Elite Eight picks: Will Arizona, Illinois cruise to Final Four?

Soon, there will be eight. Although this NCAA Tournament has already produced more games decided by 20 or more points than any before it, we've also had our fair share of thrilling finishes, which should continue as intriguing quarterfinals matchups await. We've got you covered with a pick for all four Elite Eight contests (check back for Sunday's picks after the remaining matchups are finalized).

🏀 Who's headed to the Final Four? Bet on it with theScore Bet here

Saturday's slate

🏀 Pick: Arizona -6.5

Arizona is an unstoppable force defying everything we know about modern basketball. The formula for most teams these days is to deploy shooters and fire a ton of threes. The Wildcats have gone in the other direction, recording the lowest 3-point rate among power conference teams. So, how do they own the fourth-best offense? By dominating inside and relentlessly crashing the offensive boards to create extra scoring chances. Not a single team in the country is equipped to deal with Arizona's size and rebounding prowess; Purdue certainly isn't.

As prolific as Purdue's offense is, the Boilermakers barely - and I mean barely - snuck past Texas and struggled versus Miami in the Round of 32. Arizona, meanwhile, has the sport's third-best defense and has won all three of its tournament games convincingly. Purdue doesn't have the athleticism to keep the Wildcats off the glass, which is key to staying in games against them. The Boilermakers' lucky run will end Saturday night, while Arizona's inevitable journey will continue on to the Final Four. - Oshtry

🏀 Pick: Illinois team total over 73.5

This line is discounted on account of Illinois' elite offense having an off night against Houston. The Fighting Illini shot just 43% but still scored 65 points and now get a better matchup versus Iowa.

The Hawkeyes rank 166th in opponent 3-point field-goal percentage, which is where the Illini thrive. They attempt the ninth-most shots from deep among all D-I programs, thanks in large part to sharpshooters Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic. They also average 84.2 points and rank second in KenPom's offensive efficiency metric. But Illinois' biggest advantage is on the glass, where the team is ninth in offensive rebounding; Iowa is 355th. The Illini should have plenty of opportunities for second-chance points Saturday.

Everyone knows the Hawkeyes like to slow the game down, but that approach fits into the strengths of the Illini, who rank 325th in tempo. Illinois scored 75 points when these teams met in January, and I expect its offense to bounce back in the Elite Eight. - Deeg

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