Illinois at Connecticut NCAA Football Picks Against the Spread 9/7/2019

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field

Brandon Peters and the Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Rentschler Field on Saturday where they'll meet the Connecticut Huskies. Illinois opens this matchup as 18-point favorites. The O/U has been set at 64.

In their last game, the Illinois Fighting Illini took on the Akron Zips and took home the victory by a score of 42-3. Taking the lead at quarterback for the Fighting Illini was Brandon Peters who went 14/23 with 163 yards through the air and threw 3 touchdowns. He ended the game with no interceptions. Mike Epstein led the team on the ground in this game. He broke a long run for 14 yards but he wasn't able to run one in for a touchdown. He racked up a total of 45 yards on 8 carries which gave him an average of 5.6 yards per carry. Ricky Smalling led the team in receiving yardage with a tally of 54 yards on 4 catches. He averaged 13.5 yards per catch in this game.

The Fighting Illini come into this matchup with a record of 1-0 this year. They are one of top scoring teams in the nation with an average of 42 points per contest, ranking them 30th in Division 1. As a team, they are averaging 207 rushing yards per contest which is 7th in the Big Ten. For total yards, they currently sit at 10th in the Big Ten and 74th in Division 1 with 401 yards. When it comes to getting in the endzone, the Fighting Illini have compiled a total of 3 passing TDs and 3 rushing TDs. They are a team that has one of the most potent offenses in the Big Ten Conference and they have the ability to run the score up on teams.

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The Fighting Illini have one of the top tier defenses in the country allowing 3 points per contest, putting them 3rd in the Big Ten Conference and 6th in college football. In regard to yards rushing, Illinois is allowing 64 yards per contest putting them 7th in the Big Ten Conference and 26th in D-1. Opposing teams are running for an average of 1.7 yards per carry putting them 6th in the Big Ten Conference and 18th in Division 1 overall. In total, they have conceded 64 rushing yards through 1 game. When it comes to yards through the air, the Fighting Illini have conceded 194 yards. Teams are completing 42.9% of the throws they are attempting against them and averaging 4.6 yards per try. They have conceded 0 passing TDs and 0 rushing TDs.

In their last outing, the Connecticut Huskies faced the Wagner Seahawks and left there with a win by a score of 24-21. Kevin Mensah led the team on the ground in this outing. He had a long run of 24 yards and he ran for 1 touchdown for this game. He ran for 144 yards by way of 36 carries which had him averaging 4.0 yards per run. Matt Drayton was the receiving yardage leader with a tally of 51 yards on 5 catches. He had an average of 10.2 yards per reception in this outing. Leading the way at QB for the Huskies was Mike Beaudry who went 14/21 with 158 yards through the air but wasn't able to get any balls in the endzone via the pass. He tossed 1 interception in this game.

The Huskies head into this matchup 1-0. Connecticut has showed the league they have a potent rushing attack by averaging 234 yards per contest, putting them 35th in Division 1. As a team, they have a total of 234 rushing yards through 1 game, and if they want to continue their dominance, they'll want to keep running the ball. The Huskies average 392 yards per game overall putting them 78th in college football and 8th in the American Athletic Conference. When looking at their ability to score points, the Huskies currently sit at 8th in the American Athletic Conference and 86th out of all the teams in the nation averaging 24 points per contest.

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The Huskies are allowing 21 points per contest ranking them 7th in the conference and 57th in the country. Their passing defense is one of the most dominate groups in D-1. They are allowing 82 passing yards per game. For yards through the air allowed per game, the Huskies are ranked 1st in the conference. They have allowed 0 passing touchdowns for this year. In discussing points allowed, they have allowed 21 total points. When it comes to yards on the ground, they are giving up 103 yards per game which puts them at 54th in the nation and 8th in the American Athletic Conference. For this year, they have allowed a total of 103 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Huskies +18

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