Thursday features a light college basketball slate with 8 high-major schools taking the floor on the 26th day of March 2026. It’s the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament as the field gets gradually whittled down to 8 teams.
Will Nebraska defeat Iowa by 2 points or more at the Toyota Center in Houston? Can Houston win and cover against Illinois in the same venue in the late game on Thursday night? Read on for our Thursday CBB Best Bets March 26 article.
CBB Best Bet: Iowa +1.5 over Nebraska
I like the Hawkeyes in this one. In Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup, Iowa is in prime position to cover the 1.5-point spread against Nebraska. In situations like this, Iowa has thrived, boasting a solid 4-2 ATS record on neutral courts and a flawless 2-0 ATS mark in the NCAA Tournament this season.
A rest disadvantage won’t slow them down either, considering that the Hawkeyes sport a profitable 8-5 ATS record when playing on shorter rest than their opponent in 2025-26. Most importantly, the Hawkeyes historically own this matchup, going 4-1 straight up and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against the Cornhuskers. Back the live dogs to win outright and advance.
Final score projection: IOWA HAWKEYES 71, NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS 68.
CBB Best Bet: Illinois +2.5 over Houston
I’m taking the Fighting Illini in this contest. Look for Illinois to cover the 2.5-point spread against Houston on Thursday night. The Illini are a perfect 2-0 ATS in this NCAA Tournament.
They have been consistently competitive across the board, going 13-12 ATS following a win, 6-5 ATS on equal rest, and 7-6 ATS with 4+ days of rest this season. Furthermore, Illinois is a solid 5-4 ATS over their last 9 games overall. Expect the Illini to keep it tight with a good chance to pull off the outright upset against the Cougars.
Final score projection: ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI 69, HOUSTON COUGARS 68.
Thursday CBB Best Bets March 26
- Iowa Hawkeyes +1.5
- Illinois Fighting Illini +2.5
Follow: Twitter/X · Bluesky · Facebook
Responsible Gaming
For help and resources, visit our Responsible Gaming page or the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Affiliate Disclosure
We may receive affiliate commissions if you sign up through links on our site. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure.