Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/16/2023

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 16, 2023

Venue:  University of Illinois Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL

Where to Watch:  FOX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  PSU -14.5, Illinois +14.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  PSU -14.5, Illinois +14.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  PSU -14.5, Illinois +14.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

Penn State Nittany Lions:  2-0 (0-0) (3rd place, Big Ten East)

Illinois Fighting Illini:  1-1 (0-0) (5th place, Big Ten West)

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Penn State Nittany Lions:  won their last game at home against the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 63-7.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  lost their last game on the road against the Kansas Jayhawks 34-23.

Penn State is entering this game with a 2-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 2-0 in their home games, 0-0 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 Delaware 63-7. Drew Allar was the starting QB and he completed 22/26 passes for 204 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions. Kaytron Allen led the team in rushing yards with 103 and 1 TD. KeAndre Lambert-Smith led the receivers with 74 receiving yards on 6 receptions. Abdul Carter led the defense in that game with 3 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Zane Durant, Jaylen Reed, Zuriah Fisher, and Jameial Lyons each led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that game.

 

 

 

Illinois is entering this game with a 1-1 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-1 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 Kansas 34-23. Luke Altmyer was the starting QB and he completed 19/28 passes for 202 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Luke Altmyer led the team in rushing yards with 70 and 2 TDs. Isaiah Williams led the receivers with 99 receiving yards on 6 receptions. Xavier Scott led the defense in that game with 8 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while Jer'Zhan Newton led the defense in sacks with 2. Xavier Scott came away with the only interception for them in that game.

The current betting odds have Illinois listed as a 14.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Illinois hasn't looked good in their first 2 games this season as they barely beat Toledo at home by 2 points in a game they were trailing in and then they went on the road and got smacked by Kansas. They started to look a lot better on offense in the 2nd half of that loss to Kansas though and with 2 games under their belt now, their defense will play better in this home game. Penn State has looked really good in their 2 games this year but they also haven't really played anyone strong and this will be their 1st road game of the season. This is also a conference game so Illinois isn't going to let this game go so easily, especially being at home here. Illinois will respond in this home game with a better effort on defense and with the offense moving the ball well, they will keep themselves in this game. The best way to place a bet here is on Illinois to cover the spread in this game. 

Penn State Illinois Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 16, 2023 (12:00 pm ET start time) is Penn State 31 Illinois 24.

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Penn State Nittany Lions: 10-2 ATS as a road favorite of 14.5 to 21 points. 18-9 ATS in all games. 11-6 ATS against conference opponents. 35-21 UNDER after playing 2 straight non-conference games. 8-2 UNDER after 2 consecutive games where they committed no turnovers.

Illinois Fighting Illini: 16-23 ATS in a home game where the total is between 42.5 and 49. 23-35 ATS after playing 2 straight non-conference games. 11-2 UNDER as an underdog. 17-8 UNDER in all games.

Penn State Nittany Lions:  D. Kency (RB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. C. Izzard (DT) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. M. Robinson (DE) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. I. Harvie (OL) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. J. Green (S) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. D. Hardy (CB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. A. Vanover (DE) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. K. Kiesewetter (QB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. T. Johnson (WR) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. M. Meiga (WR) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. A. Ford Jr. (DT) out for season - Undisclosed.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  T. Rooks (DB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. E. Holmes (LB) Out indefinitely - Knee. M. Hood (LB) out for season - Achilles. J. Anderson (RB) out for season - Knee.

“Those guys have bought in to the idea that we have two starting tailbacks. Were going to play them both like starter reps.” - James Franklin after his team’s win against Delaware in their last game. 

“We still had plenty of time, we just had to manage it. We just haven't been in this moment and it's definitely something we have to correct. I promise you, in the Big Ten, we're going to have these exact scenarios.” - Bret Bielema after his team’s loss against Kansas in their last game. 

WR Wallace III, Harrison 

WR Lambert-Smith, KeAndre 

WR Clifford, Liam 

TE Johnson, Theo 

QB Allar, Drew 

RB Singleton, Nicholas 

WR Washington, Casey 

WR Bryant, Pat 

WR Williams, Isaiah 

TE Reiman, Tip 

QB Altmyer, Luke 

RB Love III, Reggie 

Passing: D. Allar (529)

Rushing: K. Allen (154)

Receiving: K. Lambert-Smith (197)

Touchdowns: N. Singleton (4)

Passing: L. Altmyer (413)

Rushing: L. Altmyer (139)

Receiving: I. Williams (150)

Touchdowns: P. Bryant (2)

Coaches:

Penn State Nittany Lions: James Franklin (10th season)

Illinois Fighting Illini: Bret Bielema (3rd season)