Memorial Stadium will play host to an opening weekend college football matchup between the Wyoming Cowboys and the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Cowboys (7-6) dropped six of their eight Mountain West Conference games in 2021 and defeated Kent State 52-28 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It will be difficult for head coach Craig Bohl to take Wyoming bowling again, as several key players have transferred.
Leading passer Sean Chambers left for Montana State and backup QB Levi Williams departed for Utah State. Top RB Xazavian Valladay (785 yds) transferred to Arizona State, but the offensive line is expected to be good once again.
The Illinois Fighting Illini started last season with a bang for first year head coach Bret Bielema, notching a 30-22 home victory versus Nebraska. Bielema entered the 2022 campaign looking to lead the Fighting Illini (5-7) to their first winning season in decade. New OC Barry Lunney Jr. will run a more uptempo offense that will lean heavily on RB Chase Brown, who rushed for 1,005 yards a season ago.
The Illinois defense took a major step forward for DC Ryan Walters, improving to 29th nationally in scoring defense (21.9 ppg). The Fighting Illini linebacking corps is talented, led by Calvin Hart Jr. and Tarique Barnes.
Recent Betting Trends
- Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
- Fighting Illini are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Over is 5-1 in Cowboys last 6 games overall.
- Under is 8-2 in Fighting Illini last 10 games overall.
- Under is 14-5 in Fighting Illini last 19 non-conference games.
Free NCAAF Pick:
Illinois Fighting Illini -10.5