On the NCAAF schedule – At the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, the upcoming Friday night showdown features the Fighting Illini of Illinois squaring off against the Jayhawks of Kansas. This highly anticipated clash showcases two emerging powerhouses from the Big Ten and the Big 12 conferences. Both teams boast an unblemished 1-0 record in the current season, setting the stage for an electrifying encounter.
The last time these teams locked horns was in 1968, with the Jayhawks securing a decisive 47-7 victory. Illinois has enjoyed relative success in their historical meetings since their inaugural clash in 1892, winning three out of five matchups.
The odds favor Kansas slightly, with the Jayhawks holding a -3.5 advantage over Illinois, and the game’s total is set at 55.5 points. Let’s take a look at our Illinois vs Kansas betting analysis:
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Kansas Jayhawks Information
Before our Illinois vs Kansas betting analysis, some information on the game between these two NCAA Football teams:
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Kansas Jayhawks
Location of the game: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
Date & Time: Friday, September 8. 6:30 pm CST.
How to watch: ESPN 2
Recent Scores
Illinois Fighting Illini 2023 Season Results:
- Saturday, September 2nd, 2023: 30-28 win vs. Toledo
Kansas Jayhawks 2023 Season Results:
- Friday, September 1st, 2023: 48-17 win vs. Missouri State
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Analysis
Here are the latest NCAAF odds for one of the two NCAA Football games today:
- Moneyline: Kansas Jayhawks -170, Illinois Fighting Illini +150
- Spread: Kansas Jayhawks -3.5, Illinois Fighting Illini +3.5
- Total: 56.5
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
In their Week One victory against Toledo, the Fighting Illini were pressed for all 60 minutes. The game concluded with a late field goal by Caleb Griffin, securing a 30-28 triumph for the Illini.
Luke Altmyer, the newly appointed quarterback for the team, exhibited his prowess by passing for 211 yards and notching two touchdowns, though he did encounter an interception. Impressively, Altmyer also emerged as the leading rusher for the Illini, accumulating 69 yards.
The absence of Chase Brown, now with the Bengals, has cast uncertainty over the team’s running game this season. Reggie Love III carried the ball the most with 12 attempts, closely followed by Josh McCray with 11 carries.
In the receiving department, Pat Bryant, Casey Washington, and Isaiah Williams displayed remarkable productivity, amassing a combined total of 169 yards and securing two touchdowns, both courtesy of Bryant. On the defensive front, the Illini managed to force a turnover, courtesy of Dequan Finn’s interception.
With their sights set on the Big Ten title game after making it to a bowl game last season, the Illini are brimming with confidence. Next week, the Illinois Fighting Illini schedule sees them face a formidable challenge at home against the Nittany Lions of Penn State before hosting Florida Atlantic in their subsequent game.
Kansas Jayhawks’ Offensive Firepower Unleashed
Missouri State presented an early challenge for the Kansas Jayhawks, with the score just 17-10 in favor of the Jayhawks at halftime. However, the second half witnessed a dominating performance by Kansas, as they piled on 31 points. Jason Bean took the reins and delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 276 yards and securing two touchdowns. His primary target, Lawrence Arnold, hauled in four receptions for an impressive 77 yards.
On the ground, the Jayhawks found success with running back Devin Neal, who rushed for 94 yards on 13 carries, finding the end zone once. Neal also contributed with a receiving touchdown in the second half. Additional touchdowns came courtesy of Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Dylan McDuffie.
Kansas is eager to extend their winning streak to 2-0 before hitting the road for their first away game of the season against Nevada. Following that, they embark on their Big 12 journey, commencing on September 23rd with a home matchup against BYU. We have no new reports on the Kansas Jayhawks injury report today to make our NCAAF Picks.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Kansas Jayhawks Betting Prediction
Two programs are on the way up. The crowd in Lawrence, Kansas, is going to be all fired up. These two teams, known for their basketball, are meeting up for the first of a two-year series. The Illini will host the Jayhawks next season.
In this meeting, Kansas wins at home. The Jayhawks get going offensively and win by a touchdown.
- Our final Illinois vs Kansas betting analysis: Kansas wins this game 28-20 over Illinois on Friday night.
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