Illinois vs. Rutgers Prediction
The Illinois Fighting Illini are still in search of their first win in 2020 but they’re once again an underdog in conference play when they take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 1:00 p.m. ET. Are the Illini a good play as a 6-point dog or is there a better option on the board for bettors?
Game Snapshot
167 Illinois Fighting Illini (+6) at 168 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (-6); o/u 51
SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
1:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, November 14, 2020
TV: Big Ten Network
Illinois Fighting Illini Game Notes
Illinois sophomore RB Mike Epstein rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in Saturday’s 41-14 loss to Minnesota. Epstein (6’0/205) averaged a cool 9.8 yards per rush. Epstein, who has missed an enormous amount of time to injury the past few years, including almost all of last season, has returned to log 50 yards or more from scrimmage in all three of Illinois’ games this year so far. Illinois doesn’t use him in the passing game much, but Epstein has added a needed explosive element to the rushing attack, averaging over five yards per carry on the year. The 0-3 Illini will try to get into the win column next week at Rutgers.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Game Notes
Rutgers redshirt junior QB Noah Vedral completed 21-of-32 passes for 165 yards in Saturday’s 49-27 loss to Ohio State. Vedral did not look too hot against Indiana last week, either. This is now Vedral’s second consecutive game with less than 5.5 yards per attempt. While he was surely expected to lose both of these games, one may have hoped for a bit more out of him. Next week’s game against Illinois should be a fairer fight and perhaps Vedral can rise to the occasion to bring Rutgers back to a .500 record.
Illinois vs. Rutgers Betting Prediction
The favorite in this series is a perfect 5-0 against the spread, while Rutgers is also 4-0 against the number in its last four games in the favorite role. The Scarlet Knights have also covered seven of their last nine games played in the month of November and are 4-1 against the number in their last five games coming off a loss. Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games played and are 7-22 at the betting window in their last 29 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous contest.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 11 BETTING PREDICTION: RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS -6