Illinois vs. Oregon tips, odds, how to watch: The Ducks are favored in the top-25 matchup

No rest for the winners. No. 20 Illinois just easily defeated reigning champion Michigan for the first time since 2009. Your reward? A trip to play No. 1 Oregon as massive underdogs in one of the loudest stadiums in the country this season.

Eugene isn’t typically one of the wildest venues in sports, but the big games Oregon hosted in 2024 were scene. Illinois will step into a high-energy threshing machine to face an Oregon team that has few, if any, weaknesses.

Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer was a miracle worker, posting a top-10 EPA per pass despite having a turnstile offensive line. The junior is under pressure on 40 percent of his dropbacks, and Illinois ranks 124th in tackles for loss allowed. Oregon’s daunting pass rush should negate Altmyer’s protective force. The Ducks rank 18th in sacks and 16th in quarterback pressures, resulting in 111 hurries so far this season.

But the Illini have a very credible defense of their own, ranking 22nd in points allowed per game (18.6). The only blemish was a surprising overtime shootout against Purdue in which the Illini gave up 49 points and 536 yards of offense to a first-time starting quarterback. However, they have been very prone to rushing attacks lately, meaning Oregon’s Jordan James could provide some performance-boosting stats.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel is in the spotlight right now, but James is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and has eight touchdowns. That’s more than enough talent to punish a shaky run-stopping unit. Altmyer will have to keep putting up points to cover the sizable lead, but if the Ducks get rolling early, the underdog Illini could quickly be swallowed up by the competition.

All odds from BetMGM. Looking for college football tickets? Find them here.

No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon odds

Here’s how to see Illinois in Oregon

• Venue: Autzen Stadium – Eugene, Oregon.
• Time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
• Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

Expert tips against the spread

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(Photo by Tez Johnson: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)