Illinois is set to face Nebraska in a Big Ten matchup on Friday, Oct. 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 pm ET while airing on FS1. Illinois enters this game as 3.5-point favorites with the total set at 43. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Illinois vs. Nebraska predictions below.
Illinois vs. Nebraska Odds
- Spread: Illinois -3.5
- Total: 43
Game Info
- Date: Friday, Oct. 6
- Time: 8 pm ET
- Location: Memorial Stadium — Champaign, IL
- TV: FS1
Illinois Betting Trends
- Illinois are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Illinois’ last 6 games.
Nebraska Betting Trends
- The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Nebraska’s last 14 games.
- Nebraska are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games.
Illinois vs. Nebraska Predictions
Both teams in this matchup have struggled to find their stride this season. Nebraska started with some challenging losses and was recently trounced 45-7 by the Michigan Wolverines.
Illinois, once thought to be a potential dark horse in the Big Ten, has yet to live up to those expectations. They narrowly defeated Toledo with a 30-28 scoreline in the season opener but suffered defeats against Kansas (34-23), Penn State (30-13), and Purdue (44-13). Their sole consolation in that stretch came in a 23-17 victory over Florida Atlantic, making their overall record 2-3.
"I told them in there (locker room) that's obviously embarrassing, however you want to say it. For me as a head coach, for you as a player, that collapse in the 2nd half just can't be tolerated"#Illini Bret Bielema on 44-19 loss at Purdue
Illinois outscored 28-6 in 2nd half pic.twitter.com/srS86FYAlL— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) October 1, 2023
Illinois has consistently fallen short against the spread, losing six consecutive times, including the first five games of this season.
Preseason speculations painted the Illini as having a strong defense. However, conceding more than 30 points in all three matches against Power 5 teams indicates that they haven’t met those expectations.
Conversely, Nebraska, once praised for its robust rushing defense, was thoroughly dominated by the Wolverines in their recent encounter.
Illinois vs. Nebraska Free Pick
This matchup should be low-scoring, as both teams have had difficulty maintaining consistent drives. While Nebraska didn’t perform well against Michigan, I’m inclined to think they have a superior defense compared to Illinois, especially when facing the less aggressive Illini offense.
This game could come down to a field goal either way. Given this, I’d recommend backing the underdog Huskers, who are receiving 3.5 points.
The Pick: Nebraska +3.5 | -110 at FanDuel Sportsbook