Illinois Fighting Illini vs Northwestern Wildcats Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 11/26/2022

Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, November 26, 2022

Venue:  Ryan Field, Evanston, IL

Where to Watch:  Big Ten Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Illinois -14.5, Northwestern +14.5; Over/Under:  38 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Illinois -14.5, Northwestern +14.5; Over/Under:  38 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Illinois -14.5, Northwestern +14.5; Over/Under:  37 points

 

Illinois Fighting Illini:  7-4 (4-4) (4th place, Big Ten West)

Northwestern Wildcats:  1-10 (1-7) (7th place, Big Ten West)

 

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Illinois Fighting Illini:  lost their last game on the road against the Michigan Wolverines 19-17.

Northwestern Wildcats:  lost their last game on the road against the Purdue Boilermakers 17-9.

 

Illinois is entering this game with a 7-4 record overall to start their college football season and they will be playing their 5th road game of the season here as they are 2-2 in their road games this year. This will also be their 9th conference game of the college football season this year as they are 4-4. They lost against the Michigan Wolverines in their last game on the road 19-17. Tommy Devito started that game at QB and he completed 21/30 passes for 178 yards. Chase Brown led the team in rushing with 140 yards and 2 TDs on 29 rushing attempts. Casey Washington led the team in receiving with 53 yards on 6 receptions. Sydney Brown led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles. No one on the defense recorded a sack for them and no one on the defense came away with an interception in that one.

 

 

 

Northwestern is entering this game with a 1-10 record overall to start their college football season and they will be playing their 6th home game of the season as they are 0-5 in their home games this year. This will also be the 9th conference matchup on their conference schedule this season as they are 1-7. They lost against the Purdue Boilermakers in their last game on the road 17-9. Cole Freeman started that game at QB and he completed 9/20 passes for 78 yards and 1 touchdown. Evan Hull led the team in rushing with 105 yards and 1 TD on 22 carries. Malik Washington led the team in receiving with 22 yards on 3 receptions. Bryce Gallagher led the defense in that game with 7 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles. Sean McLaughlin led the defense in sacks with 1 while no one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Northwestern listed as a 14.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Northwestern has been terrible all year as they only have 1 win in 11 games but they have been keeping their losses much closer in their games lately. They are 0-5 at home this season with their only win of the year coming on the road, but they will be looking to end their season off with their 1st home win here since they have nothing else to play for. Illinois doesn't have anything left to play for either, they have been slipping in their games lately which led to them blowing their chance at the Big Ten Championship and they already have enough wins to go to a bowl game this year. Illinois is also coming off a very close loss in their last game against the 3rd ranked team in the country, losing 19-17 on the road in Michigan, and they will likely be due for a letdown here after that very close game where they put a lot of effort into trying to beat Michigan. Illinois still has a bowl game this year while this will be Northwestern's final game of the season and they will come with their best effort here. The best way to place a bet here is on Northwestern to cover the spread in this game.

 

Illinois Northwestern Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, November 26, 2022 (3:30 pm ET start time) is Illinois 24 Northwestern 16.

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Illinois Fighting Illini: 11-20 ATS when the total is 42 or less. 19-10 UNDER in all games. 19-12 UNDER when the total is 42 or less.

Northwestern Wildcats: 20-11 ATS after scoring and allowing 17 or less points. 19-11 UNDER in all games. 11-3 UNDER in home games.

 

 

Illinois Fighting Illini:  T. Nicholson (DB) out for season - Concussion. A. Laughery (RB) Mid Dec - Undisclosed. E. Holmes (LB) out for season - Knee.

Northwestern Wildcats:  B. Sullivan (QB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. R. Hilinski (QB) Ques Sat - Leg. C. Azema (DB) out for season - Undisclosed.

 

 

“Very angry. Very upset. Think our kids did a lot to win the football game and to continually have things go against us, very frustrating. You have to stand up for the people you believe in. I believe in that locker room big time. I know they’ll rise up to the challenge once again.” - Bret Bielema after his team’s loss against Michigan in their last game.

 

 

"He gave everything he's got and that was no surprise to anyone here. That's the way he's been since he came into the locker room. We just had to make a couple more plays. Purdue is in the driver's seat in the Big Ten West for a reason." - Pat Fitzgerald after his team’s loss against Purdue in their last game.

 

 

 

WR Hightower, Brian

WR Bryant, Pat

WR Williams, Isaiah 

TE Reiman, Tip 

QB DeVito, Tommy 

RB Brown, Chase 

 

WR Washington, Malik

WR Kirtz, Bryce

WR Navarro III, Donny 

TE Gordon, Thomas

QB Sullivan, Brendan

RB Hull, Evan 

 

 

Passing: T. Devito (2258)

Rushing: C. Brown (1582)

Receiving: I. Williams (579)

Touchdowns: C. Brown (12)

 

Passing: R. Hilinski (1619)

Rushing: E. Hull (860)

Receiving: M. Washington (638)

Touchdowns: E. Hull (7)

 

Coaches:

Illinois Fighting Illini: Bret Bielema (2nd season)

Northwestern Wildcats: Pat Fitzgerald (17th season)