points and five assists in the upset of Illinois State, including the clutch free throws, and had 26 points, four assists and three rebounds in a win over Colorado in the opening round.
The Knights have played well in the NIT in large part because their star guard has stepped up. Taylor is a tough cover and if he has a big game it could bode well for the team’s chances of advancing to the semifinals.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Central Florida came away with a nice win, but beating another Illinois school will be too tough. The Fighting Illini couldn’t consistently knock off some solid Big Ten foes but get an easier time of it here in the NIT.
They are a top seed for a reason after coming up with some nice wins during the regular season, and despite hitting the road should feel confident. The Fighting Illini should both win and cover the spread in this one as UCF won’t be able to score enough to hang around.
College Basketball Odds: Illinois 70, Central Florida 63
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