Tag: Illinois Fighting Illini betting odds line spread pick predictions best bets

Illinois vs. Baylor odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Wednesday’s Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Baylor Bears sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) play the Baylor Bears (2-0) Wednesday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., in the Jimmy V Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Illinois-Baylor college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

USA TODAY Sports ranked the Bears No. 1 and the Fighting Illini No. 10 in the preseason Men’s Basketball Poll.

Illinois vs. Baylor: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:20 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Illinois +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Baylor -209 (bet $209 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Illinois +4.5 (-110) | Baylor -4.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 142.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Illinois vs. Baylor: Three things to know

  1. Fourth-year head coach Brad Underwood has Illinois trending up even after its 21-10 truncated 2019-20 campaign. This is Illinois’ highest ranking since 2012-13 and this is the biggest game in the Underwood-era at Illinois. The Fighting Illini easily won and covered the spread in their first two games this season but eked past Ohio 77-75 as 15.5-point favorites.
  2. The 2020-21 season has started out business as usual in Baylor’s 18th season under coach Scott Drew. The Bears demolished and covered against their first two opponents this year. Baylor has been ranked in several seasons since Drew has taken over and the Bears have made eight NCAA tournaments (would’ve been nine last season) during his tenure.
  3. USA TODAY Sports and the Associated Press may be higher on Illinois than college hoops bettors. Advanced college basketball guru Ken Pomeroy ranks Baylor No. 2 but Illinois just No. 22 in his college basketball ratings.

Get some action on this game or any other matchup with a legal, online bet at BetMGM in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV. Risk-free first bet up to $500, paid in free bets. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Illinois vs. Baylor: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Baylor 78, Illinois 69

Money line (ML)

One of my tenets of sports gambling (right or wrong) is that I will not lay -170 in regular-season NBA or anything college hoops. Forget about Baylor -209 and I am not crazy about money line parlays for college hoops, either.

Baylor is the right side but PASS ON THE MONEY LINE.

Against the spread (ATS)

It might be a good time to buy stock in the Illinois basketball program moving forward but not for this game. Baylor is more used to these intense games between ranked competition than the neophyte Fighting Illini.

Since Underwood took over Illinois, the Illini are 4-8 ATS in neutral-site games, 10-12 ATS vs. ranked opponents and 14-18-1 ATS in non-conference games with a plus-12.8-point average margin. Over that same time span, Baylor is 11-4 ATS in neutral-site games, 14-11-2 ATS vs. ranked opponents and 22-15 ATS in non-conference games.

The lopsided margin in Illinois’ non-conference games is due to the Fighting Illini playing weaker out of conference opponents. Look at their first three games: All home games against non-Power 5 opponents, two of which were double-digit blowout wins.

GIMME BAYLOR -4.5 (-110) for 2 units.

Over/Under (O/U)

Unofficially, I lean Over 142.5 (-110) because Baylor’s offense has been balling this season and we have a pretty low total; however, I am not as dialed into totals as sides, so officially I PASS ON THE TOTAL.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional college sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Ohio State at Illinois odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Friday’s Purdue Boilermakers at Minnesota Golden Gophers sports betting odds and lines, with college football betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3, 2-3) Saturday in a noon ET battle at Memorial Stadium. Below, we analyze the Ohio State-Illinois college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The Buckeyes are ranked No. 3 in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

Ohio State at Illinois: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: No line posted due to big spread
  • Against the spread/ATS: Ohio State -28 (-110) | Illinois +28 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 70.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Ohio State at Illinois: Three things to know

  1. Ohio State has struggled in efficiently closing out games this season. On Nov. 7, the Buckeyes led Rutgers 35-3 at halftime only to be outscored 24-14 in the second half. Last week against Indiana, the Hoosiers trailed 35-7 three minutes into the third quarter. OSU prevailed by a final of 42-35 after allowing a slew of big passing plays down the stretch.
  2. Illinois has won back-to-back games after starting the season 0-3. The Illini defense rallied after allowing a combined 117 points over the first three games. Illinois did, however, benefit from shaky opponent numbers on third down (8 of 26) and in the turnover department (plus-7) in the two wins since.
  3. The Buckeyes (233.3 rushing yards per game) and Illini (222.4) rank first and second, respectively, in Big Ten rushing. RB Master Teague, who rushed for a career-high 169 yards on 26 attempts vs. the Hoosiers, is Ohio State’s leading rusher this season (380 yards, 5.2 yards per carry). Illinois is led by the two-headed exploits of RB Chase Brown (357, 5.9) and RB Mike Epstein (338, 6.2).

Special Big Ten Betting Promotion!

Bet $1 on ANY Big Ten team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if ANY BIG TEN team scores a touchdown this week!

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now at BetMGM!

