At 3:30 ET, the Wildcats and Fighting Illini meet at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL) for a week 13 NCAAF game. TV coverage is provided by BTN, and the game takes place on Saturday, November 25th. The odds for this week 13 Big Ten matchup have the Fighting Illini as the 5.5 point favorites at home. Are they a lock to cover vs. the Wildcats? Read on to find out.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VS ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI BETTING PICK

The Pick: Northwestern Wildcats +5.5

This game will be played at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL) at 3:30 ET on Saturday, November 25th.

WHY BET THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 27-22 in favor of Illinois.
  • Even though we have Illinois winning straight-up, we like Northwestern at +5.5.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 47.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 49 points.

Will Northwestern Shock Everyone at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)?

With a 6-5 record, the Northwestern Wildcats take on Illinois. Their road record so far is (1-3) and at home (3-2).

Northwestern has gone into two games as the favorite this season and seven games as the underdog. Their ATS record is currently 6-3.

In 11 games played, the average over/under line for Northwestern’s games has been set at 42.4 points. These contests have seen an average combined score of 42.8 points, resulting in an OU record of 4-5.

On the offensive side, Northwestern has averaged 20.7 points per game this season. This figure has them 86th in the NCAA. Their passing game, averaging 197 passing yards, is ranked 94th nationally. In terms of rushing, they’re 114th in rushing yards with an average of 381 rushing attempts per contest this season.

This season, the Wildcats’ defense has yielded an average of 165.5 rushing yards, earning them a rank of 99th. Opponents have an average of 177.9 passing yards, with opposing quarterbacks attaining a passer rating of 81.4 when facing Northwestern. They are currently 72nd in points allowed in NCAA rankings.

Will Illinois Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

So far, the Illinois Fighting Illini are 5-6, including going 2-3 on the road and 2-3 at home.

So far, Illinois has been favored three times and the underdog in six games. This has led to an ATS record of 3-7 and an average scoring differential of -5.2.

This season, Illinois has posted an over/under record of 4-5-1 through 11 games. On average their games have combined for 50.8 points.

The Fighting Illini’s offense is gearing up to take on Northwestern, with an average of 128.5 rushing yards per game and an 3 yards per attempt. In the college football rankings, they are currently in 97th place for rushing yards and 45th place for passing yards, accumulating an average of 257 yards per contest. Illinois’ overall scoring average is at 22.8 points per game, placing them 76th rank nationally.

Coming into this week’s game, the Illinois defense is 116th in points allowed at 28 points per game. So far, team’s have averaged 227.5 passing yards per game vs. the unit (100th). On the ground, they are giving up 152.2 rushing yards, putting them 86th in college football.