Nebraska vs. Illinois prediction, odds, line: 2024 college football picks, Week 4 best bets by proven expert

Nationally ranked Big Ten programs square off on Friday when the No. 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0) host the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Both teams have been dominant to open the season. The Huskers are coming off a 34-3 win over Northern Iowa in Week 3, and heralded freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has been as good as advertised. The Illini are coming off a 30-9 win over Central Michigan and have allowed only 26 points in three games. Nebraska won last year’s matchup 20-7.

Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The Huskers are favored by 8 points in the latest Illinois vs. Nebraska odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under is 42.5 points. Before making any Nebraska vs. Illinois picks, you need to see the Week 4 college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s Jimmie Kaylor. 

Kaylor is an NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years. 

Kaylor destroyed the books in college football in 2023, netting a whopping 57.9 units while posting a 107-45-2 record. Anyone who followed his picks finished the season way up.

Now, Kaylor has dialed in on Nebraska vs. Illinois on Friday and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines on the spread, money line and over/under for Illinois vs. Nebraska:

• Illinois vs. Nebraska spread: Nebraska -8
• Illinois vs. Nebraska over/under: 42.5 points 
• Illinois vs. Nebraska money line: Nebraska -338, Illinois +262
• Illinois vs. Nebraska picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Nebraska can cover

The Huskers have been dominant on the defensive side of the ball in 2024. The Blackshirts have allowed just 20 total points through three games, and they have been particularly impressive on the line of scrimmage. Matt Rhule’s defense is allowing just 70.3 rushing yards per game, and the unit has racked up nine sacks.

Offensively, the Huskers have been balanced and efficient. True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola deservedly gets a lot of the attention, and enters this matchup completing 73.8% of his pass attempts for 670 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Nebraska also averages 171.3 yards per game, with sophomore running back Dante Dowdell (184 yards, three touchdowns) leading the way. See which team to pick here. 

Why Illinois can cover

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is no stranger to big games. Bielema was the head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-2012 and at Arkansas from 2013-2017. During that time, Bielema coached the Badgers to three Rose Bowl appearances, two conference titles, and he has led his teams to numerous shocking upset victories. 

Like the Huskers, Illinois has been outstanding on the defensive side of the ball and efficient on the offensive side. The Illini are allowing 277.3 total yards per game and only 8.7 points per game. Offensively, quarterback Luke Altmyer has excelled, throwing for 647 yards and six touchdowns, while producing zero turnovers in three games. See which team to pick here. 

How to make Illinois vs. Nebraska picks

Kaylor has analyzed Nebraska vs. Illinois from every angle and he’s leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.

So who wins Nebraska vs. Illinois in Lincoln on Friday, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert who profited $5,790 for $100 college football bettors in 2023, and find out.