Northwestern vs. Illinois Total Pick
Will No. 23 Northwestern stay strong on defense and keep Illinois to a low total when these two meet up today at 4PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Northwestern is favored on the road, as the Wildcats are getting odds of -16.5 points against the Illini. The over/under total for the game has been set at 46 points. Northwestern has won four of their last five meetings in this series and these two have hit the over in six of their last seven encounters. The public is currently putting 86 percent of the wagers on Northwestern on the road for this game. Today’s game takes place from Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois and will air live on FS1.
Illinois is coming off a 52-14 loss at Ohio State last week for its ninth straight loss. The Illini are 2-9 on the year and 0-9 in the Big Ten. They are 7-4 with the under this season, hitting it in four of their last five games. Illinois has been a mess on offense this year, scoring just 16.2 points per game while posting 284.2 yards per contest. Jeff George Jr. missed last game with an undisclosed injury and may not play. He has 1,273 yards and seven passing touchdowns this year to go with 10 interceptions. The team has already lost leading rusher Mike Epstein to a foot injury. Defensively, Illinois is giving up 30.5 points and 415.7 yards per game.
Northwestern is rolling along right now, winning six straight games. The Wildcats are coming off a 39-0 win over Minnesota last week to improve to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. Northwestern is 5-4-2 with the under this season, hitting it in their last two games. The Wildcats are putting up 28.5 points and 401.5 yards per game on offense. Clayton Thorson has thrown for 2,669 yards and 14 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. Justin Jackson is rushing for 1,010 yards and eight touchdowns while Bennett Skowronek has 41 catches for 567 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Northwestern is allowing 21 points and 369.7 yards per game.
Bet on Northwestern vs. Illinois
It’s hard to see much offense coming from Illinois. The Illini aren’t good at full strength and don’t have some of their best players. Northwestern is a gritty defensive team as well and the Wildcats aren’t typically a team you will see run up the score. Illinois has hit the under in six of its last seven home games and Northwestern has hit the under in 7 of its last 10 games in November.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: NORTHWESTERN/ILLINOIS UNDER 46