Illinois-Purdue
Time: NOON ET, Nov 23, 2013
Spread: ILL -7
O/U: 55
Odds courtesy of Bovada
One of these teams will get its first Big Ten win today, and if college football oddsmakers at Bovada are right, it will be the visiting Illinois Fighting Illini, who are 7-point favorites as Purdue hosts them in the battle of the winless.
Purdue hasn’t won since Sept 7 when it defeated Indiana State.
The Boilermakers have had some tough tests against Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State, but the team has not been particularly competitive in any of those matches. The Illini average just 12.7 points per game while surrendering 38 per contest. The season has been one of lopsided losses.
Purdue never did find a good answer at QB this season, rotating Danny Etling and Rob Henry, both of whom completed under 54 percent of their passes. The backfield has been entirely unsuccessful at generating yardage or touchdowns, and Akeem Hunt’s 3.5 yards per carry on 99 carries speaks to the teams frustrations. Despite being the team’s leading rusher, he has yet to reach the end zone.
Illinois started the season on the right foot, winning three of its first four games, but the team shaw dropped six consecutive games since that point and is just trying to salvage the season with a win over Purdue before closing its season with Northwestern next week.
The Fighting Illini have a strong pass offense that generates 288.8 yards per game and the team averages 30.2 points per game, but its defense has been abysmal, allowing 37.2 points per contest. Over the last two weeks, the Illini have surrendered an average of 56 points per game to Indiana and Ohio State.
Illinois Trends: 1-8 ATS in last 9 on road; 2-9 ATS in last 11 following ATS win; 2-8 ATS in last 10 after allowing more than 450 total yards previous game.
Purdue Trends: 0-4 ATS in last 4 at home; OVER 11-1 in last 12 vs teams with losing road records; 1-7 ATS in last 8 following SU win.
Head-to-head: Underdog 4-1 ATS in last 5 meetings; Home Team 6-2 ATS in last 8 meetings.
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