Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini 9/16/2023 – Week 3 of college football season has arrived, and fans are anticipating a thrilling showdown between Penn State Nittany Lions (ranked seventh) and Illinois Fighting Illini (ranked 10th) at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Penn State currently owns an impressive 2-0 record while Illinois looks for redemption after recent setbacks; making this Big Ten matchup a surefire action-packed battle. The Week 3 college football betting picks are updated below with all the details of this exciting game.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini 9/16/2023
| When: | Saturday, September 16, 2023 12:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Memorial Stadium |
| TV: | TV |
| Stream: | SofaScore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nittany Lions | -14.5 (-110) | -625 | 48.5 o (-110) |  |
| Fighting Illini | +14.5 (-110) | +485 | 48.5 u (-110) | |
| ||||
one sleep…⏳ pic.twitter.com/IWZIQgp8FT
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) September 16, 2023
James Franklin vs Bret Bielema
Penn State Nittany Lions have made an outstanding start to their Big Ten journey this 2023 season, posting two convincing home wins and looking ahead toward Illinois as they aim to extend their winning streak.
Penn State recently held Delaware at bay with an explosive offensive showdown, dominating them 63-7 to secure an impressive 541 total yard game plan with eight touchdowns scored by sophomore quarterback Drew Allar who completed 22 of 36 passes for 204 yards and one score before being taken out in the third quarter to make way for backup quarterback Beau Pribula who added both passing and rushing touchdowns himself.
Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 155 yards on the ground and four touchdowns to lead Penn State’s rushing game to 315 total yards for the day, with KeAndre Lambert-Smith leading all receivers with 74 receiving yards.
Penn State dominated Delaware on defense, holding them to just 140 total yards of offense and five first downs. Linebacker Dominic DeLuca made headlines for intercepting his first career pass and returning it for a touchdown during the third quarter. Furthermore, their defense forced a fumble and collected six tackles for loss (four sacks).
Penn State was known to possess one of the nation’s premier offenses during 2022, ranking 32nd in total yards gained and recording 101 points across two games to start this season – an indication of their intent to maintain their offensive dominance. Last season they were 40th in rushing and 45th in passing respectively and with Drew Allar at center, their passing attack looks even stronger.
Penn State’s Strong Defense Faces Off Against Illinois After Their Rally Against Kansas
Penn State exhibited its defensive prowess last season by ranking 14th overall in total defense, excelling against both running backs (16th) and passers (36th). So far this season, their opponent teams have only scored 22 points against them; evidence of their strong defense capabilities.
Illinois Fighting Illini enters this matchup with an even record, having recently faced off against Kansas on the road and losing by 34-23, yet are determined to rebound and put this loss behind them.
At halftime against Kansas, Illinois was down 28-7 but rallied back 16-6 outscoring of Jayhawks to come from behind and win by outscoring them 16-6 in the second half. Once one of the country’s best in 2022, their defense struggled significantly and exposed areas for improvement as they gear up to play Penn State, which offers high scoring.
Luke Altmyer displayed flashes of brilliance, completing 19 of 28 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown while facing two interceptions. Additionally, Altmyer made an impactful run, covering 98 yards with two touchdowns – including an eye-catching 72-yard gallop! Running back Reggie Love III carried eight times for 47 yards while wide receiver Isaiah Williams caught six passes for 99 yards; Griffin Moore delivered his career-best performance with four receptions of 56 yards! In total, the Fighting Illini amassed 341 total offense yards.
NCAA Betting Odds: Penn State Over 48.5 (-110)
Illinois had a difficult defensive challenge, giving up over 500 total yards and 262 in rushing. They forced two turnovers – including Xavier Scott’s first career interception – as well as five tackles for loss (two by Jer’Zhan Newton alone).
Though Penn State suffered a defeat to Illinois in 2021 after nine overtimes, they will face an uphill battle this time around. Penn State’s impressive offense, led by quarterback Drew Allar, presents Illinois defenders with significant challenges; their initial struggles are exacerbated further by key departures from last season’s squad.
Illinois Fighting Illini must bolster their defense to match Penn State’s potency in its inaugural road game of the season against Penn State on the road, led by rising sophomore quarterback Drew Allar who can take advantage of an otherwise vulnerable secondary. Although home-field advantage offers some protection, containing Penn State’s balanced offense will be no easy task for either team.
Penn State Betting Trends
Penn State are 8-0-1 ATS in their last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Penn State’s last 10 games.
Penn State are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games.
Penn State are 15-5 SU in their last 20 games against Illinois.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Penn State’s last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Penn State’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Illinois.
Illinois Betting Trends
Fighting Illini are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
Illinois are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Illinois’ last 6 games against Penn State.
Illinois are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Illinois’ last 7 games when playing at home against Penn State.
Illinois are 12-6 ATS in their last 18 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Pick
Penn State looks like the clear favorite in this matchup, with their explosive offense led by Drew Allar expected to expose Illinois’ weaknesses defensively. Allar’s ability to stretch out the field with his passing game should make for an overwhelming opponent against whom Penn State can mount its formidable ground attack and an excellent running game.
Penn State will likely take an early lead, forcing Illinois to use its passing game as it attempts a comeback attempt. This could result in turnovers for Penn State and create an easy road win on their travels.
As we begin an exciting week of college football, keep an eye on this matchup between Penn State Nittany Lions and Illinois Fighting Illini. Boasting impressive offensive power from Penn State and a determined Illinois squad looking for redemption, Saturday’s clash promises breathtaking action on the gridiron. Don’t miss the kickoff as we watch this fascinating contest unfold. The Lions are predicted to win this game as per the best college football betting sites.
Score Prediction: Nittany Lions 33, Fighting Illini 27.
