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The Illinois Fighting Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-4, 3-4) tangle in a battle of bowl-eligible squads Saturday in Piscataway. The opening kickoff at SHI Stadium is set for noon ET (Peacock). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Illinois vs. Rutgers odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Illinois finds itself on the road for just a second time since Sept. 28. Last Saturday, the Illini came off a bye week and drilled Michigan State 38-16, covering as -1.5 home favorites with the Over (47.5) hitting. RB Josh McCray ran for 3 TDs and 61 yards on 9 carries, while QB Luke Altmyer threw 2 TDs and finished with 231 passing yards.
Rutgers upset Maryland on the road last Saturday 31-17. The Scarlet Knights covered as 4-point underdogs and the Under (54.5) cashed as they won their second in a row after a winless October (0-4). QB Athan Kaliakmani (238 passing yards, 2 TDs) and RB Kyle Monangai (97 rushing yards, 2 TDs) led the attack. However, Maryland outgained Rutgers in total yards 457 to 370.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Illinois at Rutgers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Friday at 12:28 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Illinois -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Rutgers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Illinois +1.5 (-110) | Rutgers -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Illinois at Rutgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rutgers 28, Illinois 24
Moneyline
Rutgers is on a decent trend line on both sides of the ball. The Scarlet Knights have thrown for 238 yards-plus in each of their last 4 games, and some October red-zone issues have been cleaned up the last 2 games.
The RU offense is not explosive, but the recent improvements in passing and the team’s ability to stay on schedule make Rutgers a slight lean in what figures as a close game.
Neither side is adept at making disruptive plays on defense. Illinois may well play much of this one with a lead, but give the home side enough of a probability a keeping the contest close and closing it out with a win.
TAKE RUTGERS (-115).
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Against the spread
AVOID. It’s worth the extra juice to back the moneyline at -115 vs. laying 1½ points at -110.
Over/Under
The Over has cashed in 4 of Rutgers’ last 5 games and in 9 of the Knights’ last 11 in Piscataway.
The public is expecting a 20-something-to-20-something close game, and the expected game flow does not argue much with this total.
Windy conditions are in the forecast, but tab OVER 47.5 (-115) with a slight lean.
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