Illinois Fighting Illini vs Michigan Wolverines Matchup

Check out our free Michigan Wolverines vs Illinois Fighting Illini pick and preview for this CFB week 8 game in Champaign. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this week 8 CFB matchup.

Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL, will be the site for this week eight matchup between the Michigan Wolverines and Illinois Fighting Illini. Kick-off is set for 3:30 ET, and CBS will be handling the broadcast. Michigan is the -3.5-point favorite on the road, with the over/under line currently at 43.5 points. The Wolverines are 4-2 on the season, while the Illini are 5-1 heading into this game.

Wolverines vs. Fighting Illini Matchup At A Glance

Sport: CFB
Teams: Michigan Wolverines at Illinois Fighting Illini
Where: Champaign at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
Date: Saturday, October 19th
Betting Odds MICH -3.5, MICH -157 | ILL +130 O/U 43.5

Wolverines Preview:

Michigan enters Week 8 with a 4-2 record, ranked 33rd in our CFB power rankings. They have an 88.3% chance of becoming bowl-eligible but just a 0.3% shot at winning the Big Ten. The Wolverines are 4-1 at home but 0-1 on the road this season.

Against the spread, Michigan is 1-5, with a +1.2 average scoring margin. They are 0-3 ATS as the favorite and 1-2 as the underdog.

Their over/under record is 4-2, with games averaging 45.8 points. The average line is 42.2 points, and this week’s total is set at 43.5 points.

Wolverines Offense Breakdown

Michigan’s offense has struggled this season, ranking 85th in our offensive power rankings and averaging just 23.5 points per game, placing them 70th nationally. Their passing game has been particularly weak, with only 115 passing yards per game, ranking 125th in the country. Quarterback Davis Warren has thrown six interceptions compared to just two touchdowns, resulting in a passer rating of 57.

Warren has thrown for 444 yards this season, completing 66.7% of his passes. Michigan is 83rd in passing attempts per game. On third downs, they convert 39% of their attempts. Leading the rushing attack is Kalel Mullings, who has 589 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6 yards per carry.

Wolverines Team Defense

Michigan's defense is ranked 38th nationally, allowing 22.3 points per game. In their recent game against Washington, they gave up 27 points, including 266 passing yards and two touchdowns, while forcing one interception. Washington also ran the ball 30 times for 127 yards.

Opponents have averaged 259.8 passing yards per game against Michigan, ranking them 132nd in the nation. Quarterbacks have completed 63% of their passes and have a passer rating of 88.3. On the ground, Michigan's defense ranks 5th nationally, allowing just 76.3 rushing yards per game on 26.7 attempts, the 6th fewest in the country.

Fighting Illini Preview:

Against the spread, Michigan is 1-5, with a +1.2 average scoring margin. They are 0-3 ATS as the favorite and 1-2 as the underdog.

Their over/under record is 4-2, with games averaging 45.8 points. The average line is 42.2 points, and this week’s total is set at 43.5 points.

Fighting Illini Offense Breakdown

Heading into week 8, Illinois ranks 37th in points per game, averaging 31, and they sit 43rd in our offensive power rankings. Quarterback Luke Altmyer has thrown for 1,426 yards, boasting a passer rating of 120. He has 14 touchdowns and just one interception, and Illinois ranks 12th nationally in passer rating.

Altmyer has completed 67.7% of his passes, and Illinois ranks 22nd in completion percentage. They are 34th in third-down conversions, converting 44.6% of their attempts. On the ground, they average 140.2 rushing yards per game. Kaden Feagin leads the team with 306 rushing yards. Pat Bryant has 446 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Fighting Illini Team Defense

Illinois' defense will look to bounce back after allowing 49 points in their recent game against Purdue, which went into overtime. The Fighting Illini gave up 536 total yards, including 297 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, along with 239 rushing yards.

Despite the rough outing, Illinois ranks 28th nationally in points allowed, giving up 20 points per game. Opponents are averaging 151.2 rushing yards per game on 32.5 attempts, while quarterbacks have posted a passer rating of 81, averaging 197.3 passing yards per game.

Wolverines vs Fighting Illini Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

The Michigan Wolverines are 3-2 ATS in their last road games and 4-1 straight-up.
When looking at their past five home matchups, Illinois has an ATS record of 5-0 while averaging 21 per game. The team went 3-2 overall in these games.
In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Illinois Fighting Illini have a strong straight up record of 3-2. In addition, their ATS record was 5-0 in these scenarios.
Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Michigan has an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 10-0 straight up.