Penn State at Illinois College Football Picks and Predictions 9/22/2018

Friday, September 21, 2018

Memorial Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium on Friday, September 21, 2018. The opening line for this game has Penn State as 27 point favorites. The Fighting Illini have an over/under record of 0-3-0 and they are 2-1-0 against the spread. The Nittany Lions have an ATS record of 2-1-0 while their over/under record is 3-0-0.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 3-0-0 against the over/under

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 2-1-0 against the spread

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 0-3-0 against the over/under

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 2-1-0 against the spread

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

09/16/18 DE Shane Simmons Undisclosed is questionable Friday vs Illinois
08/28/18 LB Manny Bowen Left Team is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

09/16/18 QB AJ Bush Leg is questionable Friday vs Penn State
09/16/18 DB Delano Ware Undisclosed is questionable Friday vs Penn State
09/16/18 WR Ricky Smalling Foot is questionable Friday vs Penn State
09/16/18 DB Sydney Brown Undisclosed is questionable Friday vs Penn State
09/11/18 WR Edwin Carter Knee is out for season
09/07/18 QB Cam Thomas Personal has left team
09/03/18 WR Mike Dudek Knee is out for season
09/01/18 DB Bennett Williams Suspension is out indefinitely
09/01/18 WR Carmoni Green Suspension is out indefinitely
09/01/18 DL Deon Pate Suspension is out indefinitely
09/01/18 TE Louis Dorsey Suspension is out indefinitely
09/01/18 DB Nate Hobbs Suspension is out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Penn State Nittany Lions have run for 712 yards as a team, which ranks 23rd in college football. They've run 121 times, averaging 5.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Nittany Lions have been penalized on offense 15 times for 164 yards so far this season, which has them 99th in the country in penalties. They are 6th in the nation in points scored with 159. They have run 213 plays this season for 1,491 yards, which ranks them 40th in Division 1 in total offense. The Nittany Lions average 7 yards per play, which is 23rd in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 72 1st downs this year, placing them 38th overall as an offensive unit. Trace McSorley averages 6.9 yards per pass attempt and 7.5 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 46 passes on 88 attempts for a completion percentage of 52.3%. His quarterback rating this year is 126.4. He has thrown for 604 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Nittany Lions rush defense has allowed 125 attempts for 447 yards this year, putting them in 73rd place in D-1 against the run. Penn State has committed 33 penalties for 299 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 126th in college football. They are 42nd in the nation in points allowed on defense with 54. They have surrendered a total of 974 yards on D, which is 50th in the country. The Nittany Lions are ranked 17th in yards per play allowed with 4.4. Opposing offenses have completed 56 passes on 97 attempts against the Penn State Nittany Lions defense this season, placing them 77th and 77th in Division 1. The Penn State pass defense has also given up a total of 527 yards through the air, which is 43rd overall in total pass defense.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Fighting Illini are 73rd in the country in points scored with 84. They have run 216 plays this year for 1,243 yards, which ranks them 110th in Division 1 in total offense. The Illinois Fighting Illini average 5.8 yards per play, which is 72nd in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 63 1st downs this season, ranking them 62nd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Illinois has run for 747 yards as a unit, which ranks 19th in college football. They've run 141 times, averaging 5.3 yards per rush as a unit. Illinois has been penalized on offense 23 times for 235 yards so far this year, which has them 26th in the country in penalties. M.J. Rivers has passed for 273 yards this year. He's completed 29 throws while attempting 45 passes for a completion percentage of 64.4%. His quarterback rating this season is 130.1. He averages 7 adjusted yards per throw and 6.1 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Illinois is 56th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 63. They have given up a total of 1,441 yards on D, which is 115th in D-1. The Fighting Illini are 106th in yards per play allowed with 6.3. Opponent offenses have completed 77 throws on 123 attempts against the Illinois defense this season, ranking them 123rd and 122nd in the nation. The Illinois Fighting Illini pass defense has also surrendered a total of 976 yards in the air, which is 122nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 107 attempts for 465 yards this season, putting them in 75th place in the country against the run. The Fighting Illini have had 25 penalties for 219 yards on defense this year. That places them 107th in college football.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Fighting Illini +27

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