Illinois Fighting Illini vs Northwestern Wildcats Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 11/30/2024

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, November 30, 2024

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to Watch:  Big Ten Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Illinois -7.5, Northwestern +7.5; Over/Under:  44 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Illinois -7.5, Northwestern +7.5; Over/Under:  44 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Illinois -7.5, Northwestern +7.5; Over/Under:  43.5 points

Illinois Fighting Illini:  8-3 (5-3) (5th place, Big Ten)

Northwestern Wildcats:  4-7 (2-6) (16th place, Big Ten)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Sean Murphy is on a HOT STREAK in college football on a 27-12-1 CFB RUN for +$13,830 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  won their last game on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 38-31.

Northwestern Wildcats:  lost their last game on the road against the Michigan Wolverines 50-6.

Illinois is entering this game with an 8-3 record overall and they have a 5-3 record in their conference games too. They are 6-1 in their home games, 2-2 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Rutgers 38-31. Luke Altmyer was the starting QB and he completed 12/26 passes for 249 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Luke Altmyer led the team in rushing yards with 74 and 1 TD. Pat Bryant led the receivers with 197 receiving yards on 7 receptions and 1 TD. Matthew Bailey led the defense in that game with 7 solo tackles and 4 assisted tackles while no one on the defense recorded a sack for them. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Northwestern is entering this game with a 4-7 record overall and they have a 2-6 record in their conference games too. They are 2-4 in their home games, 2-3 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They lost their last game against Michigan 50-6. Jack Lausch was the starting QB and he completed 10/21 passes for 106 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Cam Porter led the team in rushing yards with 24. Bryce Kirtz led the receivers with 67 receiving yards on 3 receptions. Damon Walters led the defense in that game with 7 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles while Aidan Hubbard led the defense in sacks with 1. Xander Mueller came away with the only interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Illinois listed as a 7.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Illinois has looked really good in their games this season with their 8-3 record overall and their 5-3 conference record which has them in the top half of the Big Ten. Their 3 losses don't really have them in playoff contention, but they are still a ranked team and are coming off a really nice win over Rutgers in their last one, winning that game with a last second hail mary. They are going to be really motivated to win this game since they have a real possibility to finish the season with 10 wins, including a win in their bowl game. Meanwhile, Northwestern has looked terrible in their games this season with their 4-7 record overall and their 2-6 conference record which has them at the bottom of the Big Ten. They haven't been the worst Big Ten team this season, but they have been getting blown out in a lot of their games and don't really have a great offense either. They are coming off a 50-6 loss to Michigan in their last one which has to have them feeling demotivated for this game, especially since they can't even play spoiler and don't have anything left to play for. Illinois isn't going to the CFP but they still have a 10 win season to play for and that will give them the motivation they need against a team that they are much better than on both sides of the ball. The best way to place a bet here is on Illinois to cover the spread in this game. 

Illinois Northwestern Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, November 30, 2024 (12:00 pm ET start time) is Illinois 31 Northwestern 7.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Illinois Fighting Illini Northwestern Wildcats prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAF predictions and previews.

Illinois Fighting Illini: 1-5 ATS off a road win. 1-5 ATS off a road win against a conference rival. 3-10 ATS after playing their last game on the road. 11-3 1H OVER in road lined games. 10-5 1H OVER when the total is between 42.5 and 49. 17-8 1H OVER against conference opponents. 

Northwestern Wildcats: 9-5 ATS when the total is between 42.5 and 49. 5-1 ATS after allowing 37 points or more last game. 9-5 ATS after playing their last game on the road. 11-5 OVER off a loss against a conference rival. 8-2 OVER off a road loss. 8-3 OVER after a loss by 17 or more points.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  T. Brooks (DB) Questionable - Undisclosed. J. Barna (OLB) Questionable - Undisclosed. M. Elzy (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. D. Brown (OLB) Questionable - Undisclosed. D. Rosiek (LB) Out - Leg. K. Feagin (RB) Out - Undisclosed. A. Hollins (WR) Out - Undisclosed. M. Muragin (OLB) Out - Undisclosed. C. Rusk (TE) Out - Knee.

Northwestern Wildcats:  O. Adeyi (DB) Out - Undisclosed. R. Ahumaraeze (WR) Out - Undisclosed. R. Hagarty (DL) Out - Undisclosed. J. Bailey (OL) Out - Undisclosed.

“Pat is so aware of his surroundings. He saw that corner and took off.” - Bret Bielema after his team’s win against Rutgers in their last game. 

“I told the team it was poor. It was embarrassing. We got dominated in all three phases of the game tonight.” - David Braun after his team’s loss against Michigan in their last game. 

WR Franklin, Zakhari

WR Bryant, Pat 

WR Dixon, Collin 

TE Arkin, Tanner

QB Altmyer, Luke

RB Laughery, Aidan 

WR Kirtz, Bryce

WR Covey IV, Frank

WR Henning, A.J.

TE Gordon, Thomas 

QB Lausch, Jack 

RB Porter, Cam

Passing: L. Altmyer (2373)

Rushing: J. McCray (449)

Receiving: P. Bryant (914)

Touchdowns: P. Bryant (9)

Passing: J. Lausch (1427)

Rushing: C. Porter (448)

Receiving: B. Kirtz (573)

Touchdowns: C. Porter (6)

Coaches:

Illinois Fighting Illini: Bret Bielema (4th season)

Northwestern Wildcats: David Braun (2nd season)