Illinois vs. Michigan Prediction and Odds for College Football Week 12 (How Will Wolverines Handle Look Ahead Spot)
By Josh Yourish
The dream season was not to be for Bret Bielema. The Illinois Fighting Illini head coach had his team at 7-1, but two straight losses in the Big 10 have killed their season.
Two weeks ago it was Michigan State, and this past weekend it was Purdue knocking them off 31-24. The defense was the key, but they have come back down to earth at the worst possible time. Illinois has to head to Ann Arbor to face the 10-0 Michigan Wolverines.
Let’s take a look at the odds and the trends for this Big 10 matchup that could have playoff implications for Jim Harbaugh’s team.
Illinois vs. Michigan Odds, Spread and Total
Michigan and Illinois Betting Trends
- Michigan is 6-3-1 ATS
- Illinois is 6-4 ATS
- The under is 7-3 in Michigan’s games
- The under is 6-3-1 in Illinois’s games
- Underdog is 6-1 ATS in last seven meetings
Illinois vs. Michigan Prediction and Pick
While Illinois was losing their second-straight game the Wolverines were at home casually dominating Nebraska, 34-3. The Michigan physicality is really showing up lately, they ran for 264 yards and only allowed 75 on the ground and 71 passing to the Cornhuskers. 34-3 doesn’t begin to encapsulate the dominance of that game. That comes off the heels of a 52-17 pounding of Rutgers and a 29-7 beatdown that they delivered to Michigan State.
Michigan is clearly the better team, but Illinois is still No. 2 in total defense in the country, right behind Michigan. They are not a great team, but have a very good defense, even if it has gotten exposed in the past few weeks. Michigan is on a collision course with Ohio State in Week 13, and this screams letdown spot for the Wolverines.
Michigan won’t lose this game, but it will be much closer than coach Harbaugh would like.
Pick: Illinois +17.5 (-110)
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change