Game Information
#12 Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0) vs Western Illinois Leathernecks (0-0)
Time: 6:30pm CT Friday
How to watch: Peacock
DraftKings Odds
Spread: Illinois -45.5
Total: 63.5
The Illinois Fighting Illini begin their much-anticipated season on Friday when they host the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Memorial Stadium.
Illinois opens the year ranked 12th in the country and with a win total of 7.5 on DraftKings, with the over highly juiced at -175 and the under at +145. Getting win #1 on Friday should be a given, but the question for bettors is whether the Illini can cover the massive 45.5 point spread.
Western Illinois went 4-8 last season and had one of the worst defenses in the FCS, giving up over 43 points per game. The Leathernecks played another Big Ten school last year in Indiana, and the Hoosiers took their measure by an eye-popping score of 77-3.
If that game is any indication, Illinois should be able to name the score here. The Illini return a Big Ten-leading 16 starters from last season’s team that went 10-3, including a Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer and company have playoff aspirations this season. They’ll be motivated to put up style points when they get the chance, but this will also likely be a situation where backups see plenty of action in the second half.
The oddsmakers expect an Illinois rout here, but the public has indicated the books didn’t set the line high enough. The line opened at Illinois -39.5, but it has been bet up 6 points to the current number of 45.5.
As a general rule of thumb when it comes to sports betting, I HATE getting the worst of the number. There are not many worse feelings as a gambler than losing a wager that you would have won if you placed the bet earlier at a better number. So if you bet Illinois now at -45.5 and they end up winning by 42, you can complain if you’d like, but don’t say you haven’t been warned about the potential consequences.
With all that said, I will not be betting this game. But if you’re adamant you want some action here, feel free to take your chances and roll with Illinois. All the elements are there for this to be a special season in Champaign, so hopefully the Illini can reward their fans and backers by covering for them.
Lean (and an unenthusiastic lean): Illinois -45.5 at -110 on DraftKings
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Wednesday night on the STL Sports Central YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Picks = betting the game - minus odds betting to win 1 unit, plus odds risking 1 unit. Leans = no strong opinion, not betting the game. Disclaimer