NCAAF Upset of the Week: Illinois Prime Pick vs Kansas

· Sep 03 - 5 minutes read

Illinois totaled 486 yards of offense in its opener and is a good bet to carry that momentum into a Week 2 battle with visiting Kansas on Saturday.
Despite finishing with a 5-7 record, the Fighting Illini was third in the Big Ten in yards per game last season.
Get the latest betting odds and NCAA football predictions ahead.

There are very few real live underdogs with strong value on the Week 2 college football schedule for your betting online, so you must take a shot with teams that may have improved in the offseason.

NCAA Football Predictions and Picks: Illinois vs Kansas — Jalon Daniels #6 of the Kansas Jayhawks / Ed Zurga / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via Afp

This early on the journey, it’s probably best to stick with home dogs with potential to post a big win while getting emotional support from their fans. Illinois may be the best bet on Saturday night against visiting Kansas

The Fighting Illini lost their last two games by a total of four points in 2023 or else they would have made a bowl game two straight years – a feat they had accomplished just once since the 1990s.

Illinois, which lost 34-23 at Kansas last September, is a 5 ½-point underdog and we think it could have the offense to get it done against the Jayhawks.

Both teams should come in confident after easy wins, but we are betting on Kansas being a slightly overrated opponent on the road. You get +180 moneyline odds at the BetUS sportsbook on Illinois. Take the Illini.

Why Illinois is Best Upset Pick of Week 2

Bielema has Winning Track Record

Coach Bret Bielema knows how to win in the Big Ten. He won 68 games in seven years with Wisconsin from 2006-2012.

Bielema is just 19-19 in three-plus years with Illinois, but took the team to a bowl game in 2022 and last season ended better than it started. The Illini went 3-3 in the final six games with a four-point loss to Wisconsin and two-point defeats versus Iowa and Northwestern.

Illinois rolled over Eastern Illinois 45-0 in the opener with quarterback Luke Altmyer throwing for 213 yards and four TDs while Kaden Feagin rushed for 108 and a score. Altmyer threw for at least 200 yards seven times in 2023.

The 10 Best Plays of the 2023 Illini Football Season

A Thread 🧵:

#10 – Luke Altmyer scampers for a 72 yd TD pic.twitter.com/2JJJrmAI0e

— The Field Pass (@TheFieldPass) August 28, 2024

The Illini’s defense allowed almost 30 points per game last season. Pitching a shutout against Eastern Illinois is not a huge accomplishment, but we think they may be able to slow the Kansas rushing attack a bit. That would allow the possibility to cash on those NCAAF odds.

Touchdown Profits! Bet $200, Get $450 Bonus on first time deposit.

Kansas May Have Less Betting Value in 2024

The Kansas Jayhawks cashed just 11 moneyline bets for their backers between 2015-2021. But they are not lovable losers anymore.

Coach Lance Leipold got Kansas to a bowl game in 2022 for the first time since 2008 and the Jayhawks went 9-4 with a victory in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl over UNLV last season. That’s why they are favorites now in these types of games.

The question is, can Kansas continue its rise and be part of your college football picks more often? No doubt Leipold has done a good job and winning a game like Saturday in Champaign would be a good start at making bettors true believers.

Devin Neal could be the key. The senior ran for 112 yards in the 48-3 rout of Lindenwood in the opener, but the Kansas offensive line is still developing. We think Illinois’ defense may be able to slow the Jayhawks offense just enough.

Devin Neal is going to put up MONSTER YARDS in 2024 🔥 I CFB Week 1 Winners of the Week BAD

🔥8 carries
🔥112 yards
🔥2 touchdowns

The 2024 season is underway, which means Devin Neal doing Devin Neal things 👀#DevinNeal #NFLDraft #NCAAF #CFB pic.twitter.com/R9wI08Zu0Y

— MRCROCKPOT (@mrcrockpot) August 30, 2024

Tulane, Tulsa Among Other Value Upset Picks

If you are not totally keen on Illinois, there are a few other possibilities for value moneyline bettors in Week 2.

Tulane is a 9 1/2-point underdog at home against Kansas State and may be a better bet against the NCAAF spread. However, the Green Wave could surprise the Wildcats and you’re getting strong odds.

Tulsa is getting 7 points at Arkansas State and it seems like a winnable road game. The Golden Hurricane scored 62 points in their opener and former Indiana coach Kevin Wilson may be putting something together after a 4-8 season in 2023.

The other possibilities are riding with Prime Time and Colorado on the road against Nebraska, North Carolina State at home versus Tennessee, Mississippi State at Arizona State, Pittsburgh at Cincinnati and Arkansas at Oklahoma State. But don’t empty the wallet.

Bet on College Football at BetUS Sportsbook!

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.