UVA Football Week 2 Betting Preview vs. Illinois

| Posted on |

Illinois (1-1) at Virginia (1-0)

  • When: Saturday, September 11th (11:00 a.m. ET)
  • Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
  • Line: Virginia -10
  • M/L: Virginia -410, Illinois +305
  • O/U: 55

This will be the first regular-season matchup between ACC staple Virginia and Big Ten staple Illinois. Adding to the intrigue, it will be an unusual 11:00 a.m. kickoff. But, as veteran UVA cornerback Nick Grant said this week, “it’s never hard to get up for gameday.” It will also be the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Illinois and Virginia did play against one another in two different bowl games, however, both of which were won by the Fighting Illini.

Last Time Out

  • Illinois lost 37-30 to UTSA (Sept. 4)
  • Virginia won 43-0 over William & Mary (Sept. 4)

ATS Records

  • Illinois (1-1 ATS; 1-1 O/U)
  • Virginia (1-0 ATS; 0-1 O/U)

ATS Trends

  • Illinois (0-4 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games)
  • Illinois (1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall)
  • Illinois (Over is 4-1-1 in their last 6 games overall)
  • Illinois (Over is 4-1 in their last 5 games in September)
  • Virginia (4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite)
  • Virginia (4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games)
  • Virginia (Over is 10-2 in their last 12 home games)
  • Virginia (Over 8-2 in their last 10 games following an ATS win)

Team Rankings

  • Illinois (Total Offense 76; Total Defense 105)
  • Illinois (Scoring Offense 67; Scoring Defense 88)
  • Virginia (Total Offense 15; Total Defense 8)
  • Virginia (Scoring Offense 26; Scoring Defense T-1)

Matchup to Watch

  • Illinois defense vs. Virginia quarterback group (In their first two weeks of the 2021 season, the Illini defensive front was shredded by dual-threat QBs to the tune of 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts. Virginia showed in Week 1 they’re going to throw the kitchen sink at you, including putting the rock in the hands of four different Wahoo quarterbacks. Watch them get going again on Saturday behind that big, experienced offensive line.)
  • Illinois QB Artur Sitkowski vs. Virginia secondary (His numbers may look decent now but when the pressure is on, Sitkowski can really struggle. He’s in a new uniform now — Sitkowski transferred to Illinois from Rutgers — but in his career on the road, he’s only completed 51.9 percent of his passes while throwing just four touchdowns to nine interceptions.)

** Support us by shopping for your UVA gear with our partners – Fanatics & Lids **

Key Injuries

  • Illinois, QB Brandon Peters (The sixth-year senior came into the season as the starter but got hurt in the first quarter of their season opener.) QUESTIONABLE
  • Virginia, TE Jelani Woods (The Oklahoma State transfer received all the buzz leading up to the season as potentially UVA’s best player. He couldn’t make a big splash last Saturday due to an undisclosed injury that forced him out of the lineup mid-game. Woods finished with one catch for five yards.) PROBABLE

Cut the Check

Virginia is going to get a fight for sure on Saturday, especially ’cause this is a team that got embarrassed in a buy game. Coming off a win over Nebraska, they got complacent and allowed UTSA to whoop ’em. They’ll try and take that out on the Hoos. Luckily, this UVA football team looks to be pretty balanced and being at home if their cure-all. In the same breath, Illinois’ quarterback is crumby on the road. Virginia will win but laying double-digits is a big ask. Bet the Hoozies on the moneyline and take the over.