Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0)
NCAAF Week 4 is all set, and the battle between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium is waiting to be unleashed. The atmosphere is more electrifying, with both teams adhering to identical 3-0 records heading into Friday night’s match. It is easy to see the inherent drama that this matchup holds. Each team, however, will have to come out of their shells and tinker with a few things on offense and defense if they are to keep their record unblemished. In this NCAA football prediction, we shall look at the major forces, highlights, and betting predictions of this bright match-up to come.
The Illinois Fighting Illini have depended on their running game as Julio Foolas, the team’s primary rusher, is aided by Henry in this quest. Kaden Feagin has been a revelation, as she has 42 runs for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns at an average of 4.1 yards per attempt. In the passing game, Pat Bryant has proven himself to be reliable when attacking with the ball, with 15 receptions for 4 touchdowns and 15.7 yards per reception. This added versatility has a great impact on what plays can be called for the Illinois offense.
Nebraska on the other hand offers a great all-round performance rushing the ball and throwing it to the receivers. On the ground, Dante Dowdell has been effective earning 184 yards on 31 attempts with three touchdowns and a yardage per carry of 5.9. At receiver Isaiah Neyor has been productive, making 12 receptions for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns averaging 15.6 yards per reception. The offense of Nebraska is still developing, but the combination play between Quarterback Nolan and his receivers is helping them a lot in achieving their results.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Game Info
| When: | Friday, September 20, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Luke Altmyer QB vs. Dylan Raiola QB
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has been astounding so far this year, having completed 54 of 78 attempts for 647 yards and 6 touchdown passes with no interception. With a completion percentage of 69.2 %, he has recorded a passer rating of 164.3. Still, five sacks so far and the offensive line could do more to protect the quarterback if the offense of Illinois is to stay on course.
On the other end, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has been equally impressive in 670 works, completing 59 of 80 passes. His 73.8% completion rate with five touchdown throws and one interception gave him a passer rating of 162.2. One of the aspects that separated Raiola’s impact with the Nebraska offense has been being able to avoid taking sacks, which allowed for the offense to function properly and for the team to keep winning games.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Nebraska Cornhuskers -9.5 (-115), Total Odds: 43.5
Nebraska enters the game as a -9.5 favorite, reflecting expectations that they will use their home-field advantage and cohesive play to their benefit. With a total points line set at 43.5, a relatively close-scoring affair is expected. These odds highlight the defensive strength of both teams and emphasize the importance of executing key plays on both sides of the ball.
Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends
Illinois has been in decent form lately having won 5 out of their latest 7 matches while winning 11 out of 14 games when on the road in terms of betting odds. While the Cornhuskers and Illinois have a mixed result historical record, the more recent meetings, where Illinois is 4-1 ATS in the last five bouts, show that they could be trying to upset the balanced odds against such a good side as the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends
When looking at Nebraska’s overall record, whether home or away, they have a better net win loss of 4 -2 at home against Illinois. Although their ever-awful ATS return has made them lack of winning, play over is something that the Cornhuskers have not seared, as five straight home games have gone under. This emphasizes their skill in dictating the tempo, especially when playing at home.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers 9/19/24 Betting Picks
After analyzing both teams, Nebraska’s strong home-field advantage and depth give them a slight edge. They have the ability to maintain consistent pressure and control Illinois through strategic superiority.
However, considering each team’s strengths, using the best bookie software could improve betting accuracy, with a focus on Nebraska covering the spread. Additionally, exploring prop bets and total unders, aligned with both teams’ defensive strengths, may be worthwhile.
