Illinois Fighting Illini vs Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Pick & Prediction 9/28/24
Illinois comes into this week five matchup with a 4-0 record, while Penn State is also undefeated at 3-0. The game is set for 7:30 ET at Beaver Stadium in University Park and will be broadcast on NBC. The Nittany Lions are the heavy favorite at -17.5 points, with the over/under line currently sitting at 47.5 points.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Penn State Nittany Lions -17.5
This game will be played at Beaver Stadium at 7:30 ET on Saturday, September 28th.
WHY BET THE PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS:
- We have the Penn State Nittany Lions winning this one by a score of 37 to 18
- Not only do we have the Penn State Nittany Lions winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at -17.5
- Look for this game to go over the line of 47.5 points
Will The Illinois Fighting Illini Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
Illinois is now 4-0 after a road upset over Nebraska. The Illini, who were +9.5 point underdogs, not only won the game but also covered the spread. The over/under line was 42.5 points, and the teams combined for 55 points, surpassing the total.
After trailing 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, Illinois fell behind 17-10 at halftime. The Illini rallied to tie the game at 17-17 by the end of the third quarter, and after each team scored 7 points in the fourth quarter, Illinois outscored Nebraska 7-0 in overtime to remain unbeaten.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer led Illinois to a 31-24 overtime victory, throwing for 215 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 77.8% of his passes and finished with a passer rating of 139.43. Pat Bryant was his top target, catching five passes for 74 yards.
The Illini’s offense totaled 383 yards, with 168 yards coming on the ground. Kaden Feagin led the rushing attack with 69 yards on 12 carries. Illinois’ passing game was responsible for all four of their touchdowns, while the ground game was held out of the end zone.
Illinois’ defense will be looking to improve after giving up 297 passing yards and three touchdowns to Nebraska’s passing attack in their most recent game. The Fighting Illini won the game in overtime, but their defense allowed 347 total yards. Illinois’ run defense was solid, holding Nebraska to just 50 rushing yards on 32 attempts. The Illini did manage to come up with one interception in the game.
Are The Penn State Nittany Lions Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
Penn State’s record now stands at 3-0 after they defeated Kent State 56-0 at home. The Nittany Lions, favored by -49 points, not only won the game but also covered the spread. The over/under line was set at 57.5 points, but the combined score of 56 points fell short, resulting in an under.
Penn State took control early, leading 7-0 after the first quarter. By halftime, the score was 28-0, and the Nittany Lions added 14 points in both the third and fourth quarters to secure the dominant win.
Quarterback Drew Allar led Penn State’s offense to a dominant 56-0 win, throwing for 309 yards and three touchdowns while completing 81% of his passes. The Nittany Lions’ offense was unstoppable, racking up 718 total yards, with 409 yards coming through the air.
Penn State’s ground game was equally impressive, with 309 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Nicholas Singleton led the team in rushing with 81 yards on 11 carries, while Omari Evans was the top receiver, recording 116 yards on four receptions.
Penn State’s defense was dominant in their most recent game, holding Kent State to just 71 total yards. The Nittany Lions allowed only 18 passing yards on 2 completions, and Kent State’s ground game was limited to 53 yards on 29 carries. Penn State’s defense was also effective in preventing first downs, allowing just six for the entire game.