Ohio State at Illinois: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Ohio State 56, Illinois 17

Money line (ML)

No line posted as of this publishing

Against the spread (ATS)

Illinois is 0-5 ATS in its last five games following 40-point production in a preceding game. The Illini’s biggest strength on offense runs square into the Buckeyes’ strong point on the defensive side of the ball. So, look for Ohio State to build a lead and force Illinois into a pass-to-come-from-behind mode. A bounce-back game from Ohio State QB Justin Fields (3 picks last week) appears imminent. Back the BUCKEYES -28 (-110).

Over/Under (O/U)

The Over is:

  • 12-6 in OSU’s last 18 games on the road
  • 4-1 in the last five games in this series
  • 4-0-1 in OSU’s last five games against losing teams

The OVER 70.5 (-110) is the lean, but a two-point upward surge (from 68.5 to 70.5) has certainly dented much of the value here.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional college football coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]

Illinois at Nebraska odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Illinois Fighting Illini at Nebraska Cornhuskers sports betting odds and lines, with college football betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (1-3 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) visit the Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-2, 1-2) Saturday for a noon ET kickoff. Below, we analyze the Illinois-Nebraska college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Illinois at Nebraska: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 9:15 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Illinois +450 (bet $100 to win $450) | Nebraska -625 (bet $625 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Illinois +14.5 (-110) | Nebraska -14.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 59.5 (O: -106 | U: -115)

Illinois at Nebraska: Three things to know

  1. After losing its first three games by a combined 72 points, Illinois (+5.5) claimed its first win of the season with a 23-20 victory at Rutgers last week. PK James McCourt‘s 47-yard field with 3 seconds left won it as the Illini rallied from a 20-10 deficit in the third quarter. Backup QB Isaiah Williams – starting in place of Brandon Peters, who has been out because of COVID-19 – threw for only 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, but he ran for 192 yards with a TD on 31 attempts. RB Chase Brown added 131 yards on the ground.
  2. Nebraska (+2.5) also won its first game of the season last week, beating Penn State 30-23 at home. Making his starting debut, redshirt freshman QB Luke McCaffrey – whose brother is NFL star Christian McCaffrey – threw for 152 yards with a TD and a pick, while running for a team-high 67 yards with a score. The Cornhuskers led 27-6 at the half but had to hold on late as the defense came through, stopping two Nittany Lions drives inside Nebraska’s 15-yard line in the final 4 minutes.
  3. Nebraska has won the last 4 in the series, including last season when it overcame a 14-point, third-quarter deficit in a 42-38 win at Illinois. The ‘Huskers lead the all-time series 13-3-1, including 4-0 at home since joining the Big Ten.

Special Big Ten Betting Promotion!

Bet $1 on ANY Big Ten team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if ANY BIG TEN team scores a touchdown this week!

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now at BetMGM!

Illinois at Nebraska: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Nebraska 30, Illinois 17

Money line (ML)

PASS. One has to wager more than six times their return on Nebraska (-625). It’s not worth the risk.

Against the spread (ATS)

Back ILLINOIS +14.5 (-110). McCaffrey gives life to a Nebraska offense that needed a boost; however, this is just his second start, so there’s still some “figuring it out” going on. Nebraska is 1-2 ATS; Illinois is 2-2.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 59.5 (-115) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1.5 times your usual wager. Illinois, 1-3 O/U, averages just 17.0 points per game and allows 34.3 PPG. Nebraska is 0-3 O/U, averaging 20.0 PPG and yielding 32.0 PPG.

Want action on this one? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Johnny’s 2020 CFB record / Strongest plays 13-11 / 7-3
2020 overall record (all sports) 145-107-3
Strongest plays (all sports) 72-40-1

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional college football coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama football / Auburn football / Florida football / Georgia football / LSU football / Michigan football / Michigan State football / Notre Dame football / Ohio State football / Oklahoma football / Tennessee football / Texas football / USC football / Wisconsin football

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]

Illinois at Rutgers odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Illinois Fighting Illini at Rutgers Scarlet Knights sports betting odds and lines, with college football betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (0-3, 0-3 Big Ten) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-2, 1-2) meet in Piscataway, N.J., for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday. Below, we analyze the Illinois-Rutgers college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Illinois at Rutgers: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Illinois +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Rutgers -223 (bet $223 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Illinois +5.5 (-110) | Rutgers -5.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 51.5 (O: -106 | U: -115)

Illinois at Rutgers: Three things to know

  1. The Illini have been tattooed in two of their three games, falling 45-7 at Wisconsin in the opener, and 41-14 to Minnesota at home last week. They were somewhat respectable against Purdue, losing 31-24 in Champaign on Halloween, and that’s the only game they have covered to date. They’re just 116th in the nation with 15.0 PPG scored, while allowing 39.0 PPG.
  2. Rutgers opened with a stunning 38-27 win at Michigan State as a 9.5-point underdog, but it was dumped at home by Indiana 37-21, and was dusted at Ohio State 49-27 last time out. It is a solid 2-1 ATS, and the Over is 3-0 through three outings.
  3. Rutgers hasn’t been a favorite since Aug. 30, 2019, when it covered a 17-point number vs. UMass. The last time Rutgers was favored in a Big Ten game was Oct. 14, 2017, winning 35-24 in Champaign as a 1.5-point favorite. The Scarlet Knights are 4-0 SU/ATS in the past four as a favorite since Sept. 2017.

