The Michigan Wolverines put the nation's best defense and a perfect 6-0 straight-up record on the line on Saturday afternoon, when they host the Big Ten-West rival Illinois Fighting Illini in a Week 8 college football matchup at Michigan Stadium.
Shark Bites
- Michigan is 8-0 SU in its last eight games against teams with losing records.
- Illinois is 4-20 SU in its last 24 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in four of Illinois' last five games in October.
The Wolverines are coming off yet another dominating victory two weeks ago, handing Rutgers a devastating 78-0 defeat while covering as massive 30.5-point chalk. Michigan has averaged 50 points per game this season, while holding opponents to a minuscule 10.3 points per game, but is a middling 5-4 against the spread in the past nine while favored by double digits.
Last weekend, it was the Fighting Illini's turn to beat up on Rutgers, topping the Scarlet Knights 24-7 to cover as 4-point chalk and end a four-game SU losing slide. It has been over a year since Illinois picked up consecutive SU wins, going 3-10 SU since, but the team is 4-2 ATS in its past six road dates.
It has been four years since these divisional rivals last met back in 2012, when Michigan recorded a crushing 45-0 win as 24-point home chalk, extending its current SU win streak over Illinois to three games. Overall, the Wolverines have won nine of the past 11 meetings. However, Illinois has earned the ATS win in three of five.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to side with the Michigan Wolverines in this one found them as -28-point favorites at Sportsbook. The over under number was slated to open a short time later.
Handicapping prediction models run by the computers at Odds Shark pick a 35-8 result in favor of the Wolverines. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Michigan Wolverines Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Betting fans of the Michigan Wolverines have seen them go 6-0 and 4-2 ATS so far this season, while the Illinois Fighting Illini are at 2-4 and 3-3 ATS. In over under totals betting, the Illinois Fighting Illini are 2-4, while the Michigan Wolverines are 5-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Michigan vs Illinois injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 2 (Michigan Wolverines) and the No. 93 (Illinois Fighting Illini) teams in the league, according to our current NCAA football Power Rankings at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Michigan's No. 2-ranked offense, averaging 50 PPG, against a Illinois defense that ranks No. 62 this week at 26.17 PPG. The Michigan aerial game is averaging 215 yards per game, more than the Illinois Fighting Illini secondary allows through the air, 203.33 YPG per game.
Defensively, the Illinois Fighting Illini feature the league's No. 84-rated road run defense, allowing 203 yards per game. Michigan, meanwhile, ranks No. 43 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Rutgers was unable to contain Kendrick Foster in its last action Saturday and the result was a 24-7 Week 7 loss against the Fighting Illini.
- Illinois is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
- Illinois is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Illinois's last 7 games
- Illinois is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Michigan is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- Michigan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 13 of Michigan's last 14 games
- Michigan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Illinois home to Minnesota, Saturday, October 29th
Michigan at Michigan State, Saturday, October 29th
