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Wyoming vs. Illinois Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 0

By Reed Wallach

Oct 30, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs
Oct 30, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs / Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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Illinois gets their college football season started earlier than most with a Week 0 home game against Wyoming.

The Fighting Illini narrowly missed a bowl in head coach Brett Bielema's first season in Champaign, but look to take the next step by taking out a rebuilding Wyoming team from the Mountain West.

Here are the odds and our betting preview for this Week 0 meeting:

Wyoming vs. Illinois Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Wyoming: +10 (-110)
  • Illinois -10 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Wyoming: +350
  • Illinois: -450

Total:

43.5 (Over -120/Under +100)

Wyoming vs. Illinois Betting Trends

  • Illinois went 1-2 as a home favorite against the spread last season
  • Illinois is 27-38 at home straight up over the last 10 seasons
  • Illinois covered the only time they were double digit favorites last season
  • Wyoming is 15-15 ATS as an away underdog under Craig Bohl

Need help with your college football futures bets? BetSided's Reed Wallach welcomes Ken Barkley, AKA "Locky Lockerson" of You Better You Bet to the debut episode of "The Early Reed!"

Wyoming vs. Illinois Prediction and Pick

It's looking bleak out in Laramine this season as Bohl will have to whip up one his best coaching jobs yet, now in his ninth year with the school.

Bohl is replacing all but one offensive lineman, his top two quarterbacks from last season as well as his star running back. He is likely going to turn to Utah State transfer Andrew Peasley, but it should be tough sledding against an Illinois defense that allowed 18 points per game over their last nine and was able to knock off the likes of Penn State and Minnesota in Big Ten play.

Can they cover double digits though? The team landed one of the better transfers at running back in Chase Brown and also return Josh McCray, who rushed for more than 140 yards twice in Big Ten play.

The offense has always been the question mark with this team, but the defense holds the biggest edge on the field. The team brings back several key contributors on the line, namely Jer'Zhan Newton at defensive end who had three sacks and 50 tackles last season.

However, with a conference game against Indiana on deck, I expect Bielema to keep the game script vanilla and play some ball control against a rebuilding Wyoming team. This may look like a one-sided affair but a low scoring one at that.

I'm looking at the under in what should be a defensive struggle as Illinois keeps their eyes on Week 1 in Bloomington.

LEAN: UNDER 43.5 (+100)

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