Events
NCAAF
Illinois
Fighting Illini
2 - 5
Penn State
Nittany Lions
5 - 1
October 23, 2021, 12:00 PM EDT
 | Beaver Stadium

Game Preview

Illinois
Fighting Illini
2 - 5
Penn State
Nittany Lions
5 - 1
October 23, 2021, 12:00 PM EDT
 | Beaver Stadium

  • The Penn State Nittany Lions (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) has been very good, with their only loss at then undefeated Iowa, while the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-5, 3-3-1) have been anything but. The host Nittany Lions opened as 24-point favorites and Illinois hasn’t scored more than 24 points in any of its last five games.

    Illinois Fighting Illini vs Penn State Nittany Lions
    • Date/Time: October 23, 12 noon ET
    • Stadium: Beaver Stadium
    • TV Coverage: ABC
    • Sportsbook Odds: Penn State -24 | O/U 46 (Line History)
    • Illinois vs Penn State Matchup Report

    Sportsbook Odds Analysis

    Illinois’ big season-Sportsbook win against Nebraska seems like a distant memory for a team that has managed just one victory since then. With Penn State’s defense one of the top units in the nation, it is easy to see how the Illini will struggle to score, making the 24 points very attainable for a Penn State squad that shut out its last Big Ten opponent, a much better Indiana team, 24-0.

    See Odds Shark’s Best College Football Betting Sites

    Illinois News & Notes

    The first Illinois season under Bret Bielema, known for a power run game, has not gone as planned as he has struggled to get the offense rolling. In the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, the lack of a run game has led to an anemic offense that hasn’t scored 25 points in any of its last five games. The Illini are averaging just 17.7 points per game, 120th in the FBS among 130 teams, and in fact have broken 20 points just once in their last five games.

    Illinois also has the worst passing offense in the Big Ten, averaging just 153.7 yards through the air per game. That’s almost 200 yards less per game than Ohio State, which leads the Big Ten in that category.

    It also doesn’t help that they still haven’t settled on a quarterback for this week. Brandon Peters is banged up, but could see time, as could Artur Sitkowski.

    Penn State News & Notes

    After winning two straight against ranked teams to start the year, James Franklin’s team couldn’t manage a third. Penn State suffered its first loss at Iowa after blowing a 14-3 lead after the first quarter. Fortunately, the Nittany Lions had a bye last week to regroup and will be ready for a bounce-back this week.

    Although Penn State has the fourth-ranked passing offense in the Big Ten, the offense is not what drives this team, which has averaged only 22 points per game against Power Five schools this year. Defensively, though, the Nittany Lions have the best scoring defense in the Big Ten, giving up just 13.8 points per game.

    Coming off a bye week healthy and rested, the Penn State defense should be in a position to reassert its dominance.

    How Illinois Will Cover

    The Fighting Illini defense will have to step up big time because the offense is unlikely to score more than 14 points, and even that is a stretch. If either Peters or Sitkowski can get to 200 passing yards and the team can get to 100 rush yards, they should be able to score enough to cover.

    How Penn State Will Cover

    The Nittany Lions simply have to do what they have done all year. If they are able to throw the ball efficiently, hold Illinois out of the end zone and limit turnovers, they will win this game going away and may even cover the spread by halftime.

    Computer Pick: Penn State -24

    For more college football predictions, visit our NCAAF Computer Picks page.

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    Shark Bites
    • Penn State is 6-0 SU in its last 6 home games.
    • The UNDER is 5-0 in Illinois’ last 5 games.
    • Penn State is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.
Back to Matchup

Odds

Saturday, October 23 Sat Oct 23

Opening
Current
Illinois
vsFinal
Penn State
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+23.5
-107
+1000
o44.5
-107
-23.5
-107
-2000
u44.5
-107
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+24.5
-105
+1150
o45.5
-112
-24.5
-115
-2500
u45.5
-108
Line History
Final

