I might be against the grain but I do not like Illinois at all.
Doesn't mean they wont win and cover, cause Nebraska lost to Purdue by double digits the other week but I personally wouldn't back Illinois.
Illinois is in a big funk. Sure they have played some good teams but they havent had a win or even been close in nearly 3 weeks. Now they are just supposed to break out of that funk on the road and beat Nebraska? :shrug:
They like to play considerably faster than Nebraska. If they cant get Nebraska to run, how will they cope? History says not well.
Their last 2 games were of slower tempos and they were dismantled @ Wisconsin and handled easily at home vrs. Northwestern.
Nebraska plays good defense. Illinois is horrendous at moving the ball around. They have an awful assist %. To me that means a lot of 1 on 1 try and do it yourself.
Nebraska hasn't lost to any bad teams. They also rarely turn the ball over. One of the least amounts in the country.
Illinois is poor at guarding the 3 ball. While Nebraska isn't a prolific outside shooting team by any means, at home in a familiar gym, those shots might drop more than they would away.
Nebraska is no slouch. They played Wisconsin down to the wire, competitive all game.
Key to the game will be the tempo. Illinois chances dramatically decrease IMO if they can't force Nebraska to run, and to do that, you need to make shots. Against a very sound defensive team in their gym, you need some guys to get hot.
I don't think the line is off or suspicious. If anything I would say it should be closer to a PK than Illinois laying 4.
