Michigan State vs. Illinois

After Michigan State endured a beatdown by the Wolverines, the Spartans are headed to Illinois to face off against the Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium.

MSU has been in the spotlight this week after a video surfaced on Twitter showing multiple MSU players attacking a Michigan Wolverines player in the tunnel on the way to the locker room at the team’s matchup on Saturday, October 29th. Since we posted this article, four more individuals have been suspended from MSU’s sports program indefinitely. Five of the eight players have started at least one game this season, with linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon and defensive back Angelo Grose starting all eight games this season.

It’s obvious Michigan State is having a rough season. They head into tomorrow’s game 3-5 against the 7-1 Fighting Illini led by head coach Bret Bielema.

Illinois Fighting Their Way to top 10?

Last season, the University of Illinois football finished the season 5-7. Their performance this year has resulted in the team being in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2011 and ranked in the CFP rankings for the first time ever. Tomorrow’s game marks the last home game for the Illinois Fighting Illini before the team heads to Purdue, Michigan, and Northwestern to finish the season. 

Illinois has been ranked for the past four weeks after it took down Nebraska, winning 26-9. 

The best thing the Fighting Illini have going for them is their defense. Illinois has the #1 defense in the league, allowing just 8.9 points per game. The team also ranks second in the country for passing yards per game (148.9) and rushing yards per game (75.6).

The team’s defense also ranks first in interceptions, passing efficiency, and fewest touchdowns allowed.

Illinois offense

Even if the Spartans can get the ball past the best defense in the country, their own defense will be pushed to the limit against Illinois QB Tommy DeVito and RB Chase Brown. DeVito currently ranks third in completion percentage (72.5%), and Chase Brown is the leading rusher in the nation with 1,208 yards this year. 

Saturday’s odds

The University of Illinois is the -16.5 (-110) point favorite going into tomorrow’s game on the Caesars sportsbook app. The game’s total (over/under) is 41.5, with the over having a -110 price and the under at -110 odds.

Michigan State is still holding onto the chance of making a bowl game this year, but it seems unlikely, as the team would have to win three of their next four games to pull it off. To do so, the team would have to win against both Rutgers and Indiana and either tomorrow’s game or against Penn State on November 26th.

After going 6-2 this season against the spread, the University of Illinois is our pick to cover the -16.5 spread at tomorrow’s game. 

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Mac Daniel is a Michigan native and freelance writer for PlayOnlineCasino and PlayOnlineSportsBetting. He has experience writing about a wide variety of topics, including healthcare, tourism, non-profit organizations, and most recently casino and sportsbetting news. To check out more of his work, visit: playonlinemichigan.com