Kent State at Illinois College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Memorial Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 14.5 point favorites. The Fighting Illini had an over/under record of 5-7-0 and they were 5-7-0 against the spread last year. The Golden Flashes had an ATS record of 4-8-0 while their over/under record was 6-6-0.

Valuable Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Trends

The Kent State Golden Flashes were 6-6-0 against the over/under last season

The Kent State Golden Flashes were 4-8-0 against the spread last year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini were 5-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Illinois Fighting Illini were 5-7-0 against the spread last year

Key Kent State Golden Flashes Injuries

08/19/18 OL Adam Gregoire Knee is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

08/11/18 DL Jamal Milan Knee is questionable Saturday vs Kent State

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Kent State Golden Flashes ran for 1,830 yards as a team last year, which ranked 87th in college football. They ran 518 times, averaging 3.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Golden Flashes were penalized on offense 94 times for 895 yards last season, which had them 17th in the country in penalties. They were 129th in the nation in points scored with 154. They ran 752 plays last season for 3,302 yards, which ranked them 124th in Division 1 in total offense. The Golden Flashes averaged 4.4 yards per play, which was 129th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 169 1st downs last year, placing them 127th overall as an offensive unit.

Defensive Statistics

The Golden Flashes rush defense allowed 485 attempts for 2,592 yards last year, putting them in 110th place in D-1 against the run. Kent State committed 80 penalties for 661 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 69th in college football. They were 108th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 421. They surrendered a total of 4,933 yards on D, which was 67th in the country. The Golden Flashes were ranked 107th in yards per play allowed with 6.3. Opposing offenses completed 169 passes on 301 attempts against the Kent State Golden Flashes defense last season, placing them 8th and 5th in Division 1. The Kent State pass defense also gave up a total of 2,341 yards through the air, which was 21st overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Kent State Golden Flashes attempted 16 field goals last season and made 10, which was 107th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 60%. Kent State Golden Flashes kickers made 88% of their extra points, going 14 for 16 last year. Their punters totaled 3,529 yards on 82 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That placed them 36th in Division 1 in punting average. Kent State was ranked 40th in the nation in punt returns with 22 last year. They accumulated 121 punt return yards and averaged 5.8 yards per return, which was 92nd in college football. They returned 52 kicks for 883 yards on special teams, ranking 40th in kick return yardage. The Golden Flashes averaged 17 yards per kick return and they were 126th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,307.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Fighting Illini were 127th in the country in points scored with 185 last season. They ran 725 plays last year for 3,365 yards, which ranked them 110th in Division 1 in total offense. The Illinois Fighting Illini averaged 4.6 yards per play, which was 124th in the nation. As a team they accumulated a total of 174 1st downs last season, ranking them 126th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Illinois ran for 1,267 yards, which ranked 124th in college football. They ran 386 times, averaging 3.3 yards per rush as a unit. The Fighting Illini were penalized on offense 85 times for 768 yards last year, which had them 32nd in the country in penalties.

Defensive Statistics

Illinois was 85th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 378 last year. They gave up a total of 5,021 yards on D, which was 73rd in D-1. The Fighting Illini were 71st in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Opponent offenses completed 202 throws on 340 attempts against the Illinois defense last season, ranking them 30th and 27th in the nation. The Illinois Fighting Illini pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,399 yards in the air, which was 23rd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 548 attempts for 2,622 yards last season, putting them in 112th place in the country against the run. The Fighting Illini had 76 penalties for 703 yards on defense last year. That placed them 79th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Illinois was 109th in the country in punt returns with 12 last season. They totaled 74 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 84th in D-1. They returned 36 kicks for 694 yards on special teams, which put them 81st in kick return yardage. The Illinois Fighting Illini averaged 19 yards per kick return and they were 128th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 4,133. The Fighting Illini tried 17 field goals last year and made 12, which was 86th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 71%. Illinois kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 17 for 17 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,268 yards on 78 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranked them 66th in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Golden Flashes/Fighting Illini college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Golden Flashes +14.5

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