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Michigan football vs. Illinois: Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 8

Michigan football will be back on the road this week against Illinois and here are the odds, a prediction, and how to watch.

By Chris Peterson

Michigan running back Kalel Mullings runs in for the first touchdown of the game during first-half action between Michigan and Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Michigan running back Kalel Mullings runs in for the first touchdown of the game during first-half action between Michigan and Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. / Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Michigan football entered the bye week at a disappointing 4-2. The Wolverines' goals are still ahead of them though.

Making the College Football Playoff seems far-fetched right now. But if the Wolverines win out or win five of their next six games, they will be in the mix for a spot in the 12-team playoff.

The problem is that Michigan football hasn't shown anything that makes you believe they are capable of beating six straight, especially with four against ranked teams.

Michigan football fans could be preparing for a run at a playoff spot or a fight just to reach six wins and play in a bowl game. This Illinois game will tell us a lot and here's all the key info plus our prediction against the spread.

Michigan football vs. Illinois Odds

Michigan is currently a 3.5-point favorite according to DraftKings. The over/under is 43.5 points and the moneyline for U-M is -155 while it's +130 for Illinois.

Michigan vs. Illinois How to watch

Date: October 19th
Game Time: 3:30 PM EST
Venue: Memorial Stadium (Champaign)
How to Watch: CBS Sports | Fubo TV/Paramount Plus

Michigan football vs. Illinois players to watch

Michigan: Jack Tuttle

Jack Tuttle will be the third starting quarterback for Michigan football this season on Saturday. However, he seems like he was the preferred option all along, he just wasn't healthy.

Tuttle is now and he's gotten two weeks of reps as the starter. The offense looked as good with him as it has all season. If the running game can get going and Tuttle can make the passing game a threat, this offense could actually look functional once again, which it rarely did during the first six games.

Illinois: Luke Altmyer

Not to make it all about the quarterbacks but Luke Altmyer is probably the biggest reason why Illinois is ranked and 5-1 right now. After throwing 13 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions last season, Altmyer has already surpassed that TD pass total with 14.

The Illinois QB is completing 67 percent of his passes and has just one interception. He's also got two really talented wideouts in Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin. Michigan's pass defense needs to win that matchup or stalemate it at least to win.

Michigan football vs. Illinois prediction against the spread

This will be a defining game for this season. Either the Wolverines come out, punch Illinois in the mouth, and set the tone for the second half of the season, or we are going to see what we have seen during the first six games, over the last six games.

Michigan football has the talent to be in every game on the schedule including the last one. But they have to find an identity and the defense needs to figure things out. Illinois allows 4.5 yards per rushng attempt and just allowed a terrible Purdue team to hang 40 on them.

I think with Tuttle adding to the passing element, along with some changes to the offensive line, the ground game will churn out 200 yards and the defensive line will dominate.

Prediction: Michigan 27, Illinois 20


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