Saturday, October 1, 2016

Memorial Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Memorial Stadium. The opening line for this game has Nebraska as 21.5 point favorites. This season the Fighting Illini are 1-2-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 1-2-0. The Cornhuskers have an over/under record of 1-3-0 and they are 3-0-1 against the spread.

Wes Lunt finished with 312 yards through the air for Illinois last week. He completed 29 passes out of 42 attempts for a 69% completion percentage. The Fighting Illini were led in rushing by Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who finished with 22 yards on 8 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 3 yards per carry. Malik Turner was the team leader in receiving with a total of 107 yards and 9 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 12 yards per reception. As a team in that game Illinois got a total of 15 first downs. Of those first downs, 1 came on the ground while 14 came through the air. They ran 57 total plays for 315 yards for the game. The Fighting Illini ran for 3 yards on 15 attempts.

Tommy Armstrong finished with 246 yards passing for Nebraska last week. He went 18 for 29, resulting in a 62% completion percentage. The Cornhuskers were led on the ground by Tommy Armstrong, who finished with 132 yards on 13 carries. He ended the game with an average of 10 yards per rush. Alonzo Moore led the team in receiving with 72 yards and 3 catches. He finished the game with an average of 24 yards per reception. Nebraska had 26 first downs total. 12 came from running the ball and 12 came from a pass. They ran 76 total plays for 556 yards for the contest. The Cornhuskers ran for 310 yards on 47 carries as a team.

Illinois scores 28.3 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 76th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 20.7 passes on 33.7 attempts for a 61.4 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 222.3 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 73rd in college football. The Fighting Illini run for an average of 157.3 yards per game on 30.3 attempts for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. That ranks them 88th in the nation. They also run 64 plays per contest and average 5.9 yards per play for an average of 379.7 yards per game, ranking their offense 92nd overall this season. The Fighting Illini average 17 first downs per game which ranks them 113th in the country. They accumulate 67.3 penalty yards per game via 9 penalties, which ranks 30th in the nation.

Illinois allows 196.7 passing yards per game, ranking 40th in D-1, and they allow 28.3 points per contest on defense, which ranks 79th. They give up 16.3 completions on 24.3 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 67.1. The Fighting Illini allow 158 rushing yards per game on 39 carries for an average of 4.1 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 70th in the country. Illinois allows 354.7 total yards per game including 5.6 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 40th in terms of yards per game. They force 1.3 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 5 penalties for 37 yards per game, ranking them 11th among D-1 teams.

Nebraska averages 38.5 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 38th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 15.5 passes per game on 28 attempts for a 55.4 percent completion percentage. They throw for 243 yards through the air per game, ranking them 55th in Division 1. The Cornhuskers run for an average of 242 yards per game on 47 attempts for an average of 5.1 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 22nd on the ground. They also run 75 plays per game and average 6.5 yards per play for a total of 485 yards per game, ranking them 31st in the country on offense. The Cornhuskers get an average of 24.3 first downs per game, which ranks 34th in the nation. They average 72 penalty yards per game via 6.3 penalties, ranking them 24th in college football.

Nebraska allows an average of 207.3 passing yards yards per game, which ranks 50th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 18 points per contest, which has them ranked 26th in the nation. They give up 19.8 completions on 34 attempts for a completion percentage of 58.1 per game. The Cornhuskers allow 158.8 rushing yards per contest on 34 carries for a 4.7 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 71st in the country. Nebraska allows 366 total yards per game for an average of 5.4 yards per play, which ranks 49th in D-1. They force 2.5 turnovers per contest and 7 penalties for 58.3 yards in each contest, ranking 74th in the nation.

Illinois Betting Trends

Illinois is 1-2-0 against the over/under this season

Illinois has an ATS record of 1-2-0 this season

Nebraska Betting Trends

Nebraska is 1-3-0 against the over/under this season

Nebraska has an ATS record of 3-0-1 this season

Injuries to Watch

Illinois

09/25/16 OL Gabe Megginson Leg "?" Saturday vs. Nebraska
09/17/16 DB Caleb Day ACL out for season
09/08/16 RB Dre Brown ACL out indefinitely
09/08/16 WR Mike Dudek ACL out indefinitely

Nebraska

09/25/16 WR Alonzo Moore Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Illinois
08/19/16 OL Corey Whitaker Knee out indefinitely
08/19/16 OL Jerald Foster Knee out for season

Guy's Pick: Take Illinois

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn