Illinois Football Predictions for 2024: Illinois Football Total Wins Picks, Best Bets & Games To Watch

Expert college football handicapper Ron Marmalefsky looks at Illinois college football and its chances in 2024. Ron provides expert picks for betting on Illinois in 2024.

Ron also offers total win predictions for Illinois in 2024 (a great betting NCAAF betting future), areas to watch, favorability of schedule, and offers best bets tips on Illinois.

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Grab the GoldSheet 2024-2025 Betting Guide

In a partnership with WagerTalk’s Ralph Michaels, the GoldSheet team has compiled a 60-page college football betting guide to help you prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Available free of charge, this preseason guide features our summer power ratings, projected point spreads and win probabilities for EVERY game of the upcoming season, plus coaching changes, quarterback transfers and much more. 

Illinois College Football 2024 Preview: What’s the Situation?

Illinois was poised to earn a 2nd straight bowl berth after an overtime win vs. Indiana, but a pair of tough, two-point losses had them finishing 5-7.

It’s time to stop treading water for Illinois football in 2024.

2024 Illinois NCAAF AREAS TO WATCH:

Bielema’s team went 3-3 down the stretch, with not even one of the six games decided by more than
three points. For them to be on the right side of things in ’24, a new PK has to emerge, and it’s a battle between two very raw players.

The RB’s look like grinders, and not anything like what past Bielema teams have featured. QB turnovers need to be paired back.

The 40 sacks allowed was way too high. Finally, the WR room lacks pizzaz. The DL looks weaker, but four of the top five tacklers return and the back seven could be improved. Overall, fixing the turnover ratio (-8) would be the best way to improve their bowl chances.

Illinois Football 2024 Predicted Total Wins Prediction

About 6-6, with at least half their games in the tossup category. For me, that means Illinois meets or exceeds expectations IF they exceed my rush ratio expectations, reduce turnovers, and find a kicking game.

The margin for error is razor thin. Underachieve in these areas and they will miss a bowl game for the 2nd straight season.

College Football Week 0 Predictions & Picks

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Illinois 2024 Football Expert HANDICAPPING TIP

My 1st look again will be the dog in their games. My three keys listed above are incredibly important for
this team.

2024 Illinois Football Schedule and Games to Watch!

Illinois has revenge when they host Kansas 9/7. This has the potential to be a close game. I’m usually skeptical of Nebraska’s special team unit, and for good reason!

Illinois lost to them 20-7 a year ago and now goes to their place.

Both kicking games must be checked, and both turnover ratios as well. Purdue has owned Illinois recently, with this staff 0-3 vs. the Boilermakers.

This home rematch must be a win if just to show that the program is developing.

What does Michigan look like post-Harbaugh? They come to Illinois, and if the stat sheet is good enough, maybe the Illini can pull an upset.

Illinois shocked Minnesota last year with a late, long TD pass. The Gophers have the (current) kicking edge, so this home game is not a guarantee.

Shouldn’t this be the year Illinois holds serve vs. a rebuilding Michigan State squad? Bielema is just 10-10 SU in lined home games, and 6-14 ATS. That would be a red flag for the program is it continues, especially with a reasonable home schedule.

The Illini close with road games at Rutgers and at Northwestern. As of August, both games look like tossups.

Grab the GoldSheet 2024-2025 Betting Guide

In a partnership with WagerTalk’s Ralph Michaels, the GoldSheet team has compiled a 60-page college football betting guide to help you prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Available free of charge, this preseason guide features our summer power ratings, projected point spreads and win probabilities for EVERY game of the upcoming season, plus coaching changes, quarterback transfers and much more. 

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen CFB

WagerTalk’s live college football odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the run spreads, totals and betting percentages for all college football games.

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