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The Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3, 0-2) in Champaign Friday at 8 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Nebraska vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
As both teams have had disappointing starts, there’s still more than half the season to be played with aspirations of making a bowl game.
Nebraska is coming off a 45-7 loss as a 17.5-point home underdog to Michigan. The Cornhuskers will look to get their offense going against an Illini defense which has underperformed after losing defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, who took the coaching job at Purdue back in December.
As a matter of fact, the Illini just lost a 1-point road favorites to the Boilermakers 44-19 last Saturday. Illinois only trailed 16-13 at the half, but Purdue scored 21 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter to put the game away.
Something will have to give here. Nebraska averages 18.8 points per game, ranking 120th in the country, according to NCAA.org. The Illinois defense yields 30.6 PPT to rank 102nd.
Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
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Nebraska at Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 6:23 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Nebraska +136 (bet $100 to win $136) | Illinois -164 (bet $164 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nebraska +3.5 (-115) | Illinois -3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -102 | U: -120)
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Nebraska at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 23, Nebraska 20
Moneyline
BET ILLINOIS (-164) to be safe in this matchup.
Nebraska did not show much life against Michigan in the 45-7 loss, though the Wolverines are certainly a better team and have been beating all their opponents in similar fashion. However, the Nebraska offense has struggled this season, averaging just 18.8 PPG as mentioned.
In Illinois’ biggest challenge, it was able to hang with current No. 6 Penn State for a while before losing 30-13 as a 14-poing home underdog — the Illini trailed 16-7 at the half. Had QB Luke Altmyer not thrown 4 picks, Illinois would have had a chance to pull off the upset.
With this game being in Champaign, Illinois deserves the wager, but laying 3.5 points between these two Big Ten rivals is tricky. Although, there’s more juice to pay, TAKING THE FIGHTING ILLINI (-164) is the safer and better play vs. the betting the spread. Adding the ML play to a parlay would be alright, too.
Against the spread
PASS.
Neither team is good this season. Making a spread wager on either is risky. This will be a rock fight and will end close to the number. No matter who wins, it’s safer to make a ML wager.
Over/Under
BACK UNDER 43.5 (-120).
I already mentioned Nebraska only scores 18.8 PPG. Well, Illinois only averages 21.6 PPG to rank 103rd..
Neither of these offenses is explosive and both will look to run the ball and wind down the clock. Expect an old-fashioned Big Ten slugfest in the trenches with the winner barely getting to 20 points.
UNDER 43.5 (-120) is the value play.
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