#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana Picks and Predictions: Big Ten Battle in Bloomington

During the Indiana Hoosiers remarkable run last season, they did not have to play their next door neighbor, the Illinois Fighting Illini. A short two and a half hour drive separates these two schools, who played their first game against each other back in October of 1899. Illinois was victorious at home in their last meeting in 2023, but the Illini have not won in Bloomington since 2011. Will Bret Bielema lead his team to a much needed Big Ten win? Let's find out with our favorite picks.

Editor's Note: I am still waiting until kickoff to bet this, but my thinking is still the same.. wait for a full touchdown if we can get it.

More NCAA Football Coverage

• #17 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. #16 Utah Utes
• #22 Auburn Tigers vs. #11 Oklahoma Sooners
• Florida Gators vs. #4 Miami Hurricanes
• South Carolina Gamecocks vs. #23 Missouri Tigers
• SMU Mustangs vs. TCU Horned Frogs
• Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Memphis Tigers
• West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kansas Jayhawks
• Temple Owls vs. #18 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Go to Betting News to check out what else I've got on the slate for Week 4, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.

#9 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #19 Indiana Hoosiers NCAA Football Insights

Illinois has had a couple of cupcake wins at home, beating the Western Illinois Leathernecks 52-3 in their opener, and shutting out Western Michigan last week, 38-0. However in between those games they did get a Power Four road win by obliterating the Duke Blue Devils in Durham, 45-19. Personally, I don't think it's that great of a win, because I am very low on Duke (successfully faded them twice, no big deal), but, I am VERY high on the Illini. However, this will be a very tough battle against the Hoosiers.

Indiana has tons of intangibles on their side. They've heard the talking heads all offseason… "Last year was a fluke"… "They had too much roster turnover"… "Let's see them do it against a real conference schedule"… But so far this year, the Hoosiers have shut the haters up. Now, wins over Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State aren't impressive at all (2-1 ATS). However, California transfer Fernando Mendoza is off to a great start.

He has over 700 passing yards completing over 72% of his passes with nine touchdowns and zero picks so far. Indiana has added plenty of help on the ground with 923 rushing yards and eight touchdowns as a team, making the junior quarterback's job a little easier. But how will he do in his first Big Ten test against a top 10 opponent?

Matchup Information – Illinois vs. Indiana – September 20

• Venue & Location: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)
• Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
• Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
• Broadcast: NBC/Peacock

Illinois vs. Indiana Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of September 20, 2025 at 8:42 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code BNBOL55 for a 55% deposit bonus.

Spread

• Illinois +6.5 (-103)
• Indiana -6.5 (-117)

Moneyline

• Illinois +215
• Indiana -260

Total

• Over 52.5 (-115)
• Under 52.5 (-105)

We are certainly do for some back and forth in my eyes, as both teams are putting up 41.5 points per game. On the flip side, their defenses are also giving up less than two touchdowns. In a conference opener, I certainly like to lean with the under (see my reasoning in Texas Tech vs. Utah), but am afraid we will see a shootout.

Neither team's defense or offense have been tested yet this year, and there could certainly be jitters from both sides. But looking at this spread… I really can't believe they are giving a top 10 team that many. It's a little disrespectful, again, coming from a guy high on the Illini.

#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana NCAA Football Picks and Predictions

Illinois vs. Indiana Prediction: Illinois Wins Outright, Over 52.5

Best Bet: Illinois +6.5 (-103) BetOnline

Listen up, I have not bet this yet. This number has been climbing all week, and I will patiently wait until kick off if I have to. I want a full touchdown. Looking at the market, there are plenty of +6s and +6.5s available, but I could see it ticking up. If I have to settle for just the touchdown and not the PAT, so be it. But I'll wait.

I also will NOT be on Illinois' ML even though I think they win this game outright. Simply because I already have their season win total over 8.5 at +150. With games against No. 25 USC and No. 1 Ohio State still upcoming, I'll need this one for some cushion in case they drop a cheap one. Now, I don't need to fully double down, but I'll back them as this big of an underdog. It is simply too many points.

The Illini rushing defense is top 40 in the country, giving up less than 100 yards per game and only 3.4 per rush. I'm not sure Indiana will have much success running the football, and they'll have to turn to Mendoza's arm. While he has faced tough opponents in the PAC-12 (RIP) and in the ACC last year, Big Ten football is different. Consider this game his "Welcome to the Conference" moment as Luke Altmyer leads Illinois to a big upset on the road.

Still Didn't Get Your NCAA Football Fix?

Here at Betting News, we offer Free Expert Picks for every major sports league. We also host daily streams on our Twitch Channel with our best bets, as well as sweat out games on Playback! Be sure to tune into everything we have going on at our Youtube, TikTok, and X pages as well.

• SEC Football Preview
• Big Ten Football Preview
• Big 12 Football Preview
• ACC Football Preview
• Tulane Win Total Predictions

Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News