#7 Illinois vs #2 Vanderbilt Picks for NCAAW Tournament

• Illinois and Vanderbilt battle for a spot in the Sweet 16
• Vanderbilt is a perfect 17-0 at home
• Keep reading for my Illinois vs Vanderbilt picks

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Two non-traditional basketball powers look to advance to the Sweet 16 as the #7 Illinois Fighting Illini (22-11) face the #2 Vanderbilt Commodores (28-4) in Nashville. The Memorial Gymnasium will host the clash at 7:00 pm ET on Monday, March 23. ESPN2 will carry the broadcast.

Continue reading for my Illinois vs Vanderbilt picks in addition to the odds for this game. I have also provided a brief history of both teams’ March Madness performances as well as the odds for Monday night’s game.

Illinois vs Vanderbilt Picks

• Illinois +12.5 (-105, BetMGM)

Fading the favorite in women’s March Madness is often a fool’s errand, but few teams in the country can score as Illinois can. Illinois is just outside the top-20 in points per game and offensive rating. The Fighting Illini have five double-digit scorers on average, led by Berry Wallace. Wallace averaged over 18 points per game with good efficiency. She scored 18 against Colorado in the First Round.

Keep an eye on Illinois’ free-throw shooting. Out of 363 Division I schools, only Rice shot a better percentage from the line than the Fighting Illini did.

While I do not expect Illinois to win, I think they have the offense to keep up with Vanderbilt.

• Over 151.5 (-110, Caesars)

Both teams have elite offenses. Vanderbilt has the nation’s leading scorer in Mikayla Blakes (867 points, 27.1 PPG). Both teams are elite shooting squads, both from three and the free-throw line. Additionally, neither team resembles the 2004 Detroit Pistons on the defensive end. Points should come easily for both sides.

In 32 games this season, Blakes has topped 30 points 13 times, including Saturday versus High Point. In the last 11 games, she has 10 games with 29 or more points, only missing the mark with 24 points in Vandy’s loss in the SEC Tournament.

Illinois vs Vanderbilt Odds

Vanderbilt is a big home favorite tonight. Vanderbilt bettors should take the Commodores at -800 on the moneyline at FanDuel or -12.5 ATS at FanDuel (-110). Illinois bettors should take the Fighting Illini at +650 on the moneyline at Caesars or +12.5 ATS at BetMGM (-105 odds).

The total is set between 151.5 and 152.5 points. Over bettors should take over 151.5 points at Caesars for -110 odds. Under bettors should take under 152.5 points at DraftKings for -110 odds.

Illinois vs Vanderbilt H2H Stats

Illinois vs Vanderbilt History

This will be the first Illinois vs Vanderbilt matchup in postseason history. The schools last played in 1987 with Illinois pulling out a narrow win at home. The only other matchup was an overtime clash in Nashville, with the Commodores pulling out a 83-75 win.

Historic Tournament Performances

While neither team could remotely be considered a “Blue Blood,” both Illinois and Vanderbilt have solid performances to their names in previous tournaments.

Illinois

Illinois is in its 11th March Madness. The Fighting Illini had a solid run in the late ’90s, making two Sweet 16s, but they went on a tournament winning drought from 2001 to 2024, going 0-2 overall. Illinois broke the streak last year, winning a game as an 8 seed. A win would give Illinois its best tourney performance since 1998.

Vanderbilt

This is Vanderbilt’s 30th trip to March Madness. The Commodores have 14 Sweet 16s, five Elite 8s, and one Final Four in their history. The school’s best run was from 1990 to 1997 in which Vanderbilt made eight straight Sweet 16s, including a trip to the Final Four in 1993. However, Vandy has not made a Sweet 16 since 2009 or an Elite Eight since 2002.

Vanderbilt’s billing as a No. 2 seed is the school’s best since 2004.