Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines for Michigan vs. Illinois

There is still time for Michigan to make a difference. Following its 27–17 loss to Washington, it had two weeks off. However, it still has to play Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State in the Big Ten season.

Since 2009, it has not lost to Illinois, but it will be tough in Champaign.

It was closer than the final score when Illinois played Penn State (21–7), but they lost. They also beat a bad Purdue team in OT, but the final score was 50–49. That means Oregon is up next, but for now, just getting past the Wolverines is tough enough.

Michigan vs Illinois Preview

Michigan vs Illinois How to Watch
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
How to Watch: CBS
Illinois (5-1), Michigan (4-2)

Why Michigan Will Win

It should help to have two weeks off.

Take a moment to think about how hard the last few years have been for this whole team. Michigan played against Washington like it could use a break.

It is true that Illinois is 5-1, but that does not mean they can not stop teams on third downs or stop the pass rush.

Everybody wants to keep the ball moving, but Michigan does not have a great passing game, so converting third downs is very important. Teams can make 45% of their shots in Illinois.

After only getting four in the first three games, the Wolverines’ pass rush has stepped it up with 13 in the last three. It is the worst in the Big Ten when it comes to sacks and tackles for loss. But…

Why Illinois Will Win

You used to play pass defense for Michigan, right?

So teams are throwing at the Wolverines because they can not run on them. But this season, when teams run for 100 yards, they win. Texas and Washington got 100 yards from Michigan, but no one else got more than that.

Even though Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Minnesota all threw the ball at least 235 yards, everyone else did too.

Illinois has not been too bad running the ball—well, at least against FBS teams—but Luke Altmyer and the passing game have been fun.

Once more, here are the raw numbers. Illinois has thrown for more than 190 yards in all but one game, against Penn State, where it only threw for 185 yards. When it did that, Illinois won all five games.

Michigan has given up more than 190 receiving yards in nine of the last eleven games going back to last season and the run to the national title.

Michigan vs Illinois: Who Will Win

Can Michigan get back into the swing of things on offense?

There are still strong enough lines to keep everyone guessing, and Illinois’s game against Purdue did not exactly give people hope, but this is where the Big Ten season takes a turn.

Illinois will not be perfect, but a few long plays in the fourth quarter of a close game will help it get over being sacked for 200 yards. Michigan will finally be stopped on the ground, Illinois will be 6-1, and the passing game will fail.