After a thrilling 50-49 overtime win against Purdue last week, No. 22 Illinois must refocus quickly as the Illini welcome No. 24 Michigan for a Big Ten showdown on CBS. The Wolverines are coming off a bye week and looking to tackle a challenging second half of their schedule in style.
The last time these teams met was a dramatic affair as Michigan edged Illinois 19-17 on a field goal in the final 10 seconds. While that 2022 Illinois team went 8-5 behind the running of star back Chase Brown, this squad is led by a dynamic quarterback. Luke Altmyer is 14th nationally in passing efficiency and has tossed 14 touchdowns against just one interception. Altmyer is currently getting +40000 betting odds to win the Heisman, according to Fanduel Sportsbook.
Michigan’s quarterback situation is a mess by comparison. The Wolverines are on their third starter under center after seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle took over in a 27-17 loss at Washington on Oct. 5. The Wolverines rank 130th of 133 FBS teams in passing yards per game at 115 and are overly reliant on their defense and running game.
The game will be the first between ranked teams at Illinois’ Memorial Stadium since 2000, and it’s the second sellout of the season for the Illini. That should equate to a charged atmosphere as Illinois and Michigan square off in the day’s only matchup between ranked Big Ten teams.
Michigan vs. Illinois: Need to know
Altmyer’s ascension: Illinois quarterback Luke Altymer is tied with Ohio State’s Will Howard and Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke for most touchdown passes in the conference at 14. After throwing 10 interceptions in nine appearances last season, the fourth-year junior has been picked off just once this season. His emergence as one of the conference’s most efficient passers has keyed the Illini’s hot start. Altmyer also showed his dual-threat capability in last week’s win over Purdue by running for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Tuttle’s turn: Tuttle entered during the second quarter of the Wolverines’ loss at Washington on Oct. 5 and provided enough of a spark to be named the starter for this week’s contest. The seventh-year senior was on the mend from an elbow injury and unavailable as the Wolverines cycled through ineffective QBs Davis Warren and Alex Orji early in the season. But after completing 10 of 18 passes for 98 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Huskies, he will be Michigan’s third starter in seven games.
Running the rock: While Michigan’s passing game has been inept, the Wolverines do can lean on an elite pair of running backs. Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards have combined for 942 yards and nine touchdowns on 164 carries. Slowing them down will be a chore for an Illinois defense that has been vulnerable on the ground in its last two games. Penn State racked up 239 yards rushing behind its own star duo of backs in the Illini’s only loss this season, and Purdue produced a pair of 100-yard rushers against them last week. It’s no secret Michigan is going to lean heavily on the run. But it’s uncertain whether the Illini will be able to stop it.
How to watch Michigan vs. Indiana live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 19 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium — Champaign, Illinois
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)
Michigan vs. Indiana prediction, picks
Michigan is giving Tuttle his first start of the season at quarterback, but the Wolverines are still a one-dimensional team. Illinois knows the Wolverines are going to rely on the run, and the Illini should be able to load the box defensively. Altmyer is playing as well as any quarterback in the Big Ten and is capable of leading a few scoring drives, even against this defense. Look for the betting underdog Illini to scrape out their first win over Michigan since 2009. Pick: Illinois +3.5
All sports betting odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Check out the latest FanDuel promo code to get in the game.
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