Illinois Fighting Illini at Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview
From David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas – the Fighting Illini of Illinois will take on the Jayhawks of Kansas on Friday night. This game is the battle of a pair of upstart teams out of the Big Ten and the Big 12.
Both teams come into the game with a perfect 1-0 record on the season. These two teams last played in 1968, when the Jayhawks won that game 47-7.
Illinois has won three out of the five meetings since they first met in 1892. In this game, Kansas comes in as a slight favorite. The Jayhawks are listed at -3.5 over Illinois. The total for the game is listed at 55.5.
Week One Survive and Advance for the Illini
The Fighting Illini needed nearly all 60 minutes of their Week One win over Toledo. The Illini got a Caleb Griffin late field goal to win the game 30-28. Luke Altmyer, the new quarterback for the Illini, tossed for 211 yards and two touchdowns in the game. He did throw an interception. Altmyer was also the top rusher for the Illini, with 69 yards.
The run game for the Orange and Blue will be a question this season without the services of Chase Brown, who is now with the Bengals. Reggie Love III got the most carries, with 12, while Josh McCray picked up 11.
Pat Bryant, Casey Washington, and Isaiah Williams all were productive in the receiving game, with a combined 169 yards and two touchdowns, both from Bryant. The Illini defense got one turnover, an interception from Dequan Finn.
After reaching a bowl game last season, the Illini feel they have what it takes to play in the Big Ten title game. The Illini will face a tough est next week as they head back home and host the Nittany Lions of Penn State. Following that, the Illini are at home, hosting Florida Atlantic.
Rock Chalk Seeking Win #2
The Kansas Jayhawks were tested a bit early from Missouri State. The Jayhawks led just 17-10 at halftime. The second half was all Kansas, with 31 points. Jason Bean came in and threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns in the game, with Lawrence Arnold as his top target, with four receptions and 77 yards.
The Jayhawks also got 94 yards on the ground on 13 carries and a touchdown from their running back Devin Neal. Neal also caught a pass for a touchdown in the second half. Daniel Hishaw Jr. also picked up a running touchdown, as well as Dylan McDuffie for the Jayhawks.
Kansas will look to start 2-0 before they play their first road game of the season next week. The Jayhawks are at Nevada before they start their Big 12 play on September 23rd. That game will be at home against BYU.
Battle in Lawrence
This is going to be a great football game. The folks in Kansas will be all hyped up for this game—a Friday night in Lawrence. Expect a competitive football game.
In the end, Kansas has more experience and has more talent coming back. The Kansas Jayhawks pick up a big home win.
The game is back and forth, but the Jayhawks win by a touchdown. The final score prediction is 31-24 Kansas over Illinois on Friday night.
