Illinois fans hope veteran coach Bret Bielema can help turn things around in Champaign, where the Fighting Illini haven’t enjoyed a winning regular season in 14 years. Bielema makes his debut against Nebraska, which has won four of the last five meetings and opened as a 9.5-point favorite.
- Date/Time: August 28, 1 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Memorial Stadium
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Sportsbook Odds: Nebraska -9.5 | O/U 56.5 (Line History)
- Nebraska vs Illinois Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Early betting action has backed the Fighting Illini, moving Illinois down from the +9.5 opener to a 7-point underdog at the time of writing. The UNDER also dropped to 55 after Sportsbook at 56.5.
Nebraska News & Notes
The Cornhuskers have won their last 10 games in August and should be eager to start the season strong with coach Scott Frost already feeling the heat in Lincoln. The former Huskers star is 12-20 SU in three seasons on the Nebraska sidelines and the NCAA is investigating the program for allegedly violating COVID-19 practice policies last season.
Frost’s starting quarterback once again this year is dual threat Adrian Martinez, who led the Huskers in both passing and rushing yards in 2020. After losing star wideout Wan’Dale Robinson to Kentucky, Martinez’s favorite target will likely be six-foot-three Samori Toure, a transfer from Montana who racked up nearly 2,500 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his FCS career. On defense, Nebraska returns five fifth-year seniors, including star linebacker JoJo Domann.
Illinois News & Notes
It isn’t always easy to be optimistic in Champaign, where the Fighting Illini haven’t finished above .500 during the regular season since 2007, but Bielema at least brings some excitement to town. The veteran coach returns to the Big Ten sidelines for the first time since finishing a 68-24 SU tenure at Wisconsin nearly a decade ago.
This contest will also mark the first time the Fighting Illini have played at home in front of fans other than family since November 2019 — although playing in the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium hasn’t been a big help lately to Illinois, which is 1-7 SU in its last eight games at home.
Sixth-year senior Brandon Peters is expected to be Illinois’ Sportsbook-day quarterback for the third straight year, with Chase Brown projected to get many of the carries. Look for Bielema to also try to get the ball into the hands of athletic receiver Isaiah Williams, a former four-star quarterback recruit who switched positions last spring. However, Illinois’ greatest strengths might be its offensive line — which features three seniors — and pass rusher Owen Carney Jr., who recorded five sacks in eight games last season.
Staff Betting Pick: Illinois +7
Catching a touchdown or more with a fired-up Fighting Illini squad looks pretty generous against a Nebraska team that is coming off a tumultuous offseason.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Nebraska is 10-0 SU in its last 10 games in August.
- Illinois is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games at home.
- The UNDER is 20-8 in Nebraska’s last 28 games as a favorite.
