Penn State vs Illinois betting odds, injury report, and predictions

After an impressive 2-0 start, Penn State football opens Big Ten play on the road this Saturday versus Illinois. The Nittany Lions come into the game as heavy favorites, but anything can happen when you start conference play away from home. Here is your go-to betting odds guide for this week’s matchup.

Injury Report

Penn State:

Alonzo Ford DT – Out for the Season

Smith Vilbert DE – Out for the Season

Landon Tengwall OL – Medical Retirement

Daequan Hardy CB – Questionable

KeAndre Lambert-Smith WR – Questionable

Coziah Izzard DE – Questionable

Amin Vanover DE – Questionable

Jim Fitzgerald OL – Questionable

Ian Harvie OL – Questionable

Jashaun Green S – Questionable

Mason Robinson DE – Questionable

DK Kency RB – Questionable

Karson Kiesewetter QB – Questionable

Tyler Johnson WR – Questionable

Malick Meiga WR – Questionable

Illinois:

Jordan Anderson – Out for Season

Ezekiel Holmes – Out for Season

Malachi Hood – Out for Season

Tyson Rooks – Questionable

Betting Odds:

Spread:

Penn State (-14.5) vs. Illinois

James Franklin’s Nittany Lions enter Saturday’s matchup as a 14.5-point favorite. Penn State is 8-0-1 against the spread in its last 9 games. The Nittany Lions are also 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 Big Ten games. Illinois is 2-5 ATS in its previous 7 games.

Penn State football Moneyline: -650

Placing a $625 bet on Penn State to beat Illinois would pay $100. Penn State leads the all-time series 20-6. The Fighting Illini won the last matchup 20-18 in 9 overtimes at Beaver Stadium in 2021.

Penn State vs. Illinois Over/Under: 48.5

The total has gone OVER in 8 of Penn State’s last 10 games. Totals have also gone OVER in the Nittany Lions’ last 6 road games. The total has gone OVER in 6 of Penn State’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Illinois. The total has gone under in the last 6 games for Illinois against an East Division opponent.

Penn State football vs. Illinois Game Predictions:

This will be the first time that these two teams face off since that rainy, disgusting 9 overtime game that saw a 2-5 Illinois team knock off No. 7 Penn State in Beaver Stadium in 2021. That game featured an injured Sean Clifford, bad weather, and two teams starting to trend in opposite directions.

This year, the script is flipped with Penn State playing some of its best football after two weeks, while Illinois has struggled more than anticipated. The spread opened at -12.5 before the games last weekend and has moved all the way to -15 with the results of Week 2.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 63-7 pummeling of FCS Delaware, while Illinois is coming off a tough 34-23 loss to Kansas on the road. If you can get this spread under 14, take it and put heavy money on it. Even at its current mark, Penn State should cover with ease, as this will be at least a 3-touchdown game.

This game has similar vibes to 2018, where Illinois hung around for about a half and had a 24-21 lead only to eventually lose 63-24. The over is also a play in this game because of the way the two defenses have performed. The Illini defense has looked leaky the first two weeks giving up 30+ points to both Toledo and Kansas. The Penn State defense, although solid, has shown some weaknesses in the interior that will allow Illinois to score a few times. The main reason to take the over is because Penn State can hit it by itself if the offense settles in and plays to its full potential.

Prediction: Penn State 45 – Illinois 21

Big Ten bet of the Week: (1-1)

Western Michigan (+28.5) @ Iowa (3:30 p.m. –  BTN)

There isn’t a ton to say with this matchup. Iowa’s offense still stinks, and until proven otherwise, there is no reason that it should be giving over 4 touchdowns in the betting odds to Western Michigan. The team who scored 24 and 20 in the first two weeks of the season not only needs to top it this week, but make sure that Western Michigan doesn’t score.

The Hawkeyes will win this game with ease, be undefeated, and possibly be ranked heading into the White Out. Just don’t expect them to cover the spread.

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