Kansas at Illinois odds, picks and predictions

The Kansas Jayhawks (1-0) and Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0) tussle in a Saturday night affair in Champaign. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Kansas vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Kansas, which is No. 20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, opened its season with an Aug. 29 victory over FCS Lindenwood. The Jayhawks cranked out 7.5 yards per rushing attempt en route to outgaining the Lions 530-202 in total yards.

The Fighting Illini also opened their season Thursday, Aug. 29. They routed FCS Eastern Illinois 45-0. Last season, UI went 1-4 in home games against power-conference opponents.

– US LBM Coaches Poll: Conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

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Kansas at Illinois odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at noon ET.

• Moneyline: Kansas -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Illinois +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
• Against the spread (ATS): Kansas -5.5 (-105) | Illinois +5.5 (-115)
• Over/Under (O/U): 57.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Kansas at Illinois picks and predictions

Prediction

Kansas 31, Illinois 28

Look for better value against the number: PASS.

Kansas is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the road.

These 2 squads also met in a Week 2 game in Lawrence last season. Illinois fell behind early and eventually headed back to Champaign with a 38-23 loss in tow. Kansas went 9 of 13 on 3rd-down conversions and went on to dominate the time-of-possession battle.

In its final 4 home games last season, UI went 1-3. But 2 of those losses were to quality Wisconsin and Northwestern teams and were by a combined 7 points.

Look for KU to be the more efficient team but for Illinois to get its points and keep things interesting.

Consider a partial-unit play on the FIGHTING ILLINI +5.5 (-115).

The total has gone Over in 13 of Kansas’ last 17 games on the road. The total has also hit the Over in 4 of Illinois’ last 6 games.

Expect some tackling woes for 2 defenses facing like competition for the 1st time. Figure the offenses as finding some passing success and some big plays in a good-weather exchange of touchdowns.

BACK THE OVER 57.5 (-110).

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