The Eastern Michigan Eagles and Illinois Fighting Illini are ready to do battle on the turf at Memorial Stadium. BTN is scheduled to broadcast the action and the crucial afternoon game kicks off at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Eastern Michigan is a noticeable road underdog in this game and is currently receiving 8 points. The Eagles are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Fighting Illini are -330. If one side catches a lucky break in the early stages it would result in a nice in-game betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 55 points.
The game’s total has shifted down after opening at 55.5. The original line (-8) has stayed consistent.
The Eagles are 1-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.0 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 1-1.
The Fighting Illini are up 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 1-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-2.
The Eagles have gone 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Fighting Illini are 2-0 SU.
The Eagles look to get back on track after a 38-17 defeat to Kentucky last weekTheir defense allowed the Wildcats to eat up the clock by running for 239 yards on 39 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. A.J. Rose had a productive day for the Wildcats in that one with 82 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts. On the offensive side, Mike Glass III completed 34-of-53 passes for 337 yards, two scores and two interceptions. Glass III (35 yards on 10 rush attempts) also led the ground attack. Mathew Sexton (seven receptions, 54 yards) and Quian Williams (six catches, 54 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
The Illinois Fighting Illini just earned a 31-23 win over Connecticut. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Huskies to air it out for 275 yards. Cameron Ross was a bright spot in the loss, recording 85 yards and a score on four catches for Connecticut. For Illinois, Brandon Peters completed 24-of-35 passes for 227 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Ra’Von Bonner (19 rushing yards on 10 attempts) spearheaded the running game as Ricky Smalling (seven receptions, 56 yards) and Trevon Sidney (five catches, 25 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Eastern Michigan’s run the ball on 43.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Illinois has an overall rush percentage of 57.4 percent. The Eagles have run for 76 yards per game and have only one score on the ground this year. The Fighting Illini are averaging 168.5 rushing yards per game and have three total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers can translate to this game, then it seems like the Fighting Illini might hold an advantage in terms of effectiveness in the ground game. Their backfield has logged 4.2 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 1.1 to opponents. The Eagles have rushed for 2.7 yards per carry while allowing 4.5 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Eagles offensive scheme has tallied 262.5 yards per game through the air overall and has five passing TD so far. The Fighting Illini have put up 210.5 pass yards per contest and have seven total pass scores.
Defensively, Eastern Michigan has allowed 156.5 rush yards and 263 pass yards per game. The Illinois D has given up 201.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 37.0 yards per game on the ground. The Fighting Illini are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 2.87 to opposing QBs, while the Eagles have allowed a 5.13 ANY/A.
Peters has been sharper than Glass III of late. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 6.84 for the season and 7.72 over his past two games while Glass III’s ANY/A is 4.89 (and 6.60 over the past two outings).
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Illinois Fighting Illini Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Illinois, ATS Winner: Illinois, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The Illinois defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times this season. Eastern Michigan has registered just three sacks.
- The Illinois offense has lost two fumbles this season while Eastern Michigan has let one get away.
- The Eagles have made two pass plays of 30+ yards while the Fighting Illini have accounted for one such play.
- The Eastern Michigan defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Illinois has given up one such play.
- The Eastern Michigan offense has created zero rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Illinois has created three such runs.
- The Eagles defense has allowed one rushing play of 20+ yards, while the Fighting Illini have given up zero such runs.
