The Illinois Fighting Illini (1-1) visit the Virginia Cavaliers (1-0) for an 11 a.m. ET Saturday game at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. Below, we look at the Illinois vs. Virginia odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Illini defeated Nebraska in Week 0 and then lost to Texas-San Antonio Sept. 4. Both contests were one-score games. Sixth-year senior QB Brandon Peters was knocked out of the opener due to a left shoulder injury. Peters started practicing last week but did not play in the loss to UTSA.
The Cavaliers logged a 43-0 win over FCS William & Mary in their season opener. Virginia got off to a slow start, but junior QB Brennan Armstrong went 21-for-31 for 339 passing yards and led the Wahoos to an eventual 43-0 shutout. UVA enters Saturday’s tilt 13-1 straight up over its last 13 games at Scott Stadium.
Illinois at Virginia odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 1:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Illinois +320 (bet $100 to win $320) | Virginia -420 (bet $420 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Illinois +10.5 (-108) | Virginia -10.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 55.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Illinois at Virginia odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Virginia 35, Illinois 23
Money line
PASS on the juice-filled prices that come with expected win percentages around 75-80%. One would have to figure Virginia as a near-85% proposition to unlock even a little value on the money line.
Against the spread
The Fighting Illini are 0-4 ATS in their last four non-conference games. Illinois is more banged up injury-wise after two games, and there is a question mark at quarterback.
The Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as home favorites. UVA held rushers to 3.7 yards per carry in 2020 and that figures as a key matchup here.
Head coach Bronco Mendenhall has gotten some impressive first-month performances out of the Wahoos. Over games one and two, his UVA squads have gone 6-for-6 ATS.
BACK THE CAVALIERS -10.5 (-112).
Over/Under
There are questions about the Illinois offense but a general lean toward the decent possibility of 60-plus points on a good-weather day at UVA. Consider a line watch and a pounce on a total south of 55 points.
At the listed total, figure a partial-unit play — backing the OVER 55.5 (-107) — as the best bet.
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