This Saturday night in Bloomington, two undefeated Big Ten teams will clash as the No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini take on the No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers. Both teams are 3-0, ranked together for the first time in years, and their fans are excited about a potential College Football Playoff run.

However, when two closely matched teams face off, oddsmakers still need to set a line. This is where it gets intriguing when trying to finalize #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana picks.

 

 

 

#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana Predictions for College Football Week 4, Saturday, 9/20

Indiana started as a 4.5-point favorite at home, and that line has now moved to -6.5. The big question our #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana predictions have to ask: why the extra points? Illinois has not only been winning but has been dominating their games.

If anything, it’s the Hoosiers who should feel the pressure to show they deserve a spot in the Top 25. Oddsmakers are giving Indiana significant credit for their home-field advantage and perfect start, but the Hoosiers’ record is less impressive than Illinois’.

 

 

 

#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana Spread Pick: Fighting Illini +6.5 (-110 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Let’s begin with the obvious: this spread seems exaggerated.  Indiana has triumphed over Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State – far from a challenging lineup. Wins are wins, but those games didn’t show much about how they’ll cope with a Top 10 defense and a smoothly operating offense.

On the other hand, Illinois has passed its early challenges in a more impressive manner. Bret Bielema’s squad is scoring an average of 45 points per game while allowing only 7.3 points per game across three games.

Yes, turnovers contributed to the rout of Duke, but even when you disregard the short fields, Illinois appeared quicker, more disciplined, and tougher than its competition. That’s not a coincidence; it’s a hallmark of the program.

So why exactly is Indiana favored by nearly a touchdown? I couldn’t tell you. The Illini have excelled at creating pressure without needing to blitz, which will be crucial against Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.

 

 

 

Mendoza has impressive stats (72.4% completions, 9.3 YPA, 9 TDs, 0 INTs), but those were against weaker defenses. He hasn’t encountered a front like Illinois’, which thrives in the backfield.

Illinois has also not committed a turnover this season. Indiana has been thriving on negative plays, leading the nation in tackles for loss. That could play a role, but Illinois has been more effective at handling pressure than it’s often credited for. Luke Altmyer has demonstrated composure, and the Illini offensive team has relied on quick passes to counter aggressive defenses.

This seems like a typical case of "too many points." If Indiana wins, it will probably be by a field goal or less. Illinois is just too well-rounded and well-coached to be overwhelmed here. Getting almost a full touchdown with a Top 10 team that has already faced challenges and succeeded is a wager worth taking.

It’s not that Indiana can’t win. At home, under the lights, with an excited crowd, the Hoosiers can be tough. But giving them 6.5 points against a team that has shown it can compete in the Big Ten? That’s asking for too much.

Our #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana predictions look for Illinois’ defensive line to set the pace, push Indiana into tough passing situations, and provide their offense with enough short fields to maintain control. A clean, disciplined performance from Altmyer and the Illini should have enough to cover the spread – and possibly even win the game outright.

 

 

 

How To Watch #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana College Football Week 3

  • Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
  • TV: NBC

 

 

 

#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

Based on our earlier discussion about the official #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana predictions, here are the current #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana odds from FanDuel Sportsbook for Saturday night:

  • Money Line (ML): Fighting Illini +205 | Hoosiers -255
  • Spread: Fighting Illini +6.5 (-102) | Hoosiers -6.5 (-120)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

 

 

 

#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana Injury Report & Latest News

Illinois Injury Report

  • X. Scott (CB) – Probable, Undisclosed
  • D. Brown (LB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • D. Rosiek (LB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • A. Laughery (RB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • A. Knapik (OG) – Questionable, Knee
  • L. Farrell (TE) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • J. Clarke (CB) – Questionable, Hamstring
  • B. Clawson (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • T. Cox (CB) – Out, Undisclosed
  • J. Forster (RB) – Out, Undisclosed
  • J. Hirdes (OG) – Out, Knee
  • G. Smith (TE) – Out, Undisclosed

 

Indiana Injury Report

  • M. McCarthy (P) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Bonds (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • B. Baldwin Jr. (CB) – Questionable, Undisclosed
  • L. Beebe Jr. (RB) – Out, Leg
  • T. Morris (WR) – Out, Knee

 

 

 

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