Nebraska head coach Scott Frost is facing a fork in the road season. Frost arrived in December 2017 to save his alma mater. Few coaching candidates understood Big Red tradition and culture as well as Frost. Consider that he quarterbacked Nebraska to its last national championship in 1997. Frost arrived as the hottest College Football betting coaching prospect in the country. He came after leading Central Florida to an undefeated season. Above all, the hire was touted as a sure thing. Problematic is that Frost hasn’t advanced the program. He has three losing seasons while at Nebraska.
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, August 28, 2021, Noon ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois |
| Nebraska at Illinois TV Coverage: | FOX |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | -9½ (-110) | – | -350 |  |
| Illinois | +9½ (-110) | – | +290 | |
| ||||
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Illinois Fighting Illini SBG Odds Overview
At first, offshore betting excitement will be high for this season opener. This game takes place in “Week Zero,” which is the first college football action since early January. Fox Big Noon Kickoff has become a hot television property. And this is the opening game for that TV franchise in 2021. Despite its recent period of mediocrity, Nebraska carries name-brand cache. Thus, betting handles and TV eyeballs will be massive. Especially for a football starved country coming off a pandemic season.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Team Overview
Senior quarterback Adrian Martinez arrived with great fanfare after Frost was hired. Following rapid improvement as a freshman, Martinez’s career is stalled. Yet Frost has remained loyal. Cause by Adrian being his first major recruit right out of the gate. But the time has come for Martinez to produce. And for his coach to ensure that happens. Now-retired athletic director Bill Moos hired Frost. His new boss will have no loyalty or reason to keep issuing mulligans.
Illinois Fighting Illini Team Overview
Commencing with this game is the head coach Bret Bielema era. Bielema was a big winner at Wisconsin before flopping at Arkansas. Now back in his native state and in the Big Ten, where he played and coached, he’s seen as a potentially great fit. However, Bielema inherits the reality of an empty cupboard left behind by predecessor Lovie Smith.
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Illinois Fighting Illini Vs. The Line
- Nebraska is 35% against the spread as chalk
- The Huskers have covered 48% of their Big Ten matchups
- Since 2018 the Big Red is 41% vs. the odds in all games
- Nebraska is 59% under the total as a favorite
- The Huskers are 53% under the number on the road
- Illinois is 48% against the spread as dogs
- In Big Ten matchups, Illinois is 58% over the total
- The Fighting Illini is 56% over the line as a dog
- Nebraska is 4-1 against the spread vs. Illinois
- The Huskers and Fighting Illini are 3-0 over the total
- Illinois paid in two of their last three at home vs. Nebraska
- This series is 1-2 under the total at Illinois
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Illinois Fighting Illini SBG Free Picks
Last year Nebraska showed tremendous improvement defensively. If the offense finally delivers, this could be a breakout College Football Betting season. Illinois’ thin roster is outmanned here.
Nebraska at Illinois SBG Best Bet: Nebraska Cornhuskers.