Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) visit Illinois Fighting Illini (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) on Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Nebraska has lost three straight, including a 17-10 defeat to Washington, while Illinois has won three in a row after a 20-17 victory over Maryland. The Cornhuskers are 1-1 on the road this season; the Fighting Illini are 3-2 at home in 2026.
Odds and Betting Lines
Nebraska enters as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 50.5 points. The money line lists Nebraska at -188 and Illinois at +160.
Model Predictions
The SportsLine Projection Model, which has simulated the game 10,000 times, leans toward the over 50.5 points. The over has hit in four of the last seven head-to-head meetings and in five of the past eight Illinois games. The model projects 53 combined points, with the over hitting 54% of simulations. It also indicates one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations.
Key Player Projections
Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea is projected to throw for over 200 yards and a touchdown while rushing for nearly 30 yards and a score. Colandrea has thrown for 1,825 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Illinois quarterback Katin Houser is expected to throw for nearly 220 yards and a touchdown; he has 1,663 passing yards and 13 touchdowns on the year. Nebraska averages 32.4 points per game (tied for fifth in the Big Ten), while Illinois averages 29.0 (tied for ninth).