Edge Finder

26.00
 Total Score
33.43
216.43
 Passing Yards
245.14
199.71
 Rushing Yards
178.43
34:50
 Time on Field
29:39
77.00
 Number of Plays
68.29
5.40
 Yards Per Play
6.20
26.00
 Total Score
33.43
7.86
 First Quarter
6.00
7.14
 Second Quarter
12.14
6.86
 Third Quarter
8.71
4.14
 Fourth Quarter
6.57
216.43
 Passing Yards
245.14
31.57
 Pass Attempts
32.43
22.14
 Pass Completions
20.00
1.57
 Sacks
1.29
10.00
 Sack Yards
8.00
9.77
 Yards Per Pass
12.26
199.71
 Rushing Yards
178.43
45.43
 Rush Attempts
35.86
4.40
 Yards Per Rush
4.98
0.43
 Interceptions
0.43
1.71
 Fumbles
0.86
1.29
 Fumbles Lost
0.57
1.71
 Total Turnovers
1.00
6.71
 Penalties
5.57
61.86
 Penalty Yards
51.57
34:50
 Time on Field
29:39
77.00
 Number of Plays
68.29
5.40
 Yards Per Play
6.20
4.43
 Punts
4.29
36.91
 Punt Average
44.25
50.14
 Return Yards
68.57

Head To Head

ILL
 Stat Type PSU
2-8
 Record
8-2
5-5
 ATS
5-5
6-4
 O/U
6-4
16.60
 Score
32.70
146.00
 Rush Yds
211.50
34.20
 Pass Attempts
25.70
56.43
 Completion %
58.37
193.90
 Passing Yds
197.90
339.9
 Total Yds
409.4
2.00
 Turnovers
1.30
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
0-3
 Record
3-0
0-3
 ATS
3-0
2-1
 O/U
2-1
15.00
 Score
52.67
145.00
 Rush Yds
253.33
32.00
 Pass Attempts
26.67
44.79
 Completion %
67.50
138.67
 Passing Yds
270.33
283.67
 Total Yds
523.67
1.67
 Turnovers
1.67
Dec 19/20 (1 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Away
Home
21
 Score
56
+16
 ATS
-16
54.5 o
 O/U
54.5 u
153
 Rush Yds
253
22
 Pass Attempts
27
36.36
 Completion %
70.37
120
 Passing Yds
327
273
 Total Yds
580
2
 Turnovers
1
Sep 21/18 (2 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Home
Away
24
 Score
63
+27
 ATS
-27
60 o
 O/U
60 u
245
 Rush Yds
387
31
 Pass Attempts
20
58.06
 Completion %
65.00
166
 Passing Yds
204
411
 Total Yds
591
2
 Turnovers
2
Oct 31/15 (3 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Away
Home
0
 Score
39
+3.5
 ATS
-3.5
44 o
 O/U
44 u
37
 Rush Yds
120
43
 Pass Attempts
33
39.53
 Completion %
66.67
130
 Passing Yds
280
167
 Total Yds
400
1
 Turnovers
2
Nov 22/14 (4 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Home
Away
16
 Score
14
+5.5
 ATS
-5.5
45 o
 O/U
45 u
68
 Rush Yds
172
42
 Pass Attempts
16
61.90
 Completion %
50.00
215
 Passing Yds
93
283
 Total Yds
265
0
 Turnovers
1
Nov 2/13 (5 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Away
Home
17
 Score
24
+11
 ATS
-11
54.5 o
 O/U
54.5 u
90
 Rush Yds
250
52
 Pass Attempts
32
63.46
 Completion %
62.50
321
 Passing Yds
240
411
 Total Yds
490
2
 Turnovers
1
Sep 29/12 (6 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Home
Away
7
 Score
35
-2.5
 ATS
+2.5
41.5 o
 O/U
41.5 u
74
 Rush Yds
178
47
 Pass Attempts
30
61.70
 Completion %
60.00
292
 Passing Yds
211
366
 Total Yds
389
3
 Turnovers
0
Oct 29/11 (7 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Away
Home
7
 Score
10
+4.5
 ATS
-4.5
38 o
 O/U
38 u
192
 Rush Yds
111
24
 Pass Attempts
28
54.17
 Completion %
32.14
94
 Passing Yds
98
286
 Total Yds
209
4
 Turnovers
3
Oct 9/10 (8 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Away
Home
33
 Score
13
+9
 ATS
-9
42.5 o
 O/U
42.5 u
282
 Rush Yds
65
20
 Pass Attempts
26
80.00
 Completion %
38.46
155
 Passing Yds
170
437
 Total Yds
235
2
 Turnovers
1
Oct 3/09 (9 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Home
Away
17
 Score
35
+8
 ATS
-8
48 o
 O/U
48 u
130
 Rush Yds
338
37
 Pass Attempts
25
54.05
 Completion %
68.00
263
 Passing Yds
175
393
 Total Yds
513
2
 Turnovers
1
Sep 27/08 (10 of 10)
ILL
 Stat Type PSU
Away
Home
24
 Score
38
+15
 ATS
-15
53.5 o
 O/U
53.5 u
189
 Rush Yds
241
24
 Pass Attempts
20
54.17
 Completion %
70.00
183
 Passing Yds
181
372
 Total Yds
422
2
 Turnovers
1

