Kansas Jayhawks vs. Illinois Fighting Illini 9/7/24 – The stage is set for an entertaining week 2 of college football when the Kansas Jayhawks (1-0) and the Illinois Fighting Illini face off on Saturday. Both teams tasted victory last week and hope to continue winning this week. This game, in style, will be an important one in early-season competition, with an eventful outcome. With several difficult trends to cast in Illinois striving for a change, here is your free NCAAF prediction for a matchup mapping Kansas’ resilient efforts and this week’s home team.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Illinois Fighting Illini 9/7/24
| When: | Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Memorial Stadium |
| TV: | FS1 |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayhawks | -6.5 (-122) | 55.5 over (-103) | -245 |  |
| Fighting Illini | +6.5 (-110) | 55.5 under (-119) | +198 | |
| ||||
https://twitter.com/KU_Football/status/1830639106785001861
The Jayhawks enter the game as favorites, reflective of their recent success on the road and against Big Ten opponents. Despite their historical underperformance at home, Illinois’ aggressive odds suggest a belief in their potential for an upset, making the spread particularly intriguing for bettors.
Jalon Daniels QB vs. Luke Altmyer QB
Jalon Daniels of Kansas started his season with enticing statistics and glaring weaknesses. His accuracy was at 60%, with 148 yards passing in the first game, suggesting that he was playing within a conservative game plan, probably given the one interception he threw and the team’s preventative game plan. A strong-armed Daniels, who had a long pass of 58 yards, added that his long passes would also be critical for penetrating Illinois’ defense.
Illinois’ Luke Altmyer demonstrated incredible effectiveness in his first game by upping his completion percentage to 79.2%, with passing yards amounting to 213. He finished this game with four touchdowns and did not throw any interceptions depicting his exquisite accuracy and wise choices. The performance that Altmyer puts down would be a good challenge for Daniels and may force the Kansas QB to push himself more with the aerial attack.
Kansas’ Ground and Air Assault
The Kansas attack leans on Devin Neal’s ground performance of 112 yards and two scoring touches, which adds versatility to their offense. With such a high explosive rushing average, much of the defense will have to account for where Daniels is on the field, as well as his target, Luke Grimm, who already has 111 yards and a touchdown. Illinois will have its defensive adaptability and endurance challenged by this combined threat for 4 quarters.
Illini’s Tactical Response
Conversely, Illinois counters with Kaden Feagin, who racked up 108 rushing yards and a touchdown. His ability to tear through defenses, coupled with Altmyer’s precise passes to receivers like Pat Bryant, who has already logged two touchdowns, suggests a balanced offensive strategy. Illinois will need to exploit its home-field advantage and continue its offensive momentum to outpace Kansas’ robust defense.
Trends
Kansas Jayhawks Betting Trends
Kansas is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas’ last 6 games.
Kansas is 10-4 SU in their last 14 games.
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Kansas’ last 17 games on the road.
Kansas is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends
Illinois is 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Illinois’ last 6 games.
Illinois is 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games at home.
Illinois is 1-7 SU in their last 8 games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference.
Fighting Illini are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games played in September.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Prediction
Relative to the previously mentioned factors and the betting trends, Kansas looks like a team that is likely to cover the spread given its diversified offensive capabilities. While Illinois has an impressive offense, it may find it difficult to deal with Kansas’ versatile offense. Certain bets would include laying points with Kansas and betting the over on 55.5 as both offenses look promising.
Performing a closer examination of these factors, it becomes apparent that Kansas’s strength on the road and Illinois’s lack of defensive strength imply that Kansas would not just cover the spread but would even go above it. For those looking for possibilities beyond the line, props on individual offensive players, especially quarterbacks and top receivers, may be interesting. Speaking about selecting a better variant considering not only outcomes but probable incomes, it is likely that the best casino sites would help with that, too.
Score Prediction: Kansas 34, Illinois 24.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: September 5, 2024
Last updated: March 31, 2025