#7 Penn State vs. Illinois Predictions, Best Bets & Odds for Sat, 9/16

We’ve entered Week 3 of the college football season, and the Penn State Nittany Lions are absolutely rolling. We didn’t give a pick for last week’s game against Delaware, as a betting line wasn’t available until two hours before kickoff, but we’re back with our favorite #7 Penn State vs. Illinois predictions today. I nailed my best bet in Week 1 against West Virginia, and the thinking will be very similar today with my picks. Although Penn State has the Whiteout Game next week against #25 Iowa, Saturday’s contest will not be a look-ahead spot.

Let’s dive into my #7 Penn State vs. Illinois predictions with odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. If you join BetMGM today, you can earn a $1,500 sign-up offer without needing a BetMGM promo code.

#7 PENN STATE VS. ILLINOIS PREDICTIONS & BEST BET: Penn State -14.5 (-110 at BetMGM)

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#7 Penn State vs. Illinois Predictions for Saturday, 9/16

Penn State hosted Delaware, an FCS program, in Week 2 and didn't show any drop-off from Week 1. The Nittany Lions had 541 total yards to the Blue Hens 140, and if it wasn't for a 66-yard TD run from Delaware RB Marcus Yarns, PSU likely would've won in a shutout. The Nittany Lions have 101 points to their opponent's 22 through two weeks, which has allowed James Franklin's program to move to 2-0 against the spread (ATS).

The story hasn't been as pretty for the Illinois Fighting Illini, as they dropped their Week 2 game against Kansas 34-23. This came after they escaped an upset attempt from Toledo in Week 1, and if it wasn't for a last-second FG in that game, Illinois would be 0-2 ATS and 0-2 in the record books. The biggest weakness the Illini showed last week was their rushing defense, as Kansas totaled 262 rushing yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry.

This Illinois program went through significant change in the offseason, and the defense hasn't looked anything close to last year's elite unit. New coordinator Aaron Henry is calling plays for the first time, and that has been magnified even more due to the departures of Devon Witherspoon, Sydney Brown, Isaac Darkangelo and Jartavius Martin. It's hard to picture this defense slowing down a Nittany Lions offense that is scoring at ease.

#7 Penn State vs. Illinois Free Picks & Best Bets

The only thing that might hold back sports fans from backing Penn State -14.5 (-110 at BetMGM) is because this week's game has been identified as a look-ahead spot for the Nittany Lions. Although PSU has their home Whiteout Game next Saturday against #25 Iowa, James Franklin won't let his players lose their focus.

Illinois beat this Penn State team in a 9 OT thriller last season in Happy Valley, and we anticipate a coordinated response by Franklin and his coaching staff. If this Illinois team allowed 6.0 yards per carry against Kansas, the PSU offensive line and RB trio of Kaytron Allen, Trey Potts and Nicholas Singleton should dominate this weekend.

Additionally, QB Drew Allar is slowly climbing the ranks in Heisman Trophy odds, and he can take advantage of a shaky Illinois secondary. The Fighting Illini have allowed 76.2% of opposing non-garbage time drives to end in 30+ yards or a TD through two weeks (126th in the country), which ranks close to Nevada, West Virginia and Louisiana. We saw what the Nittany Lions did against WVU, and we anticipate more of the same on Saturday.

Yes, this is PSU's first road and first conference game of the season, but Franklin has shown through two games that his program is ready to take a step this season. They won't forget last season's loss and understand what a big win would mean for their College Football Playoff ranking down the road.

Therefore, the best bet from my #7 Penn State vs. Illinois predictions is on the Nittany Lions -14.5 (-110 at BetMGM), as we can't foresee a situation where the Illinois offense can keep up with Penn State.

How to Bet on Penn State -14.5 at BetMGM & Get up to $1,500 Back on Your First Bet

Penn State -13.5 & 1Q Penn State Team Total Over 6.5 (+125 at BetMGM) in a Same Game Parlay is another way you could use my #7 Penn State vs. Illinois predictions, as we foresee any early jump for the Nittany Lions. Additionally, all of my picks were made at BetMGM Sportsbook because they have a fantastic new-user bonus.

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#7 Penn State vs. Illinois Odds & Betting Lines via BetMGM Sportsbook for Saturday, September 16th, 2023

I used the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook to make my #7 Penn State vs. Illinois predictions, and we’ve listed them for you below:

• Point Spread: Penn State -14.5 (-110) vs. Illinois +14.5 (-110)
• Money Line: Penn State (-650) vs. Illinois (+475)
• Game Total (Over/Under): Over 48.5 (-110) vs. Under 48.5 (-110)

A $110 wager on Penn State -14.5 (-110 at BetMGM) profits $100 if they win by 15+, while a $110 wager on Illinois +14.5 (-110 at BetMGM) returns $100 of winnings if they pull off the upset or lose by 14 points or less. If you are worried about Penn State winning by more than two TDs, you can back my SGP instead!

A $100 wager on Penn State -13.5 & 1Q Penn State Team Total Over 6.5 (+125 at BetMGM) returns $125 of winnings if the Nittany Lions score at least seven points in the first quarter and win by two TDs or more! No matter which of the #7 Penn State vs. Illinois predictions you want to use this weekend, make sure you create a new BetMGM account today!

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.

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