Illinois Fighting Illini vs Virginia Cavaliers Prediction, 9/11/2021 College Football Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Virginia Cavaliers

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021

Location: Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA

TV: ACCN

Odds/Point Spread: Cavaliers (-9.5)

Total/Over-Under: 55

Scott Stadium is where the Virginia Cavaliers (1-0) will attempt to beat the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-1) on Saturday. Illinois opens this game as 9.5-point dogs from Vegas oddsmakers. The total comes in at 55.

The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this matchup with a record of 1-1 for this season. In their last matchup, the Fighting Illini played the UTSA Roadrunners and went home with a loss by a final score of 37-30. Artur Sitkowski went 22/42 with 266 yds passing and 3 touchdowns. He had a quarterback rate of 129.2 and finished the game with no picks. Reggie Love III was the best rusher for the Fighting Illini with 11 carries for 39 yards (3.5 yards per attempt). On the day, they had 78 plays which totaled 412 yds. The Illinois Fighting Illini ended up rushing 35 times and totaled 146 yds, which is an average of 4.2 yards per tote. In the running game, the Fighting Illini gave up 217 yds on 50 tries, which is an average of 4.3 yds per run surrendered. Illinois surrendered 20 completions on 32 tries for a total of 280 yards, and a completion rate of 62.5%.

The Fighting Illini have tallied 738 total yards this season. In terms of getting the ball in the endzone, Illinois has compiled 5 passing touchdowns and 1 touchdown on the ground. Illinois has tallied 42 first downs as a team, and they have been hurt by 10 penalties for 101 yds. As a unit they're holding an average of 156.5 yards on the ground ranking them 67th in Division 1. Regarding scoring points, the Illinois Fighting Illini have an average of 30.0 PPG.

When it comes to yards through the air, the Fighting Illini have given up 512 yards which has them sitting in 139th in Division 1. They have given up 256.0 yards per game through the air as well as giving up a completion percentage of 56.3%. Over the course of this year, they are conceding 444.5 yards/game which puts them 117th in college football. They are giving up an average of 4.2 yards per rush on the ground and 188.5 rushing yards per game on the year. During the season, they have given up 377 rushing yards through 2 contests. The Fighting Illini are sitting in 100th in D-1 concerning team defense, giving up 29.5 points per game.

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The Cavaliers come into this matchup with a record of 1-0 for this season. In their last game, the Cavaliers took home the win by a final score of 43-0 against the William & Mary Tribe. Ira Armstead ran the ball 5 times for 54 yds, ending the game with 10.8 yds per attempt for Virginia. Brennan Armstrong (2 touchdowns) finished the game with 339 yards on 21/31 through the air while his quarterback rating was 180.9. He didn't toss any picks and his average yards per attempt was 10.9. Virginia gave up 37 running attempts for 94 yds (2.5 yds per rush). The Cavaliers passing defense gave up a completion rate of 62.5%, surrendering 89 yds on 10 out of 16 passing. The Cavaliers ended up finishing with 545 yds while they ran 64 plays (8.5 yds per play). Virginia rushed for 6.4 yards per tote, finishing the contest with 206 yds on 32 attempts.

The Virginia Cavaliers are averaging 545.0 yards per contest, which has them sitting 15th in D-1. The Virginia offense has compiled 22 yds of penalties on 2 violations, which is good for 122nd in college football in terms of giving up free yards. Over the course of the season so far, the Cavaliers have a total of 339 passing yards, which has them ranked 15th in college football. In relation to the points being put on the board, the Cavaliers sit 26th in the nation by tallying 43.0 PPG.

Virginia has allowed the opposition a total of 94 rushing yards. They have yielded 0 TDs from the passing game as well as 89.0 yards per contest, ranking them 21st in the country. The Cavaliers defense has participated in 53 plays, which is 25th in D-1. The Cavaliers are surrendering 0.0 PPG, which puts them 5th in D-1.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Fighting Illini +9.5

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