Saturday, November 28, 2015

Soldier Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Northwestern Wildcats face the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday at Soldier Field. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 3.5 point favorites and the over/under was set at 41.

Northwestern was led in passing last game by Clayton Thorson, who finished with 60 yards through the air. He went 9 for 20 on the game, good for a 45% completion percentage. Justin Jackson led the Wildcats in rushing with 139 yards. He averaged 4 yards per carry on his 35 rushing attempts for the game. Garrett Dickerson was the team leader in receiving with a total of 24 yards and 2 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 12 yards per reception. As a team in that game Northwestern had 209 total yards on 70 plays. They gained 5 rushing first downs, 6 passing, and 1 by way of penalty for a total of 12 first downs on the game. The Wildcats rushed for 149 yards by way of 50 carries.

Illinois was led in passing last game by Wes Lunt, who finished with 279 yards through the air. He went 34 for 47 on the game, good for a 72% completion percentage. Josh Ferguson led the Fighting Illini in rushing with 105 yards. He averaged 5 yards per carry on his 20 rushing attempts for the game. Malik Turner was the team leader in receiving with a total of 126 yards and 11 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 11 yards per reception. Illinois had 433 total yards on 83 plays. They gained 11 rushing first downs, 15 passing, and 2 by way of penalty for a total of 28 first downs on the game. The Fighting Illini rushed for 154 yards by way of 35 carries.

Northwestern is averaging 20.4 points per game on the offensive side of the ball. They are completing 13.5 passes per game on 26.7 attempts for a 50.3 percent completion percentage and average 138.7 yards in the passing department per game. The Wildcats are running for an average of 192.3 yards per game on 46.3 attempts for an average of 4.2 yards per carry. They are also running 73 plays per game and average 4.5 yards per play for an average of 331 yards per contest. The Wildcats manage 17.7 first downs per contest and they average a total of 42.8 penalty yards on 4.9 penalties.

Northwestern gives up an average of 188.3 passing yards and 16.6 points per game on the defensive side of the ball. They allow 18.9 completions per game on 34.6 attempts for a completion percentage of 54.6. The Wildcats allow an average of 121.5 rushing yards per game on 34.5 carries for a 3.5 average. Northwestern allows 309.7 total yards per game including 4.5 yards per play. They force 1.8 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 4.3 penalties for 35.9 yards per game.

Illinois is putting 23.5 points on the board per game on the offensive side of the ball. They complete 24.1 passes per game on 43.5 attempts for a 55.4 percent completion percentage and average 243.6 yards in the passing department for each outing. The Fighting Illini run for an average of 133.9 yards per game on 32.5 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per carry this season. They also run 75.9 plays per game and average 5 yards per play for an average of 377.5 yards in each contest. The Fighting Illini are gaining 20.8 first downs per contest and they average 48.5 penalty yards on 5.5 penalties per game.

Illinois gives up 187.4 passing yards per outing and 23.2 points per game on the defensive side of the ball. They allow an average of 19.2 completions on 33.3 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 57.7. The Fighting Illini allow an average of 163.5 rushing yards per game on 37.7 carries for an average of 4.3 yards per carry. Illinois allows 350.9 total yards per game for an average of 4.9 yards per play. They force 1.7 turnovers per contest and 5.6 penalties for 47.7 yards in each contest.

Northwestern Betting Trends

Northwestern is 4-7-0 against the over/under so far this season

Northwestern has an ATS record of 7-4-0 this season

Illinois Betting Trends

Illinois is 4-7-0 against the over/under so far this season

Illinois has an ATS record of 5-6-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Northwestern

11/13/15 LB Jaylen Prater Knee out for season
11/02/15 OL Adam DePietro Leg out for season
10/09/15 WR Flynn Nagel Arm out indefinitely
09/28/15 DB Kyle Queiro Arm out indefinitely
08/29/15 RB Jayme Taylor Ankle out indefinitely

Illinois

11/22/15 DL Brandon Roberts Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/22/15 RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn Concussion "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/22/15 LB Sean Adesanya Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/12/15 LB Julian Jones Suspension out indefinitely
10/09/15 DB Patrick Nelson Undisclosed out for season
09/22/15 TE Tyler White ACL out for season
09/15/15 OL Zach Heath Leg expected to miss 2-3 weeks
08/26/15 DL Teko Powell Foot out for season
08/24/15 RB Dre Brown Knee out for season
08/24/15 WR Justin Hardee Foot out indefinitely
08/24/15 WR Mike Dudek Knee out indefinitely
08/24/15 RB Reggie Corbin Shoulder out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Illinois

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