Last week, the Illinois Fighting Illini may have saved their Betting on College Football season. In comparison, the Wisconsin Badgers may have lost theirs. It has been a bitterly frustrating campaign for head coach Bret Bielema and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois was coming off an 8-5 bowl season and seemed to be an ascending program. Instead, they are taking a big step back in 2023. This week brings a great opportunity to change the narrative. The Fighting Illini will host the Wisconsin Badgers. Last year, Illinois dominated the Badgers in a rousing road win.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, October 21, 2023, 3:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL |
| TV Coverage: | FS1 |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | -2½ -110 | 42½ -110 | -135 |  |
| Illinois | +2½ -110 | 42½ -110 | +115 | |
| ||||
Wisconsin Badgers Team Overview
Last game, the Wisconsin Badgers lost 15-6 against the Wisconsin Badgers as 9-point home favorites. The game went under the sports betting total of 34. Wisconsin has a record of 4-2 straight up, 1-4-1 against the spread, and 2-4 over/under the total. Wisconsin ranks 64th for total offense, 88th for passing, 34th for rushing, and 80th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 36th overall, 48th against the pass, 40th against the rush, and 21st for points allowed. Also, Wisconsin ranks 122nd for fewest turnovers lost and 30th for takeaways.
Wisconsin trailed 7-0 at the half. But UW opened the third quarter with a 13-play, 60-yard drive, culminating in Nathanial Vakos’ 36-yard field goal. Following the Hawkeyes’ sixth straight three-and-out, the Badgers pulled within 7-6 on Vakos’ 52-yard field goal. There was 3:58 left in the third quarter.
Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai suffered an apparent injury to his throwing hand late in the second quarter and did not return. So Braeden Locke, a redshirt freshman who had completed his only previous attempt this season, replaced him. To summarize, Mordecai completed 12 of 20 passes for 106 yards. Locke was 15-for-30 passing for 122 yards and one interception.
Illinois Fighting Illini Team Overview
Last game, the Illinois Fighting Illini won 27-24 against the Maryland Terrapins as 13-point road dogs. The game went under the total of 52. Illinois has a record of 3-4 straight up, 1-6 against the spread, and 2-4-1 over/under the total. Illinois ranks 84th for total offense, 53rd for passing, 103rd for rushing, and 118th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 102nd overall, 82nd against the pass, 102nd against the rush, and 96th for points allowed. Also, Illinois ranks 103rd for fewest turnovers lost and 96th for takeaways.
Namely, Caleb Griffin drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift Illinois to a win over Maryland. Griffin’s kick capped a seven-play, 50-yard drive that featured a critical 29-yard pass from Luke Altmyer to Casey Washington. Altmyer found Aidan Laughery for 12 yards on the following play. And then the quarterback netted five more yards on three straight runs to set up Griffin’s game-winner. Overall, Altmyer finished 16-for-28 for 206 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Illinois. Washington hauled in four passes for 60 yards. At the same time, Laughery’s clutch catch was his only reception of the day.
Wisconsin at Illinois SBG Free Picks
Certainly, Illinois is far beneath their Betting on College Football level of last year. Revenge-minded Wisconsin is in solid form compared to the struggling Illini.
Wisconsin at Illinois SBG Best Bet: Wisconsin Badgers.