Saturday, September 17, 2016

Memorial Stadium

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The Western Michigan Broncos take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Memorial Stadium. The opening line for this game has Western Michigan as 3.5 point favorites. This season the Broncos are 2-0-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 1-1-0. The Fighting Illini have an over/under record of 1-1-0 and they are 1-1-0 against the spread.

Zach Terrell finished with 255 yards through the air for Western Michigan last week. He completed 15 passes out of 22 attempts for a 68% completion percentage. The Broncos were led in rushing by Jamauri Bogan, who finished with 131 yards on 17 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 8 yards per carry. Corey Davis was the team leader in receiving with a total of 150 yards and 7 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 21 yards per reception. As a team in that game Western Michigan got a total of 31 first downs. Of those first downs, 22 came on the ground while 8 came through the air. They ran 84 total plays for 614 yards for the game. The Broncos ran for 359 yards on 61 attempts.

Wes Lunt finished with 127 yards through the air for Illinois last week. He completed 17 passes out of 35 attempts for a 49% completion percentage. The Fighting Illini were led in rushing by Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who finished with 116 yards on 15 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 8 yards per carry. Malik Turner was the team leader in receiving with a total of 33 yards and 3 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 11 yards per reception. Illinois got a total of 15 first downs in that game. 8 came from running the ball and 5 came from a pass. They ran 71 total plays for 309 yards for the game. The Fighting Illini ran for 182 yards on 36 attempts.

Western Michigan scores 46 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 20th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 20.5 passes on 29.5 attempts for a 69.5 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 236.5 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 61st in college football. The Broncos run for an average of 278.5 yards per game on 54.5 attempts for an average of 5.1 yards per carry. That ranks them 13th in the nation. They also run 84 plays per contest and average 6.1 yards per play for an average of 515 yards per game, ranking their offense 26th overall this season. The Broncos average 29 first downs per game which ranks them 14th in the country. They accumulate 56 penalty yards per game via 5 penalties, which ranks 60th in the nation.

Western Michigan allows 202.5 passing yards per game, ranking 59th in D-1, and they allow 21 points per contest on defense, which ranks 55th. They give up 15 completions on 25.5 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 58.8. The Broncos allow 114.5 rushing yards per game on 30.5 carries for an average of 3.8 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 44th in the country. Western Michigan allows 317 total yards per game including 5.7 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 44th in terms of yards per game. They force 0.5 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 6.5 penalties for 58 yards per game, ranking them 73rd among D-1 teams.

Illinois averages 37.5 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 47th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 16.5 passes per game on 29.5 attempts for a 55.9 percent completion percentage. They throw for 177.5 yards through the air per game, ranking them 99th in Division 1. The Fighting Illini run for an average of 234.5 yards per game on 38 attempts for an average of 6.2 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 31st on the ground. They also run 67.5 plays per game and average 6.1 yards per play for a total of 412 yards per game, ranking them 67th in the country on offense. The Fighting Illini get an average of 18 first downs per game, which ranks 98th in the nation. They average 77 penalty yards per game via 10 penalties, ranking them 22nd in college football.

Illinois allows an average of 220 passing yards yards per game, which ranks 67th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 25.5 points per contest, which has them ranked 72nd in the nation. They give up 20 completions on 30 attempts for a completion percentage of 66.7 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 93.5 rushing yards per contest on 31.5 carries for a 3 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 28th in the country. Illinois allows 313.5 total yards per game for an average of 5.1 yards per play, which ranks 41st in D-1. They force 2 turnovers per contest and 5 penalties for 37.5 yards in each contest, ranking 20th in the nation.

Western Michigan Betting Trends

Western Michigan is 1-1-0 against the over/under this season

Western Michigan has an ATS record of 2-0-0 this season

Illinois Betting Trends

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

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

Injuries to Watch

Western Michigan

09/11/16 LB Robert Spillane Possible Suspension "?" for 1st Half Saturday vs. Illinois
08/29/16 WR Bryson White Dismissed has been dismissed
08/29/16 LB Ron George Dismissed has been dismissed

Illinois

09/11/16 DB Caleb Day Leg injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Western Michigan
09/08/16 RB Dre Brown ACL out indefinitely
09/08/16 WR Mike Dudek ACL out indefinitely

Josh's Pick: Take Illinois

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