We have Big Ten action this Friday night when the No. 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers host the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini in Lincoln, Nebraska, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and Fox on the broadcast. Both teams are 3-0 with a few comfortable wins under their belt, and both teams have tougher tests on the schedule coming after this Big Ten rivalry.
Nebraska is approaching a double-digit favorite on the point spread in college football Week 4 odds, and the total line is at 43.5 points in the conference opener for both programs.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has been sharp for Nebraska through three starts, but now he faces a tough Illini secondary that forced Kansas into three interceptions two weeks ago. On the other side of the ball, the Illinois rushing attack will have to be effective against a stout Nebraska front to keep the visitors competitive, so watch the props for Illinois’ stable of running backs. Below is an IL sportsbook promo for the game as well.
Nebraska vs. Illinois player prop tool
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Player props for Nebraska vs. Illinois
How Dylan Raiola could get over 224.5 passing yards
The true freshman has been sharp through three starts, with a 73.8% completion rate and 162.2 passer rating per ESPN. He topped this line in blowout wins with 238 passing yards against UTEP and 247 yards against Northern Illinois and is averaging 26.7 attempts per game this season, indicating the trust of his coaching staff.
A five-star prospect and the top quarterback in the 2024 class according to many scouting services, Raiola is unlikely to get rattled against his first ranked opponent. He averaged 205 passing yards per game with 34 touchdowns and just one interception as a senior at Buford High in Georgia against elite competition.
How Dylan Raiola could get under 224.5 passing yards
This Illinois defense is easily the toughest test for Raiola so far in his short college career. The Illini have forced 2.5 takeaways per game and six interceptions through three weeks, both of which rank in the top 10 in FBS. Illinois has allowed just 5.0 yards per pass and 154 passing yards per game through three weeks, albeit against weaker competition.
The Illini defensive coordinator, Aaron Henry, spent two years as secondary coach and won the Defensive Backs Coach of the Year award in 2022 before getting promoted, so his specialty is clearly in pass defense. Under his guidance, Illinois only allowed 228 passing yards per game last season, including 154 yards to Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg in a 20-7 loss.
In his only start against a Power Four opponent in Colorado, Raiola passed for 185 yards, and Nebraska’s defense led the charge in a 28-10 win. It’s possible a similar script unfolds here.
How Kaden Feagin could get an anytime touchdown
Josh McCray, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound junior, found the end zone in a 45-0 blowout over Eastern Illinois to open the season after missing the final seven games last year due to a neck injury. Then he didn’t receive a carry in a closer win over Kansas, while Kaden Feagin seemingly took over the backfield with 16 rushes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Feagin, who is even bigger at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, followed that up with 10 carries for 25 yards and another touchdown against Central Michigan to find the end zone in a third straight game. As a freshman, Feagin closed with touchdowns in three of his final four outings, so he’s now six for seven in terms of logging a touchdown. And as a team this year, Illinois has gone 100% on fourth downs and scored touchdowns on 100% of red zone possessions.
How Kaden Feagin could miss an anytime touchdown
Nebraska’s greatest strength is its rush defense. That certainly makes it difficult to take yardage props for the Illini backs against a team coughing up just 1.6 yards per carry (fourth in FBS) and 36 rushing yards per game to lead the nation so far. Nebraska held opponents to 2.4 yards per carry on the road last season and gave up five rushing touchdowns over seven home games.
The Cornhuskers stymied the Illinois offense on the road in a 20-7 win last year, and Feagin only managed 15 yards on his five carries in that matchup. The running back rotation is also concerning, as Illinois uses three ball carriers, including Ca’Lil Valentine, and quarterback Luke Altmyer is a rushing threat.
