Kansas Jayhawks vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/07/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 7, 2024

Venue:  University of Illinois Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Kansas -5.5, Illinois +5.5; Over/Under:  55.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Kansas -5.5, Illinois +5.5; Over/Under:  55.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Kansas -5.5, Illinois +5.5; Over/Under:  55.5 points

Kansas Jayhawks:  1-0 (0-0) (6th place, Big 12)

Illinois Fighting Illini:  1-0 (0-0) (4th place, Big Ten)

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Kansas Jayhawks:  won their last game at home against the Lindenwood Lions 48-3.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  won their last game at home against the Eastern Illinois Panthers 45-0.

Kansas is entering this game with a 1-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Lindenwood 48-3. Jalon Daniels was the starting QB and he completed 9/15 passes for 148 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Devin Neal led the team in rushing yards with 112 and 2 TDs. Luke Grimm led the receivers with 111 receiving yards on 6 receptions and 1 TD. Cornell Wheeler and Ra'Mello Dotson each led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while Dean Miller and Jereme Robinson each led the defense in sacks with 1. Ra'Mello Dotson came away with the only interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Illinois is entering this game with a 1-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Eastern Illinois 45-0. Luke Altmyer was the starting QB and he completed 19/24 passes for 213 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Kaden Feagin led the team in rushing yards with 108 and 1 TD. Pat Bryant led the receivers with 63 receiving yards on 5 receptions and 2 TDs. Matthew Bailey led the defense in that game with 4 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles while Joe Barna led the defense in sacks with 1. Torrie Cox Jr. and Miles Scott each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Illinois listed as a 5.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Illinois looked great in their season opener, they were only playing a team from the FCS but they won 45-0. Meanwhile, Kansas also looked great in their season opener with a 48-3 win over Lindenwood. Now both teams will be getting their 1st real test of the season in this non-conference game. Kansas won this game by 11 points at home last season, but they got off to a really slow start in that game as Illinois gave them some trouble. Now Illinois is going to have the home advantage here and they are going to put up a good fight once again with their improved team. Kansas put up 48 points in their season opener against a team from the FCS, but this isn't a game they are going to light up the scoreboard in. Kansas is a more run heavy team and even in their win last week, their starting QB Jalon Daniels only attempted 15 passes with 148 yards. Illinois also has a better defense that they can rely on at home so they aren't going to let Kansas pull away this time. Illinois is going to keep Kansas' offense at bay with their good defense and this is going to be a game that both teams run the ball a lot so that will shorten the game too. Don't expect either team to pull away here as this is going to be a tighter game with good defense and more running. The best way to place a bet here is on Illinois to cover the spread in this game. 

Kansas Illinois Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 7, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Illinois 23 Kansas 20.

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Kansas Jayhawks: 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games. 3-0 ATS in the first half of their last 3 road games. 6-3 to the first quarter under in their last 9 games. 

Illinois Fighting Illini: 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games. 3-8 ATS in the first half of their last 11 games. 3-8 (-5.75 units) on the first half moneyline in their last 11 games. 

Kansas Jayhawks:  K. Kubecka (WR) Doubtful - Undisclosed. J. Sample (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. D. Hanika (TE) Out - Achilles. D. Abajian (OL) Out - Knee.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  D. Brown (OLB) Questionable - Undisclosed. D. Hill (DB) Questionable - Undisclosed. T. Strain (DB) Questionable - Undisclosed. M. Muragin (OLB) Out - Undisclosed. H. Boyer (TE) Questionable - Concussion. C. Rusk (TE) Out - Knee.

“For the first game, it was about what I hoped for. I thought Jalon (Daniels) played really well. I thought Devin and Daniel (Hishaw) ran the ball hard. I thought all our backs ran the ball hard. I thought the defense was solid. There are still some things with communication where we've got to be better. It was a good night, but there are some things as we step up and play a Big Ten opponent (Illinois) next, we've got to be better.” - Lance Leipold after his team’s win against Lindenwood in their last game. 

"People [are] talking about them [Kansas] being a playoff team. And you can definitely see that, you know, before they even played a snap this year. They're very well-coached. [They have] very dynamic players, offensively and defensively. Like us, they lost some players to the NFL but have replaced them and continue to build the roster that they already currently had. I think their football team and program really channels through their quarterback [Jalon Daniels]. When he's been able to be in the lineup, they obviously have a record that's pretty special." - Bret Bielema on his team’s upcoming game against KU this week.

WR Arnold, Lawrence

WR Skinner, Quentin

WR Grimm, Luke 

TE Casey, Jared 

QB Daniels, Jalon

RB Neal, Devin 

WR Franklin, Zakhari

WR Bryant, Pat 

WR Dixon, Collin 

TE Arkin, Tanner

QB Altmyer, Luke

RB Laughery, Aidan 

Passing: Jalon Daniels (148)

Rushing: Devin Neal (112)

Receiving: Luke Grimm (111)

Touchdowns: Devin Neal (2)

Passing: Luke Altmyer (213)

Rushing: Kaden Feagin (108)

Receiving: Pat Bryant (63)

Touchdowns: Pat Bryant (2)

Coaches:

Kansas Jayhawks: Lance Leipold (4th season)

Illinois Fighting Illini: Bret Bielema (4th season)