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  3. Michigan Wolverines vs Illinois Fighting Illini
Sat 3:30 PM ET
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Illinois Fighting Illini3108021
NCAAF · Michigan Wolverines at Illinois Fighting Illini

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Michigan Wolverines to face Illinois Illini in highly anticipated matchup following bye week, quarterback change

Game time: October 19, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET

Venue: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL) — Champaign, IL

Article updated Oct 17, 6:11 PM EDT

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Michigan Wolverines, reigning National Champions, head into Week 8 with a 4-2 record and a 24th-place ranking following a bye week. Head coach Sherrone Moore has named

Game outlook

The Michigan Wolverines, reigning National Champions, head into Week 8 with a 4-2 record and a 24th-place ranking following a bye week. Head coach Sherrone Moore has named quarterback Jack Tuttle as the starter going forward after a strong performance in their last game. The Wolverines will face the Illinois Illini, ranked 22nd with a 5-1 record, coming off a thrilling overtime victory. Quarterback Luke Altmyer led the Illini to victory with an impressive performance. This matchup marks the 98th meeting between the two teams, with Michigan holding a 72-23-2 all-time lead. Michigan is the betting favorite opening at -2.5, with the current line at Michigan -3.5.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Wolverines -165 | Fighting Illini +145

Spread: Wolverines -3.5 (-110) | Fighting Illini +3.5 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 43.75 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Michigan will win straight-up is 62%.

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan's defense, once a powerhouse that led the team to a national championship victory, has seen a significant decline this season. The team has allowed a high number of pass plays of 10 or more yards, ranking near the bottom of college football programs. Despite having talented players like Will Johnson, injuries and inexperience have plagued the secondary, leaving the team struggling to find consistency. With a power ranking of 31, Michigan's offense is ranked 102nd, their defense is ranked 55th, and their record stands at 4-2 (1-5 against the spread) for the season.

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Illinois Fighting Illini Analysis

Illinois will be wearing throwback uniforms to honor the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium and Red Grange's incredible 1924 performance against Michigan. These vintage-inspired uniforms blend tradition with modern design elements and feature navy and orange accents to represent Illinois football history. The Illini, currently ranked in the AP Top 25, have seen a resurgence under Bret Bielema, with recent success mirroring their 2022 season. Despite struggles in the past, Illinois has shown considerable improvement and will face Michigan, who has a strong defense but has struggled in recent matchups against the Illini. With a strong overall record and notable achievements in recent seasons, Illinois is poised to continue their upward trajectory in college football.

Illinois Prepares for Emotional Showdown at Memorial Stadium: Luke Altmyer's Stellar Performance Shakes Up Michigan's Defense

Illinois will be competing at Memorial Stadium in a highly charged emotional atmosphere as part of the 100th anniversary rededication ceremony in honor of Red Grange. The team, led by Bret Bielema, has undergone a notable transformation. Luke Altmyer, the quarterback, has played a pivotal role in the success of the Illini, as evidenced by his recent outstanding performance against Purdue where he achieved 379 yards and four touchdowns. Altmyer's multi-faceted abilities pose a challenge to Michigan's defense, as he can make significant plays both in the air and on the ground. By capitalizing on any weaknesses in Michigan's secondary, Altmyer can help keep Illinois competitive and potentially secure a spot in the AP Top 25 rankings as well as achieve bowl eligibility with a victory. Despite Michigan's solid team performance, there exist opportunities for the Illini to exploit any vulnerabilities in the opposing team's defense, particularly in a struggling secondary department.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
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Pick on the Total

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#MichiganWolverines#IllinoisFightingIllini

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Wolverines vs Fighting Illini archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Wolverines vs Fighting Illini matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Michigan Wolverines-140 → -220Moved
  • Moneyline · Illinois Fighting Illini+115 → +184Moved
  • Spread · Michigan Wolverines-2.5 (-110) → -5.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Illinois Fighting Illini+2.5 (-110) → +5.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over42.5 (-110) → 44 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under42.5 (-110) → 44 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Michigan Wolverines
4-2 matchup record · 4-6-0 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Illinois Fighting Illini
4-1 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2024-10-17T22:11:02.200Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

Michigan's defense, once a powerhouse that led the team to a national championship victory, has seen a significant decline this season. The team has allowed a high number of pass plays of 10 or more yards, ranking near the bottom of college football programs. Despite having talented players like Will Johnson, injuries and inexperience have plagued the secondary, leaving the team struggling to find consistency. With a power ranking of 31, Michigan's offense is ranked 102nd, their defense is ranked 55th, and their record stands at 4-2 (1-5 against the spread) for the season.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2022-11-19Illinois Fighting Illini 17 · Michigan Wolverines 19
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Illinois Fighting Illini defeated Michigan Wolverines 21-7

Illinois Fighting Illini defeated Michigan Wolverines 21-7 on October 19, 2024, a 14-point decision in the series. Illinois Fighting Illini's strongest period was the 3rd quarter, when it outscored its opponent 8-0. Against SportsJaw's recorded Michigan Wolverines -5.5 (-110) spread, Illinois Fighting Illini covered, while the 28 combined points finished under the recorded total of 44.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

  • Tbone91Spread · Michigan Wolverines -1 (-110)Loss
  • Roderick806Total · Under 42.5 (-110)Win
  • DrfeelgoodTotal · Over 43.5 (-110)Loss
  • RainmanTotal · Over 43.5 (-110)Loss
  • PremierPicksSpread · Michigan Wolverines -3 (-110)Loss
  • TjwinsSpread · Illinois Fighting Illini -3 (-110)Win
  • JohnTharpSpread · Illinois Fighting Illini +4 (-110)Win
  • 1707662905Spread · Michigan Wolverines -4.5 (-110)Loss
  • CoolioSpread · Illinois Fighting Illini +4.5 (-110)Win
  • CoolioTotal · Over 44.5 (-110)Loss
  • OddssharkSpread · Illinois Fighting Illini +4.5 (-110)Win
  • OddssharkTotal · Over 44.5 (-110)Loss