Illinois football is a 3.5-point favorite against Maryland ahead of its Halloween matchup in College Park, according to FanDuel.
The Illini are -152 on the moneyline, while Maryland is +126. The over/under is set at 52.5 points, so they’re expecting something in the range of 28-25.
Illinois will head on the road looking to pick up a third-straight Big Ten victory as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Illinois enters the matchup with momentum after upsetting Oregon 21-10 on Saturday, while
Maryland is looking to snap a five-game losing streak. The Terrapins are 2-5 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play, giving the Illini an opportunity to build on their biggest win of the season.
In the win over the Ducks, Illinois erased an early 10-point deficit and scored 21 unanswered points to secure the win. Running back Aidan Laughery provided a spark with a 75-yard touchdown run, while freshman quarterback Michael Clayton II threw two touchdown passes.
Illinois improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play with the victory. Now, the Illini have a chance to reach .500 in conference play against a Maryland team that has struggled to find answers and already canned Mike Locksley. Co-defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was named interim head coach.
Despite Maryland’s struggles, Illinois cannot afford to overlook the Terrapins, particularly on the road. The Illini will need to avoid a letdown after their emotional victory over Oregon.
But given how Bret Bielema’s squad just dispatched of Oregon — and the defense’s rapid improvement since parting ways with Bobby Hauck — I’d be taking the Illini this Saturday at Maryland. I think they easily can cover a 3.5-point spread, especially if Clayton continues to show he can make throws in the pocket (and find Collin Dixon).
Kickoff between the Illini and Terrapins is set for 11 a.m. CT.
