A Big Ten matchup features the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-1) battling on Saturday afternoon. This will be the 27th matchup in history between these schools with Penn State owning a 20-6 record over Illinois. They last played in Champaign during the 2018 campaign, where Penn State won 63-24. Penn State has covered in both games this season, while Illinois is 0-2 ATS.
Kickoff from Memorial Stadium in Champaign is set for noon ET. The Nittany Lions are 14-point favorites in Penn State vs. Illinois odds, while the over/under for total points is 48. Before locking in any Illinois vs. Penn State picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of nearly $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Penn State vs. Illinois and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine to see the model's CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Illinois vs. Penn State:
- Penn State vs. Illinois spread: Nittany Lions -14
- Penn State vs. Illinois over/under: 48 points
- Penn State vs. Illinois money line: Nittany Lions -604, Fighting Illini +440
- PSU: Penn State has hit the 1H money line in nine of last 11 games
- ILL: Illinois has hit the 1Q game total Under in seven of last eight games
- Penn State vs. Illinois picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Penn State vs. Illinois live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Penn State can cover
The Nittany Lions have a disruptive defense. Through two games, Penn State ranks sixth in scoring (11), and fourth in both total defense (224) and (110) passing yards allowed. Linebacker Curtis Jacobs is an explosive athlete with terrific quickness in the middle of the field. Jacobs is first on the team in total tackles (10) and two QB hits.
Sophomore linebacker Abdul Carter gives the defense another rangy defender on the second level. Carter has a knack for generating pressure and getting into the backfield. The Pennsylvania native has logged 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his career at Penn State. On Sept. 2 versus West Virginia, Carter had one tackle and one sack. Sophomore defensive tackle Zane Durant is a reliable run stopper upfront. Durant recorded six total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack last week. See which team to pick here.
Why Illinois can cover
Illinois had the No. 2 overall defense in the Big Ten in 2022 and it brings back some key pieces. Sophomore safety Miles Scott has impressive instincts and is a reliable tackler. The Illinois native is leading the team in tackles (13) with two pass deflections and one interception. In his last outing, Scott had seven tackles and one pass breakup.
Junior defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton is a menace up front for Illinois. Newton has tremendous agility and strength to create pressure in the backfield. The Florida native has nine tackles with a team-high two sacks thus far. Defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr. joins Newton upfront. He has recorded 12 tackles in two games. See which team to pick here.
How to make Illinois vs. Penn State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting that the teams combine for 41 points. The model also shows one side of the spread is hitting nearly 60% of the time. You can see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Penn State vs. Illinois, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has notched a profit of almost $2,500 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.
