The Illinois Fighting Illini (+18) are heading east to take on the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. This conference game gets going at 3:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action live on BTN.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Preview
This Saturday Big 10 game shows the Fighting Illini as a big dogs and they’re currently getting 18 points. If they are wanting to take the moneyline, bettors would currently need to lay down $1,500 in order to win $100 back on the Terps (-1500). The Fighting Illini are getting +810 moneyline odds. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 53 points. Should Maryland starts trailing early, it’ll likely create a reasonable live betting opportunity.
The sharp action is siding with both the Terps and the under. The opening line was initially -16 and the game’s O/U was originally pegged at 54.5.
The Fighting Illini are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.0 unit so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-4. The lackluster Terrapins have lost 6.5 units this season. They’re 4-3 ATS and also have an O/U record of 3-4.
The Fighting Illini have gone 3-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against conference opponents. The Terrapins are 4-3 SU overall and 2-2 SU in conference play.
These two conference foes did not get a chance to play each other in 2017.
The Fighting Illini lost to Wisconsin 49-20 in a blowout where the Fighting Illini completed 9-of-21 passes for 90 yards and three interceptions. M.J. Rivers II went seven-for-13 for 80 yards and one interception while AJ Bush completed two-of-eight for 10 yards and two interceptions. Reggie Corbin (100 rushing yards on nine attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Trenard Davis (three receptions, 35 yards) and Carmoni Green (two catches, 28 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Maryland were just blanked 23-0 by Iowa. The defense allowed the Hawkeyes to run for 224 yards on 52 rush attempts. Ivory Kelly-Martin had a productive outing for Iowa, recording 98 rushing yards on 24 attempts. For Maryland, Kasim Hill completed six-of-15 passes for 47 yards and one interception. Anthony McFarland (15 yards on six rush attempts) spearheaded the running game as Johnson (two receptions, 2 yards) and Taivon Jacobs (one catch, 11 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Illinois has run the ball on 62.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Maryland has a rush percentage of 66.6 percent. The Fighting Illini have produced 226 rush yards/game (including 214 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Terps are totaling 220 rushing yards per game (205 in conference) and have 14 total rush TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it seems like the Terps may own an advantage in terms of RB effectiveness, as their backfield has generated 5.8 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents. The Fighting Illini have ran for 5.3 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.4 to opponents.
The Fighting Illini offensive scheme has averaged 146 yards through the air overall (132 per game versus conference opposition) and has five passing scores so far. The Terps have produced 110 pass yards per outing (80.5 against Big 10 competition) and have seven total pass TDs.
Defensively, Illinois has allowed opponents to run for an average of 222 yards and throw for 288 yards per game. The Maryland D has allowed 175.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 140.3 yards per game on the ground. The Terps are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.76 to opposing QBs, while the Fighting Illini have allowed a 6.61 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Bush has amassed 322 yards this year. He’s connected on 30-of-56 attempts with one passing scores and two interceptions. He has a 3.45 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 0.39 over the past two outings.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Illinois in this one. Reggie Corbin (564 rushing yards, six rush TDs, 40 receiving yards on the year), Trenard Davis (158 receiving yards) and AJ Bush (305 rush yards, two rush TDs, 0 receiving yards) have each played key roles of late.
Kasim Hill has completed 53-of-101 passes for 625 yards, three TDs and three INTs for Maryland. His ANY/A stands at 4.63 for the year and 3.59 across his past two outings.
We’re expecting the Terps to control tempo by putting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Backfield mates Ty Johnson (318 rush yards, two rush TDs), Anthony McFarland (340 rush yards, two rush TDs), and Tayon Fleet-Davis (217 rush yards, three rush TDs) have been significant focal points in the Terrapins’ recent offensive gameplans.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: Illinois Fighting Illini at Maryland Terrapins
SU Winner – Maryland, ATS Winner – Maryland, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Maryland offense has lost three fumbles this season while Illinois has lost four.
Each team defense has created 11 sacks this year.
Illinois has averaged 5.5 yards per carry over its past three contests and 4.2 over its last two.
Maryland has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.7 over its past two.
Illinois has lost five of its last six games SU, with a 21-point win over Rutgers on October 6th accounting for the only victory over that span.
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