The Illinois Fighting Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) meet the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (10-0, 7-0) Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET (ABC). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Illinois vs. Michigan odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
The Fighting Illini, who fell out of the AFCA Coaches Poll Top 25, are still No. 21 in the recently released College Football Playoff rankings, with Michigan at No. 3.
Illinois has dropped back-to-back games against Purdue and Michigan State, failing to cover in either outing. The Under is 3-1-1 in the past 5 games for the Illini.
Michigan pounded Nebraska 34-3 last time out at The Big House Saturday, moving to 7-0 SU and 4-2-1 ATS at home this season. The Under and Over has alternated in each of the past 5 games overall.
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Illinois at Michigan odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Illinois +650 (bet $100 to win $650) | Michigan -1111 (bet $1,111 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Illinois +18 (-111) | Michigan -18 (-109)
- Over/Under (O/U): 41 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Illinois at Michigan picks and predictions
Prediction
Michigan 30, Illinois 10
Moneyline
Michigan (-1111) will cost you over 11 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not very much reward.
There is a small bit of concern that the Wolverines might be casting a slight eye ahead to next week’s titanic showdown at Ohio State, but Michigan is well-coached and will keep its eye on the prize, especially against an Illinois side playing its worst football of the season.
PASS.
Against the spread
MICHIGAN -18 (-109) is worth playing lightly here. The Wolverines have the run game, led by Heisman Trophy candidate RB Blake Corum, and he’ll be front and center in the offense on a cold day. Temperatures will be in the low-to-mid 20s with winds whipping at 16-20 mph.
Illinois ranks 8th in the nation with just 88.6 rushing yards allowed per game, but Michigan should still be able to get free for plenty of points.
Over/Under
UNDER 41 (-108) is the lean, but only with a half-unit bet tops.
The Illini rank 3rd in the country with just 12.5 PPG allowed, and the offense struggles with just 24.7 PPG (89th). That’s led to plenty of Under results, going 6-2-1 across the past 9 games overall.
Michigan’s D ranks 1st in total yards (232.8), rushing yards (72.7) and points allowed (11.7) per game. This will be a low-scoring affair on a frigid day.
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