3. Illinois at Indiana
LINE Indiana -3
ATS PICK Illinois
And you’re giving me points, America?
Of course I’m not discounting the New Year, New Team, Fresh Start theory of Week 1, but explain exactly how Indiana is night-and-day better than it was last season when it failed to score more than 15 points eight times and came up with just 207 points in a 12 game season?
It’s not like the Hoosiers are bringing back a bajillion starters and have anything 100% certain they can rely on. This spread is only because no one thinks Illinois is that great, it’s a road game, and … again, no one thinks Illinois is that great.
It’s probably a lot better than we all think.
It would’ve been nice if the yards translated into more points in the 38-6 win over Wyoming, but the Illini were balanced, the defense was terrific, and they have a game of live action under their belt. It is a short week, and it is a trip through the weaving corn fields to get from Champaign to Bloomington.
Until Indiana proves it can start scoring, dig getting Illinois and some love.
NEXT: College Football Pick Against The Spread No. 2 Western Michigan at Michigan State