What I believe will end up being the biggest game of the weekend will take place on Friday night between Illinois football and UCLA.
The Illini come into the contest on a four-game winning streak, while UCLA is 9-0 and looking to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff.
UCLA has found a nice quarterback in Ty Dieffenbach, as starter Nico Iamaleava went down with an injury about a month ago. Dieffenbach has led the Bruins to four convincing wins, and now Illinois is his next challenger.
The Illini defense has risen from the dead. At one point this season, we parted ways with our defensive coordinator. Now, Illinois looks to have changed course completely and is locking teams down. This should be a great battle in primetime.
Final odds for Illinois football vs. UCLA
Odds provided by DraftKings Sports
Moneyline
- Illinois +310
- UCLA -395
Spread
- Illinois +10 (-110)
- UCLA -10 (-110)
Total
- Over 47.5 points (-115)
- Under 47.5 points (-105)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Illinois football has a chance to rattle the College Football Playoff cages against UCLA
I would imagine not many people are giving Illinois a chance to knock off UCLA on Friday night.
This is a matchup between an undefeated Bruins program that is ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff, and an Illinois team that just a month ago was looking at limping into a bowl game.
Over the past four weeks or so, everything has changed. While UCLA remains undefeated, the Illini are now 6-3 and have figured things out defensively. We were getting shredded by teams, but in the last three games alone, Illinois has allowed a total of 40 points.
This game is going to be about Illinois getting something going offensively. UCLA has one of the best defenses in the country, ranking No. 9 in rush defense and No. 13 in pass defense.
UCLA’s schedule hasn’t been the toughest in the world, though. It is very similar to that of Illinois’ schedule. In fact, the Bruins narrowly beat Oregon by two points. The same Ducks squad that Illinois beat by double digits.
Las Vegas thinks this game is going to be close. The spread is only 10 points on the road. Illinois is riding a hot hand right now. I think Aidan Laughery gets going on the ground. He is going to be key on Friday night. Let’s shock the world.
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