Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils Prediction, 9/6/2025 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Location: Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, NC

TV: ESPN/ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Devils (+3.0)

Total/Over-Under: 49.5

The Duke Blue Devils (1-0) will compete against the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0) at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Illinois opens this game as 3.0-point favorites. The total comes in at 49.5.

The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game with a record of 1-0 for this season. The last time they took the field, the Fighting Illini stepped onto the field against the Western Illinois Leathernecks and went home with a win by a final score of 52-3. The Illinois Fighting Illini ended up running the ball 37 times and amassed 209 yards, which came out to an average of 5.6 yds per carry. When all was said and done, they had 59 plays which gave them a total of 440 yards. Illinois surrendered 14 pass completions on 29 tries for a total of 134 yards, and a completion rate of 48.3%. On the ground, the Fighting Illini conceded 27 yds on 26 tries, which is 1.0 yds per run surrendered.

The Fighting Illini have tallied 440 total yards this season. When it comes to getting the ball in the endzone, Illinois has amassed 3 touchdowns through the air and 3 rushing touchdowns. They have yet to turn the ball over. Illinois has accounted for 21 first downs as a team, and they have committed 5 infractions for 60 yards. As a team they maintain an average of 209.0 yards in the run game which has them sitting 38th in Division 1. When talking about scoring points, the Illinois Fighting Illini have an average of 52.0 points per outing.

Regarding passing yardage, the Fighting Illini have conceded 134 yds which ranks them 35th in the country. They have conceded 134.0 yards per game via the pass and conceding a completion percentage of 48.3%. Over the course of this season, they have given up 161.0 yards per contest which puts them 14th in D-1. They have yet to surrender a touchdown on defense. They are allowing 1.0 yards per run and 27.0 rushing yards per game this year. During this campaign, they have conceded 27 running yards through 1 outing. The Fighting Illini are sitting in 16th in the nation in terms of their opponents scoring, conceding 3.0 points per game.

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The Blue Devils head into this matchup 1-0 for this season. When they last stepped on the field, the Blue Devils got the victory with a final of 45-17 when they faced the Elon Phoenix. Duke ran the football for 6.4 yards per tote, totaling 159 yds on 25 carries. The Blue Devils finished the game with a total of 548 yds while they ran 59 plays (9.3 yards per play). The Blue Devils passing defense allowed a completion rate of 61.1%, surrendering 112 yards on 11 for 18 passing. Duke allowed 44 attempts on the ground for 163 yds (3.7 yards per carry).

When it comes to the points being put on the board, the Blue Devils currently rank 23rd in D-1 by scoring 45.0 points per contest. The Duke Blue Devils are averaging 548.0 yards per game, ranking them 13th in Division 1. The Duke offense has compiled 15 penalty yards on 3 violations, which ranks 118th in Division 1 in terms of hurting your team. They have recorded 23 1st downs. Over the course of the season thus far, the Blue Devils have thrown for a total of 389 yards through the air, which is ranked 7th in the nation. They are averaging 159.0 rushing yards per game.

Duke has conceded a total of 163 yards on the ground. They have allowed 112.0 passing yards per game, ranking them 25th in D-1. They have yet to force a turnover. The Blue Devils defense has been on the field for 62 plays, which has them sitting 55th in Division 1. The Blue Devils are relinquishing 17.0 points per contest, which puts them 79th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Fighting Illini/Blue Devils college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Fighting Illini -3.0

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