Big 12 Champion Kansas, the Southwest Region's No. 1 seed, will meet the Big Ten's Illinois Fighting Illini tonight at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This evening's contest is scheduled to get underway at 8:40pm ET on TNT. The latest College Basketball Lines have the Jayhawks, a +500 moneyline play to win the National Championship, listed as a -8.5 against the spread college basketball picks favorite; the Over/Under is set at 144.5.
Illinois' NCAA Tournament credentials were somewhat suspect, given the team's 19-13 record and .500 mark in Big Ten 
play, but the Illini proved they belonged in the field of 68 on Friday by whipping UNLV 73-62.
Illinois' offense was hitting on all cylinders against the Rebels as it finished the game 28-of-47 from the field and 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. The victory, the Illini's first in the NCAA's since beating Air Force in 2006, saw Mike Davis drop in a game high 22 points while Demetri McCamey tallied 17. Davis also produced nine boards and five assists.
Illinois, which is meeting its old coach Bill Self for the first time, is 2-2 in four meetings with the Jayhawks; however, the two shcools have not played since 2002 when Roy Williams' Kansas squad ousted Self's Illini in the NCAA Tournament's regional semifinals.
Kansas got past a Northern Iowa demon on Friday with a 72-53 win against Boston University, but the entity will not be fully exercised unless the Jayhawks can defeat Illinois this evening.
Kansas certainly has the tools to do that, but then again, it had more than enough firepower to eradicate UNI in last year's second round. This version of the Jayhawks seems to be more focused, though, at least they were in the second half against the Terriers the other night.
Kansas, which has reeled off nine consecutive wins, outscored BU 39-24 in the second frame after heading into the break up just four points. Sharp shooting on the part of Markieff and Marcus Morris, who combined for 31 points (12-of-23 FG) and 17 rebounds, as well as Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed (a combined 5-of-8 from three point range) allowed Self's troops to cruise to the finish line with relative ease.
Kansas should pick up tonight where it left off on Friday as it beats Illinois by double digits.
Illinois vs Kansas 2011 NCAA Bracket Predictions:
Illinois Fighting Illini +8.5 (-110), Over 144.5 (-110), +375 (Moneyline)
Kansas Jayhawks -8.5 (-110), Under 144.5 (-110), -400 (Moneyline)
