Big Ten football returns this weekend as No. 24 Michigan hits the road against No. 22 Illinois in college football’s Week 8 action on Saturday. Let’s check in with some of the early predictions for the game from the nation’s oddsmakers.

Michigan is coming off its first loss in Big Ten play against Washington two weeks ago and still lacks a credible vertical threat, ranking 131st out of 134 FBS teams in passing production, and as a result is 102nd nationally in scoring offense with 23.5 points per game.

Illinois won its two Big Ten games by a combined 8 points with a 21-7 decision at Penn State the school’s only loss heading into this first of two matchups against ranked conference opponents.

What do the wiseguys think of this weekend’s Big Ten matchup?

Let’s look at how the oddsmakers are predicting the Michigan vs. Illinois game this weekend.

The books call the road team the early favorite here, but by the slimmest of margins.

Michigan is a 1 point favorite against Illinois, according to the lines at FanDuel Sportsbook.

FanDuel lists the total at 43.5 points for the game.

And it set the moneyline odds for Michigan at -120 and for Illinois at Even to win outright.

Michigan: -1 (-115)
Illinois: +1 (-105)

Over 43.5 points: -110
Under 43.5 points: -110

Michigan is 1-5 against the spread (16.7%) so far this season overall …

Illinois is 4-1-1 (80%) ATS in 2024 …

The total has gone over in 4 of Michigan’s last 5 games …

Illinois is 5-0 against the spread in its last 5 games as the underdog …

Michigan is 2-6 against the spread in its last 8 games against Illinois …

Illinois is 1-9-1 against the spread in its last 11 games on a Saturday at home …

The total went over in 10 of Michigan’s 12 games against a Big Ten opponent …

The total went under in 4 of Illinois’ last 6 games …

Michigan’s three quarterbacks have thrown for a combined 690 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per pass with 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions this season.

Kalel Mullings leads the Wolverines’ rushing attack, which, in essence, is the team’s offense right now, posting 589 yards on the ground with a 6.5 ypc average and 6 of Michigan’s 9 rushing touchdowns.

Donovan Edwards scored the team’s other 3 rushing touchdowns and has 353 yards on the season off 73 carries for a 4.8 yard per run average.

Tight end Colston Loveland is Michigan’s principal receiving threat, catching 29 passes for 261 yards and has 2 of the team’s 6 touchdown catches. 

Illinois is 87th in FBS in rushing production, averaging 139.5 yards per game, and is 58th nationally in passing output with 243 yards in the air.

Luke Altmyer is a 68 percent passer with 14 touchdowns and 1 interceptions, but he’s been sacked 19 times, ranking 122nd nationally in that category, and 6th worst among Power Four teams.

Pat Bryant is Altmyer’s main target, catching 27 passes for 452 yards and 7 of the team’s 14 receiving touchdowns.

Tight end Tanner Arkin is the only other receiver with more than 1 touchdown (2), and Zakhari Franklin is the Illini’s second-most productive pass catcher with 346 yards and a score.

A slight majority of bettors expect Illinois to come out ahead in this Big Ten clash.

56 percent of bets predict the Illini will defeat Michigan in an upset.

The other 44 percent of wagers expect Michigan will cover the 1 point spread as the favorite.

The game’s implied score suggests a very close victory for the Wolverines.

When taking the point spread and total into consideration, it’s implied that Michigan will defeat Illinois by a projected score of 22 to 21.

Our early pick: Illinois +1 … While the Wolverines have the capacity to slow the Illini ground game and make that offense one-dimensional, Luke Altmyer should have an edge going against a Michigan secondary that has not played up to expectations this season.

When: Sat., Oct. 19
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: CBS network

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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On the first play after the two-minute warning in Sunday night’s game at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, seemingly all the Cincinnati Bengals needed was a first down against the New York Giants’ defense to end the game.

On second-and-3, with Cincinnati clinging to a 10-7 lead, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow handed the ball off to running back Chase Brown, who gave his team what it needed – and then some.

Brown, who played for Illinois from 2019-22 and who is now in his second season with the Bengals, snatched the ball from Burrow’s hands, patiently waited on a lead block from tight end Drew Sample, then made a subtle cut and tore through the middle and past the Giants’ secondary untouched – all the way through the goal line.

The 30-yard burst extended the Bengals lead to 10, iced the game and kept the dim playoff hopes of the 2-4 Bengals alive. 

