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The Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) travel to meet the Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0) Friday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln for the Big Ten opener for both teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Illinois vs. Nebraska odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Fighting Illini have fired out of the chute with 3 consecutive victories to start the season, including a 23-17 win over the previously ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Sept. 7 as a 5-point underdog.
Defense has been a major reason for the success of the Illini, as they’ve allowed just 26 total points, with 13.0 points per game allowed (PPG) against 2 FBS opponents. The Under is 3-0 in 3 games for Illinois.
The Cornhuskers are also playing good football under coach Matt Rhule, as they’ve finally turned the corner after numerous disappointing seasons. Nebraska is not only 3-0 straight up (SU), but also against the spread (ATS). The Under is 3-0, too, allowing just 8.5 PPG in 2 games against FBS foes.
Nebraska is No. 22 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Illinois at Nebraska 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 Thursday at 8:47 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Illinois +270 (bet $100 to win $270) | Nebraska -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Illinois +8.5 (-115) | Nebraska -8.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 42.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Illinois at Nebraska picks and predictions
Prediction
Nebraska 24, Illinois 17
Moneyline
Nebraska (-350) will set you back 3 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.
This should be a very good game, with plenty of defense, and somebody is going to come out of this with a 4-0 SU record.
PASS.
Against the spread
Play ILLINOIS +8.5 (-115), as it should be able to keep this within 1 score in a tough conference opener for both.
The Fighting Illini are looking to pay the Huskers back for a 20-7 loss in Champaign last Oct. 6. However, Illinois has won 3 of the past 4 meetings, including the past 2 trips to Lincoln. That includes a 41-23 win on Nov. 21, 2020, as a 17-point underdog. The Illini is 4-1 ATS in the past 5 meetings, too.
Over/Under
UNDER 42.5 (-105) is worth playing lightly based on the defense and trends for both of these teams to date.
Illinois has allowed just 151.7 passing yards, and 277.3 total yards per game (YPG), while conceding 8.7 points per game (PPG).
Nebraska has been slightly better on D, allowing just 70.3 rushing yards per game, 255.3 YPG and 6.7 PPG. The Illini have been rather mediocre on offense, and it should have trouble getting things going against the Huskers, especially on the road.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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