Buckeyes vs. Fighting Illini Preview/Pick
NCAA-F Betting – Ohio State Buckeyes at Illinois Fighting Illini
The Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2 SU, 3-6 ATS) are looking to salvage something important out of this season where they have lost their two biggest games. On Saturday they have an opportunity to extract some revenge, when they take on the disappointing Fighting Illini of Illinois (5-5 SU, 4-5 ATS) in NCAA college football betting action that is set to get underway at Noon ET at Memorial Stadium (artificial turf) in Champaign, IL.
BetUS NCAAF Betting Odds: OHIO STATE -10
Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* OSU has covered three of its last nine games
* OSU has won six of its last seven games SU
* OSU has played six of its last nine games UNDER the total
* OSU has covered 14 of its last 18 road games
* OSU has won 16 of its last 18 road games SU
* ILL has won six of its last seven home games SU
Also…
* ILL has covered six of the last seven meetings
* OSU has won seven of the last ten meetings SU
* OSU has won the last five meetings SU as the road team
Ohio State has not been in bad form in three of the last four weeks. It won convincingly against Purdue (16-3) and Michigan State (45-7), and after losing a tough 13-7 decision to Penn State, the Buckeyes exploded for a 45-10 win over Northwestern, which had crept into the top 25. Ohio State is in the top ten in pass defense, total defense and scoring defense (allowing 13 ppg). Meanwhile, Illinois is going through a season where it was supposed to be a Big Ten title contender but has not even qualified for a bowl yet. The Illini got beat at home by Tim Hiller and Western Michigan.
But that was a pass-happy attack. This year’s Buckeyes are anything but that. Terrelle Pryor, the ballyhooed freshman, has completed a high percentage of passes (65%) and has just three interceptions in 129 passes, but he’s not a passer who inspires a lot of fear in the opponent. He’s further along than Juice Williams was as a freshman, but now Williams has become much more dangerous with his arm (2769 yards and 20 TDs), not to mention gaining 577 yards on the ground (10th in the Big Ten). Aurrelious Benn (60 catches, 947 yards) is maybe the best offensive player on the field.
Illinois went to Columbus last year and left with a solid 28-21 win. Illinois had 260 yards rushing, and though Rashard Mendenhall was in the fold at the time, there was also another outstanding performer in the backfield. Daniel Dufrene had 1-06 yards on just eight rushes. And though he has been severely underused this season (only 103 carries), he’s still gone for 5.6 yards an attempt, and could loom large in this one. Ohio State does not cover numbers (3-6 ATS last nine) and style-wise, Illinois, which has talent (including the super corner, Vontae Davis) could have enough to take this to the final gun.
We’ll grab the points with Illinois, the 10-point home underdog in the BetUS NCAA college football online betting odds.
Our PLAY: ILLINOIS +10 **
Similar Posts You Might Like?!
Comments