Team Records

ILL
 Record PSU
2-5
 All
5-1
2-3
 Home
4-0
0-2
 Away
1-1
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-3-1
 ATS
4-2
2-2-1
 ATS Home
3-1
1-1
 ATS Away
1-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
1-6
 O/U
2-4
1-4
 O/U Home
1-3
0-2
 O/U Away
1-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
ILL
 Record PSU
1-3
 All
2-1
1-2
 Home
1-0
0-1
 Away
1-1
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-1
 ATS
2-1
2-1
 ATS Home
1-0
1-0
 ATS Away
1-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
0-4
 O/U
1-2
0-3
 O/U Home
0-1
0-1
 O/U Away
1-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
ILL
 Record PSU
2-5
 All
5-1
2-3
 Home
4-0
0-2
 Away
1-1
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-3-1
 ATS
4-2
2-2-1
 ATS Home
3-1
1-1
 ATS Away
1-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
1-6
 O/U
2-4
1-4
 O/U Home
1-3
0-2
 O/U Away
1-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0

Gametime Weather

11:00am Light Rain
9ºC / 48ºF
94% Humidity
71% Precipitation
100% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Open
Field Image
Arrow Image 1
 mph

Trends

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Illinois' last 5 games.
  • Illinois are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games.
  • Illinois are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against Penn State.
  • Illinois are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games against Penn State.
  • Illinois are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road.
  • Illinois are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against Penn State.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Illinois' last 6 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Illinois' last 6 games played in October.
  • Illinois are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games played on a Saturday.
  • Penn State are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Penn State's last 6 games.
  • Penn State are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games.
  • Penn State are 6-0 SU in their last 6 games at home.
  • Penn State are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Illinois.
  • Penn State are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
  • Penn State are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games played in October.
  • The total has gone OVER in 8 of Penn State's last 9 games played in week 8.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Penn State's last 9 games when playing as the favourite.

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
Name Position Inj Desc

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Oct 9, 2021WIS0-24L+12/42-L/U266793391100491-2
Oct 2, 2021CHAR24-14W-10/54-P/U3367841472191263-1
Sep 25, 2021PUR9-13L+10.5/53-W/U17510027538277315-2
Sep 17, 2021MARY17-20L+7/61.5-W/U150185335131350481-1
Sep 11, 2021UVA14-42L+10.5/57-L/U1162213371334235560
Sep 4, 2021UTSA30-37L-4.5/52-L/O1462664122172804970
Aug 28, 2021NEB30-22W+6.5/52.5-W/U1671593261602323920
Dec 19, 2020PSU21-56L+16/54.5-L/O1531202732533275801
Dec 12, 2020NWEST10-28L+13.5/41.5-L/U15510726241182493-1
Dec 5, 2020IOWA21-35L+13.5/52.5-L/O1491993482042204240
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Oct 9, 2021IOWA20-23L+2.5/41-L/O1071802871101953053
Oct 2, 2021INDY24-0W-12.5/54-W/U20919940869195264-1
Sep 25, 2021NOVA38-17W-29.5/53-L/O80429509582222800
Sep 18, 2021AUB28-20W-4/53.5-W/U943023961821853670
Sep 11, 2021BALL44-13W-22.5/58.5-W/U24025349369226295-2
Sep 4, 2021WIS16-10W+5.5/48.5-W/U50247297174185359-3
Dec 19, 2020ILL56-21W-16/54.5-W/O253327580153120273-1
Dec 12, 2020MSU39-24W-14.5/46-W/O119286405643253890
Dec 5, 2020RUT23-7W-13/51-W/U248133381831222051
Nov 28, 2020MICH27-17W+1/56.5-W/U254163417174112286-1
View Game Logs