In this article, I’ll break down the odds as well as my favorite Illinois vs. Indiana predictions.
We got a small taste of college football in Week 0, although there weren’t any elite games. We get a massive Week 1 slate with several great matchups.
Illinois will travel to take on Indiana in a Big Ten matchup. We got a small look at Illinois last week while Indiana will be making their season debut this weekend.
Let’s run through this Big Ten matchup!
Illinois vs. Indiana Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | +3 (-110) | +130 | O 45 (-110) |
| @ Indiana | -3 (-110) | -150 | U 45 (-110) |
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.
Game Info
- Date: Friday, Sept. 2
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Memorial Stadium – Bloomington, Indiana
- TV: FS1
Illinois vs. Indiana Trends
Let’s take a look at some relevant betting trends for the Illinois vs. Indiana:
- Illinois won their first game of the season 38-6 vs. Wyoming.
- Indiana won the last three matchups vs. Illinois. They haven’t played since 2017 and they’ve only played three times since 2012.
- Illinois covered the spread in each of their last four games.
- Indiana hasn’t covered the covered in any of their last four games.
- As of Tuesday evening, 58% of the bets and 73% of the handle were on Illinois +3 spread.
- DraftKings also reports that 75% of the bets are on the over but 73% of the handle is on the Under.
- Both teams are 3-2 on the total in the last 5 games.
Illinois Gameplan: Run, Run, Run
Illinois is expected to be one of the better run offenses in the NCAA this season. They have multiple players with the ability to dominate games, allowing Illinois to control the field position and clock.
Illinois totaled 262 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground against Wyoming last week. They were led by Chase Brown, who posted 151 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries. He’s one of the best running backs in the nation, and he’ll continue to lead the way for the Fighting Illini.
This will be a significantly tougher matchup against Indiana. The Hoosiers are projected to allow 129.1 rushing yards per game, per Phil Steele.
If Brown and the Illinois rushing game can control this matchup, they’ll have the edge throughout.
Will Indiana Deal With Rust?
Illinois had somewhat of a warm-up game against Wyoming last week. They were 14-point favorites, and they won by more than 30 points. It was an easy win, and it allowed them to get their offense and defense on track before a bigger matchup.
Indiana wasn’t as lucky, as this will be their first game of the season. They could deal with some rust or struggle to gel as a team early on.
Indiana will be shifting to Jack Tuttle at quarterback for this season. They have several other starters that left the program, leaving plenty of other positions that could struggle to come together early in the season.
Illinois vs. Indiana Predictions
Illinois should be able to control the game with their rushing offense. I have some concerns with their run defense, although I don’t fully trust the Indiana rush offense. With both teams focusing on the run, it will shorten the game.
With a shortened game, both teams could struggle to consistently put points on the board. Specifically, Indiana could struggle early in this game if they aren’t gelling well offensively or defensively.
I’m looking to make two bets in this game that somewhat play off of each other. I’m siding with the Under and short dog. The lower the score, the more likely Illinois will be able to cover the spread.
Prediction 1: Illinois +3 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Prediction 2: Under 45 total points | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook