From the booth

Illinois is heavily favored in this one, sitting at 96 percent win probability, and you can see why when you look at the numbers. The Illini have the Vegas sharps backing them with a 28 and a half point spread, and that betting market consensus is right there with the model too. Now UAB's got a little something on offense looking at the last five games, but Illinois's defense has been stout enough to keep this from being anything but a coronation. This is Illinois's game to lose, plain and simple.