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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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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.
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