Illinois vs. Kentucky Prediction: Illinois Predicted to Win March Madness Second Round Matchup [3/23/2025]

Kentucky will take on Illinois in March Madness Second Round action at Fiserv Forum on Sunday, beginning at 5:30PM ET.

Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced college basketball model (see Dimers Pro for full access) predicts Illinois as the most likely winner of today's game.

Check the latest March Madness bracket projections and 2025 NCAA Championship probabilities from our expert team.

"Using the most recent data, our experts ran 10,000 simulations of Sunday's Illinois-Kentucky game," said Dimers' Chief Content Officer, Nick Slade.

"After accounting for recent updates and other variables, our prediction shows Illinois with a win probability of 56%, while Kentucky has 44%."

For a closer look at Sunday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks, visit our interactive Illinois vs. Kentucky predictions page.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Sign up to Dimers Pro with code MARCH today to enjoy a full month for the price of just one week!

Get Your First Month For the Price of 1 Week with Promo Code MARCH

Get Dimers Pro

Illinois vs. Kentucky Prediction: Who Will Win and Advance to the Sweet Sixteen?

Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Sunday's NCAA Tournament matchup between Illinois and Kentucky 10,000 times as part of our March Madness predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model currently gives Illinois a 56% chance of defeating Kentucky. Our predicted final score has Illinois winning 82-81.

According to our model, Kentucky (+2.5) has a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 167.5 points has a 52% chance of staying under.

Illinois vs. Kentucky March Madness Odds

We have researched the best March Madness odds in America for this Second Round game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Boost your betting this month with the top March Madness betting sites and March Madness betting promos, sourced from top sportsbooks and DFS operators.

Illinois vs. Kentucky Picks and Best Bets

Our model's strongest edge in today's Illinois vs. Kentucky matchup is on the spread.

Our expert predictions, aligned with the latest odds, reveal the best March Madness picks and March Madness best bets for every game throughout the tournament.

Unlimited access to our full suite of picks, including this one, is available via Dimers Pro.

Unlock Every Illinois-Kentucky Pick

Get Dimers Pro

Illinois vs. Kentucky Game-Day Updates and Essential Details

Sunday's college basketball matchup between Kentucky and Illinois at Fiserv Forum is scheduled to commence at 5:30PM ET.

• Who: Illinois vs. Kentucky
• Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
• Time: 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT
• Venue: Fiserv Forum
• March Madness Stage: Second Round

Dimers.com's comprehensive preview of Sunday's Illinois vs. Kentucky matchup includes our prediction, picks and the latest betting odds.

Before making any Illinois vs. Kentucky picks, be sure to check out the latest March Madness predictions and betting advice from Dimers Pro.

Key March Madness Guides and Insights

• Learn about NCAA Championship history and the lowest-seeded team to ever win March Madness
• Get answers to legal questions, including which states you can legally bet on college sports and the minimum age required to place a bet on March Madness
• A breakdown of March Madness futures bets and popular prop bets for the NCAA tournament
• Explore strategy with guides on identifying value bets during the tournament and betting on individual player awards like Tournament MVP
• Understand the tournament format, including how many games are played in March Madness and how venue locations impact teams when playing at neutral sites

Conclusion

We predict Illinois, with a 56% win probability, will likely beat Kentucky on Sunday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Illinois vs. Kentucky insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Note: Clicking links to our partners may earn us a referral fee. Learn about how we review products and services.

More on College Basketball

Stay up-to-date with the latest college basketball predictions, college basketball betting news and NCAA Tournament parlay picks throughout the tournament. Plus, our NCAA Tournament Championship odds provide the latest probabilities for every March Madness contender.