Maryland at Illinois - 9/17/21 College Football Picks and Prediction

Illinois Fighting Illini (1-2) vs Maryland Terrapins (2-0)

Game Info: Friday, September 17, 2021 at 9:00 pm (Memorial Stadium)

Betting Odds: Illinois Fighting Illini +7.5 -- Over/Under: 58.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Maryland Terrapins will head on the road to face the Illinois Fighting Illini this Friday night for some FBS College football action. The Terrapins won the first and only matchup between these two teams back in 2018.

Maryland is off to a 2-0 start after a 62-0 win over Howard in their last game. Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns in the drubbing. Wideout Dontay Demus Jr. had six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, his second straight week going 6-120-1. The Defense limited the Howard attack to 146 yards of total offense, forcing one turnover. On the season, the Terrapins rank 13th in the nation with 339.5 passing yards per game. Their defense has only allowed 12 points per game, but it is still early, and they have not been seriously tested.

Illinois has now dropped two straight games after their opening week win against Nebraska. They lost their most recent game 42-14 on the road against Virginia. The offense could not get into any kind of rhythm, and it started at the top. Artur Sitkowski only connected on 24/45 passing attempts for 221 yards. They averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the ground but fell behind early and had to abandon the run. The defense allowed 556 yards of total offense. Illinois is averaging 24.7 points per game this season, while allowing 33.7 to the opposition. Freshman wideout Isaiah Williams has impressed, leading the team with 19 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown through three games.

Maryland is 3-7 ATS in their last ten games, 3-7 on the money line, and the under is 7-3.

Illinois is 4-6 ATS in their last ten games, 3-7 on the money line, and the under is 5-4-1.

The Terrapins have gotten off to a good start but have not had to face much adversity. The Fighting Illini will come into this game and try to set the tone early, relying on their rushing attack to set the tone. Maryland has done a decent job against the run so far, and if they can get some stops early this one could be over quick. The Terrapins offense has looked impressive under Tagovailoa, and this Illinois defense has given up some big plays to start the season. Look for the Terrapins to get ahead early and do enough for the cover.