Friday Smash CFB 8*
(NCAAF) Illinois vs. Kansas,
Point Spread: 3.00 | -108.00 Illinois (Away)
Result: Loss
#351 ASA PLAY ON 8* Illinois +3 over Kansas, Friday at 7:30 PM ET - Wrong team favored here according to our power ratings. This line says that these 2 teams would be around a pick-em on a neutral field and we have the Illini with the higher power rating. The Illini won a tight game last week 30-28 vs a very good Toledo team. The Rockets won the MAC last year and we have them as the best team in that conference again this season. A quick look at the stats says that Toledo outgained Illinois but they also ran 18 more offensive snaps. If we break it down into a yards per play situation, Illinois actually outgained the Rockets by nearly a full 1.0 YPP. The staunch Illini defense, which finished 2nd nationally in YPP allowed and 4th in total defense last year, held a potent Toledo attack to just 5.2 YPP. The offense looked solid putting up over 6 YPP and new QB transfer Altmyer, from Ole Miss, had over 200 yards passing and 2 TD’s to go along with 70 yards rushing. They should be able to put points on the board vs a Kansas defense that finished 120th last year allowing 6.3 YPP. The Jayhawks picked up an easy win on week 1 vs a Missouri State (FCS) team that had a losing season last year so no big surprise. The final score in that one was 48-17 but the Jayhawks led just 27-17 with 10 minutes remaining in the game. KU is a bit overvalued coming into the season. After getting tabbed as an underdog in 10 of their 12 games (vs FBS teams) last year and they’ve been getting points 27 of their last 29 games vs FBS opponents. Now they are now laying a full FG to a team that finished 8-5 last year and had a winning record in Big 10 play. The Illini come in tested after a tight win vs a solid team while KU was not tested. We’ll take Illinois as a dog here.