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As the Wake Forest Demon Deacons prepare to host the Illinois State Redbirds on March 22, 2026, fans can expect an engaging matchup in the NIT tournament. Both teams come into the contest with a similar form, with each side winning 3 of their last 5 matches. This parity sets the stage for an intriguing battle on the court.
Wake Forest exhibits a strong home-court advantage, reflected in the bookmakers’ odds that favor them at 1.31. Their recent performances indicate a balanced offensive approach, complemented by solid defensive schemes. Expect them to leverage their depth and tempo to apply pressure against the Redbirds.
On the other hand, Illinois State, with odds at 3.32, enters the game with a resilient mindset. They have demonstrated an ability to adapt their game plan successfully, focusing on creating open shots and maximizing their scoring opportunities. This will be essential as they aim to counter Wake Forest’s strengths.
With a predicted final score of 79:71 in favor of Wake Forest, the model suggests a probability of 65.2% for a home win. However, given both teams’ recent form and tactical capabilities, the contest promises to be competitive, making it difficult to guarantee a clear outcome.
This preview is generated with the Welcome.Bet AI Insights Engine, combining form data, betting odds, and semantic SEO optimization to deliver relevant match analysis for fans and bettors alike from 2026-03-20T10:52:03+00:00.
| Wake Forest 72.7% |
Illinois State 27.3% |
Prediction (the most likely score): 79:71
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Betting Odds
| 1 | X | 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1.28 | 3.4 | ||
 |
1.23 | 3.31 | ||
 |
1.29 | 3.5 | ||
 |
1.27 | 3.25 |
Latest Results
| 18.03.26 Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball – Navy Midshipmen basketball – 82:72 11.03.26 Clemson Tigers basketball – Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball – 71:62 10.03.26 Virginia Tech Hokies basketball – Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball – 89:95 OT 07.03.26 Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball – California Golden Bears basketball – 80:73 03.03.26 Virginia Cavaliers basketball – Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball – 75:70 |
18.03.26 Illinois State Redbirds basketball – Kent State Golden Flashes basketball – 79:58 06.03.26 Illinois State Redbirds basketball – Northern Iowa Panthers basketball – 52:74 01.03.26 Illinois State Redbirds basketball – Belmont Bruins basketball – 81:74 25.02.26 Northern Iowa Panthers basketball – Illinois State Redbirds basketball – 69:71 21.02.26 Bradley Braves basketball – Illinois State Redbirds basketball – 74:60 |
Facts
Standings
Draw
2026
1/16-finals
| 1 | Auburn | South Alabama | 78 : 67 |
| 2 | Seattle | St. Thomas (Minn.) | 67 : 52 |
| 3 | George Mason | Liberty | 71 : 77 |
| 4 | Nevada | Murray State | 89 : 75 |
| 5 | Wake Forest | Navy | 82 : 72 |
| 6 | Illinois State | Kent State | 79 : 58 |
| 7 | Yale | NC Wilmington | 67 : 78 |
| 8 | Dayton | Bradley | 80 : 66 |
| 9 | New Mexico | Sam Houston St. | 107 : 83 |
| 10 | Utah Valley State | George Washington | 78 : 79 |
| 11 | Colorado State | Saint Josephs Hawks | 64 : 69 |
| 12 | California | Illinois (Chi.) | 91 : 73 |
| 13 | Tulsa | Stephen F. Austin | 89 : 84 |
| 14 | UC Irvine | UNLV | 72 : 75 |
| 15 | Wichita State | Wyoming | 74 : 70 |
| 16 | Oklahoma State | Davidson | 84 : 80 |
1/8-finals
| 1 | Auburn | Seattle | |
| 2 | Liberty | Nevada | |
| 3 | Wake Forest | Illinois State | |
| 4 | NC Wilmington | Dayton | |
| 5 | New Mexico | George Washington | |
| 6 | Saint Josephs Hawks | California | |
| 7 | Tulsa | UNLV | |
| 8 | Wichita State | Oklahoma State |
Quarter-finals
| 1 | TBD #1 | TBD #2 | |
| 2 | TBD #3 | TBD #4 | |
| 3 | TBD #5 | TBD #6 | |
| 4 | TBD #7 | TBD #8 |
Semi-finals
| 1 | TBD #1 | TBD #2 | |
| 2 | TBD #3 | TBD #4 |
Final
| 1 | TBD #1 | TBD #2 |
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