Special Big Ten Betting Promotion!

Bet $1 on ANY Big Ten team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if ANY BIG TEN team scores a touchdown this week!

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now at BetMGM!

Illinois at Rutgers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Rutgers 31, Illinois 23

Money line (ML)

Rutgers (-223) is just the healthier team, and it’s at home. However, risking more than two times your potential return on Rutgers is always a risky proposition. AVOID.

Against the spread (ATS)

RUTGERS -5.5 (-106) is worth a small-unit play, as it has won and covered each of its past four as a favorite since Sept. 2017. Meanwhile, Illinois is expected to be without starting QB Brandon Peters for a third straight game after a positive COVID-19 test. The Illini have a mish-mash under center, with backup Isaiah Williams back after contact tracing and fourth-string QB Coran Taylor available. This Illini team is poor, and will struggle to make this a one-score game.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 51.5 (-115) should come across the finish line in the fourth quarter. Illinois, even with some issues under center, should be able to move the ball on Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have scored 21 or more points in each of their three games, and will likely come close to their production from Game 1, when they hung 38 on Michigan State.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional college football coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama football / Auburn football / Florida football / Georgia football / LSU football / Michigan football / Michigan State football / Notre Dame football / Ohio State football / Oklahoma football / Tennessee football / Texas football / USC football / Wisconsin football

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]

Minnesota at Illinois odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Minnesota Golden Gophers at Illinois Fighting Illini sports betting odds and lines, with college football betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-2 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (0-2, 0-2), which have been ravaged by COVID-19 protocols. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Minnesota-Illinois college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Minnesota at Illinois: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Minnesota -271 (bet $271 to win $100) | Illinois +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Minnesota -7 (-115) | Illinois +7 (-106)
  • Over/Under: 61.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Minnesota at Illinois: Three things to know

  1. The Illini have been hit hard by COVID-19, missing 14 players in last week’s 31-24 home loss to Purdue due to positive tests and contact tracing. They covered as 9.5-point underdogs thanks to a 14-0 fourth-quarter. At least 12 players, including QB Brandon Peters and PK James McCourt, are expected to miss Saturday’s contest. Fourth-string QB Coran Taylor could make his first career start – he played the majority of the Purdue game (273 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) after third-stringer Matt Robinson injured his ankle on the Illini’s first possession. Robinson’s status is unknown as of Thursday.
  2. Minnesota blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter of a 45-44 overtime loss at Maryland last week. The Gophers gave up 675 total yards, including 281 on the ground, to the Terps. A bright note for Minnesota was RB Mohamed Ibrahim, who ran for 207 yards (on 41 carries) and tied the school record with 4 rushing touchdowns. The Gophers will be without defensive coordinator Joe Rossi Saturday as he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week.
  3. The Gophers have won four of the their last five vs. the Illini, including a 40-17 rout in Minneapolis last year. The Illini are 19-15-1 at home in the series, including a 55-31 victory in 2018.

Special Big Ten Betting Promotion!

Bet $1 on ANY Big Ten team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if ANY BIG TEN team scores a touchdown this week!

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now at BetMGM!

Minnesota at Illinois: Odds, predictions, betting lines and picks

Prediction

Minnesota 35, Illinois 24

Money line (ML)

AVOID. The Gophers (-271) should win against the undermanned Illini, but the price is a bit high. Plus, it’s definitely not worth the risk considering how Minnesota fell apart in the final quarter last week.

Against the spread (ATS)

MINNESOTA -7 (-115) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. With Illinois short-handed, Minnesota should be able to build a decent lead and will be determined and focused to shut the door in the final quarter following last week’s debacle. The Gophers defense is a concern, but the Illini will struggle to run the ball with the personnel they have available.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the UNDER 61.5 (-110). This number is too high for these two. Minnesota has enough offensive weapons to score in the 30’s, but Illinois doesn’t.

Want action on this NFL game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Johnny’s 2020 CFB record / Strongest plays 7-7 / 3-2
2020 overall record (all sports) 131-101-3
Strongest plays (all sports) 66-38-1

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional college football coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama football / Auburn football / Florida football / Georgia football / LSU football / Michigan football / Michigan State football / Notre Dame football / Ohio State football / Oklahoma football / Tennessee football / Texas football / USC football / Wisconsin football

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]