Big Ten schools with similar profiles will clash on Friday as No. 24 Illinois visits No. 22 Nebraska. Both teams went 5-7 last season, ending the year on losing streaks. But they've each started 3-0 this season, with each team's biggest victory coming in Week 2 against Big 12 schools. The Cornhuskers won the last meeting between the schools, 20-7, last year, but the Fighting Illini have won the last two matchups contested in Nebraska.
Kickoff from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., is at 8 p.m. ET. Both teams have started the season stout defensively, with NU allowing just 6.7 points per game and the Illini giving up 8.7 points per game. The Huskers are favored by 9 points in the latest Illinois vs. Nebraska odds, per the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 42.5. Before entering any Nebraska vs. Illinois picks, you'll want to see the college football predictions from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks and is off to a 5-2 start on over/under picks this season. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.
The model has set its sights on Illinois vs. Nebraska. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college football betting lines for the spread, money line and over/under for the Nebraska vs. Illinois game:
- Illinois vs. Nebraska spread: Nebraska -9
- Illinois vs. Nebraska over/under: 42.5 points
- Illinois vs. Nebraska money line: Nebraska -364, Illinois +280
- Illinois vs. Nebraska picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Nebraska can cover
The Blackshirts were elite last year, ranking 13th in the nation in scoring defense, and they're even better this season. Nebraska's defense is allowing just 6.7 points per game, which ranks eighth-best in all of college football. The Huskers have been virtually impenetrable on the ground, holding opponents to only 2.5 yards per carry and no rushing touchdowns. They've also limited big plays, having allowed just one rush all season longer than 13 yards.
That strength will go up against Illinois' weakness as the team ranks just 79th in the country in total offense. The Illini have an inefficient ground game as leading rusher Kaden Feagin ranks sixth in the Big Ten in rushing attempts but is only 14th in rushing yards as his 4.1 ypc is among the lowest in the conference. Struggling in the run game is nothing new for Nebraska as over its last five games against fellow Power Four teams, it has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry. See which team to pick here.
Why Illinois can cover
QB Luke Altmyer has taken a leap in his second year with the Illini program after transferring from Ole Miss. He ranks second in the Big Ten with six touchdown passes and has zero interceptions after throwing 10 picks a year ago. Over his last nine games, Altmyer has 17 total TDs versus just three INTs. Nebraska is allowing just 2.5 yards per rushing attempt and hasn't given up a rushing TD all year, so Altmyer's arm will be the key to offensive success for Illinois.
Working in his favor is Illinois having one of the best receivers in the conference in Pat Bryant. He's coming off a stat line of 7-102-2 versus Central Michigan, with both his catches and touchdowns tying career highs for the senior. His four TD catches on the year lead the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally. The 6-foot-3 Bryant should be a matchup nightmare versus Nebraska's starting cornerbacks, neither of whom is over 6 feet tall. See which team to pick here.
How to make Nebraska vs. Illinois picks
The model has simulated Illinois vs. Nebraska 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Over, projecting 43 combined points. It's also generated a spread picks that hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Nebraska vs. Illinois, and which side of the spread is hitting nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Illinois vs. Nebraska spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer model that's up over $2,000 on its top-rated college football spread picks since its inception, and find out.
