Nebraska vs. Illinois Prediction
Big Ten play kicks off the 2021 college football season when Illinois hosts Nebraska at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the Fighting Illini listed as a home dog and the total sitting at 54, what’s the best bet when it comes to this conference clash?
Game Snapshot
299 Nebraska Cornhuskers (-7) at 300 Illinois Fighting Illinois (+7); o/u 54
1:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, August 28, 20201
Memorial Stadium, Champagne, IL
Nebraska Cornhuskers Game Notes
Nebraska freshman RB Sevion Morrison is in the running to be the team’s starter, according to OC Matt Lubick. With USC transfer Markese Stepp in the fold, one could be excused for expecting the veteran to make the starting running back job his own. But that hasn’t been the case, as Nebraska continues to prepare for Saturday’s opener against Illinois, as Morrison (6’0/210) and Gabe Irvin remain in the running. One of those three will receive the majority of the carries, but Nebraska won’t be announcing who the starter will be before kickoff Saturday.
Illinois Fighting Illini Game Notes
Illinois redshirt senior QB Brandon Peters will be the starter for Saturday’s game against Nebraska, HC Bret Bielema confirmed on Monday. Peters (6’5/220), who appeared in five games last season, was considered to be the favorite for the starting quarterback job entering fall camp. Based upon his head coach’s confirmation, it’s clear that the redshirt senior has done enough to nail down the role. Illinois will not be releasing a depth chart ahead of its season opener, so it remains a bit of a mystery as to who would be next in line. Rutgers transfer Artur Sitkowski is the most experienced of the backups.
Nebraska vs. Illinois Betting Prediction
The under is 4-0 in the Cornhuskers’ last four games overall, is 6-0 in their last six games on the road and has cashed in 20 of Nebraska’s last 28 games when favored. With Bret Bielema now the head coach at Illinois, the Fighting Illini faithful can expect a ton of conservative play offensively and low scoring, assuming Illinois’ defense can hold up. At least for one week it should.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: NEBRASKA/ILLINOIS UNDER 53.5