March Madness Picks Against the Spread for Saturday, April 4

JD Yonke sizes up both Final Four games from a spread standpoint, and is placing his faith in Illinois and Arizona to advance to the title game.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:17pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and intense competition of a college basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes in bold, contrasting colors.The Final Four matchups promise an explosive display of raw athletic energy and strategic gameplay as the top teams in college basketball compete for a spot in the National Championship.Indianapolis Today

The 2026 Men's Final Four takes place on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The first matchup features the No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini and the No. 2 UConn Huskies, followed by the heavyweight showdown of the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines and the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats. JD Yonke provides his March Madness picks against the spread for both Final Four games.

Why it matters

The Final Four is the most anticipated weekend of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game. These spread picks provide valuable insights for sports bettors looking to cash in on the high-stakes action.

The details

For the Illinois vs UConn matchup, Yonke is backing the Fighting Illini -2 (-110). He believes Illinois has more offensive firepower and a defense that can limit UConn's streaky shooting. In the Michigan vs Arizona game, Yonke is taking the Wildcats +1.5 (-110), citing Arizona's elite defense and recent strong performance against common opponents.

  • The 2026 Men's Final Four takes place on Saturday, April 4.

The players

Illinois Fighting Illini

The No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Illinois Fighting Illini are making their second Final Four appearance.

UConn Huskies

The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies are seeking their sixth National Championship appearance.

Michigan Wolverines

The No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines are making their third Final Four in program history.

Arizona Wildcats

The No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats are in the Final Four for the first time since 2001.

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What they’re saying

“Illinois has more playmakers and shot-makers offensively, canning 10.7 3-pointers per game and shooting 78% from the stripe. The UConn Huskies are hitting just 27.5% from beyond the arc since March 1 and are poor shooters at the foul line (71.9%).”

— JD Yonke, Sports Analyst

“The Arizona Wildcats are the most talented team in this tournament. I've taken them every step of the way, and I'm not stopping now that the lights are brighter.”

— JD Yonke, Sports Analyst

What’s next

The winners of the two Final Four matchups on April 4 will advance to the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game on April 6.

The takeaway

The Final Four features a mix of traditional powerhouses and upstart contenders, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of high-stakes college basketball action. Bettors will be closely watching these spread picks to see if Illinois and Arizona can deliver on the analyst's predictions.