The No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) visit the 8th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0) Saturday for a Big Ten showdown. Kickoff from Beaver Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Illinois vs. Penn State odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Illinois picked up a 31-24 OT win at the Nebraska Cornhuskers Sept. 20, covering as a 9.5-point underdog. The Illini trailed 24-17 early in the 4th but tied it with 10:36 to go on QB Luke Altmyer’s 6-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Henderson and the ensuing extra point. Altmyer’s 4th TD pass — a 4-yarder to WR Pat Bryant — gave the Illinois the lead in OT and the defense responded with 3 sacks in extra frame to seal the come-from-behind victory.
Penn State crushed the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes 56-0 last Saturday, covering as a 49-point favorite. The Nittany Lions held the Golden Flashes to just 66 yards (48 rushing, 18 passing) and 6 first downs — Penn State’s offense finished with 718 yards and 40 first downs. QB Drew Allar threw for 309 yards and 3 TDs in the rout, while backup QB Beau Pribula and TE Tyler Warren each tossed a TD.
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