Brown finished with 10 carries for 53 yards and the score. After once again outplaying Zack Moss (6 carries for 13 yards), who entered this season as Cincy’s lead back, Brown should get his chance to take on a heavier load.

That should be no problem for Brown, who was an All-American workhorse runner for the Illini before being drafted in the fifth round last year by Cincinnati. His average yards per carry in 2024 (5.5) ranks among the league’s top 10 marks, and Week 7 should be as good as any to solidify his standing in the Bengals’ backfield with a matchup against the spiraling Cleveland Browns.

There’s a new sheriff in town in the Big Ten, and it’s Oregon. Or is it Penn State? Or, come to think of it, is it still Ohio State? The Buckeyes’ 32-31 loss to the Ducks in Oregon hardly settled anything.

Illinois did what it had to do in a 50-49 overtime win against lowly Purdue, and that’s not completely blow the game and ruin a promising season. Still, the Illini struggled enough to make us wonder if they really belong in the top half of the 18-team conference. For now, they’re still there.

Let’s take it from the bottom (all game times Central):

What do you call that thing the Boilermakers had for 46 whole seconds against Illinois again? Ah, yes – an actual lead.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Friday vs. Oregon (7 p.m., FOX).

How unbearably bad are the Bruins at running the ball? Even on a night when they held Minnesota to a puny total of 41 yards, they were outgained on the ground (41-36).

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday at Rutgers (11 a.m., FS1).

Getting dump-trucked by Northwestern by four touchdowns at home probably wasn’t in the plans.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. USC (3 p.m., FS1).

That 27-24 win at Maryland in Week 2 isn’t as impressive in hindsight as it originally appeared to be.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. Iowa (6:30 p.m., NBC).

Chopping? No, dropping. Anyone who thought Greg Schiano had it rolling again has to have doubts after that all-out debacle against Wisconsin.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. UCLA (11 a.m., FS1).

Who knew the Wildcats had a 37-10 smack-around of Maryland in them? That was mighty impressive.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. Wisconsin (11 a.m., BTN).

After beating USC and UCLA back-to-back, the Gophers have totally gone Hollywood. OK, fine, maybe Anaheim.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Oct. 26 vs. Maryland.

A morning kickoff in Iowa City, followed by three hours of frustration and misery, was as “Welcome to the Big Ten” as it gets.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Oct. 26 at Indiana.

Luke Fickell and his staff have found something, and it’s called running the damn football as though you’re Wisconsin. It just might be crazy enough to work.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday at Northwestern (11 a.m., BTN).

The Trojans looked great against Penn State … until they petered out. It wasn’t the first time this season.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday at Maryland (3 p.m., FS1).

It’s prove-it time for the Huskers, who have yet to beat a Big Ten team with a pulse.

Polls: No. 27 AP, No 25 coaches.

Next up: Saturday at Indiana (11 a.m., FOX).

If Bret Bielema’s defense really is as soft as it looked in the second half against Purdue, a 2022-style fadeout is likely for this team.

Polls: No. 22 AP, No. 21 coaches.

Next up: Saturday vs. Michigan (2:30 p.m., CBS).

The Wolverines are on their third QB, Jack Tuttle, who’s in his seventh year of college ball. How long until he gets tenure?

Polls: No. 24 AP, No. 22 coaches.

Next up: Saturday at Illinois (2:30 p.m., CBS).

Have you looked at the Hawkeyes’ remaining schedule? It’s pretty much screaming 10-2.

Polls: No. 31 AP, No. 33 coaches.

Next up: Saturday at Michigan State (6:30 p.m., NBC).

Big one coming up for the Hoosiers, who still have their doubters. What a fun team either way.

Polls: No. 16 AP, No. 18 coaches.

Next up: Saturday vs. Nebraska (11 a.m., FOX).

The Nittany Lions just kept plugging at USC, came all the way back and got a win fit for a legit playoff contender. That’s how it’s done.

Polls: No. 3 AP, No. 3 coaches.

Next up: Oct. 26 at Wisconsin.

A one-point loss at Oregon is nothing to get too down about. Rematch in Indy, anyone?

Polls: No. 4 AP, No. 5 coaches.

Next up: Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska.

You beat the big, bad Buckeyes, you get the top spot. That’s just the way it works, people.

Polls: No. 2 AP, No. 2 coaches.

Next up: Friday at Purdue (7 p.m., FOX).

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