Illinois State vs. Auburn Picks and Predictions: NIT Semifinals
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Thu Apr 02, 2026, 11:55 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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The later NIT Semifinal features a team from the Missouri Valley Conference and one from the SEC. Now the Power Five representative, the Auburn Tigers, barely missed out on making the Big Dance. But good for them for trying hard during this consolation tournament, making it all the way to the Final Four. However, the Redbirds of Illinois State also have their sights set on making the NIT Championship, and they won't make it easy on Steven Pearl's team. Check out our picks below to see how our CBB experts are wagering on this game.
Check out our March Madness Betting Guide to get in on all the action this month!
Best Bet: Illinois State/Auburn Over 149.5 (-113) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
Illinois State Redbirds vs. Auburn Tigers NCAA Basketball Insights
Late night hoops at Hinkle.https://t.co/kh9h2RDkEv pic.twitter.com/JGn5w6lUgJ
— Illinois State Men's Basketball (@Redbird_MBB) April 2, 2026
After losing in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals, the Redbirds have been putting on a show. They took down Kent State at home, and followed it up with wins over Wake Forest and Dayton on the road. Now they are just one more win away from the NIT Championship. Auburn has been sitting at home, making light work of their opponents.
After losing to Tennessee in the second round of the SEC Tournament, Auburn has now beaten South Alabama, Seattle and Nevada, all at Neville Arena. Will things change on a neutral court against a team who has more recent experience playing away from home? Let's look at the odds and make our picks.
Matchup Information – Illinois State vs. Auburn – April 2
- Venue & Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
- Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
- Tip Off: 9:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Illinois State vs. Auburn Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of April 2, 2026 at 11:39 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Illinois State +7.5 (-114)
- Auburn -7.5 (-106)
Moneyline
- Illinois State +255
- Auburn -330
Total
- Over 149.5 (-113)
- Under 149.5 (-107)
Illinois State vs. Auburn NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Can the Auburn Tigers advance to the NIT Championship with a win over Illinois State tonight?
Illinois State vs. Auburn Prediction: Auburn Wins, Illinois State Covers, Over 149.5
Best Bet: Illinois State/Auburn Over 149.5 (-113) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
While neither team is blistering fast, Auburn has actually jumped up 30 spots in terms of possessions per game over their last 10 contests, meaning they are playing quicker and creating more offensive opportunities. They have a great offense, but a not so great defense that could hurt them tonight. This team struggles to defend the perimeter, and that could lead to their downfall.
Illinois State is already ranked No. 106 in the country in terms of the 3P Rate, but over their last 10 games, they jump into the top 40. This Redbirds team used to take about 43% of their shots from downtown, but now that number is above 48% over their last 10. They are shooting more from deep, doing so well, and face a very bad perimeter defense tonight.
The Tigers are bottom 25 in the country in terms of opponent 3P%, and I see Illinois State taking advantage. Add in the fact that we should see at least 70 possessions for both teams, and we should get plenty of points from both sides.
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Check Out the Other March Madness Content from Betting News
For college basketball bettors, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year. And at Betting News, we have you covered for this festively fun season with expert picks throughout the tournament from Nate Hornung and Eddie Griffin, consensus picks for every March Madness game from the First Four to the Final Four, a rundown of the best March Madness betting sites, and more.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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