Looking for Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Ohio State Buckeyes betting trends and odds? Below you’ll find the latest DraftKings Sportsbook Point Spread, Total and Moneyline betting percentages, plus where the public and sharp money are landing before kickoff on Saturday.
Illinois vs. Ohio State Best Picks Today
- Illinois +27.5 (-115): The public has hammered Ohio State with 84% of bets, but only 73% of the handle is following. That 11-point gap suggests sharper money is willing to take the points with the Illini as nearly four-touchdown underdogs.
- Jeremiah Smith (OSU) Receiving Yards 130+ (+110): Ohio State’s star wideout is priced at plus money to eclipse 130 yards in what should be a comfortable home win with plenty of passing opportunities.
Game Info
| Kickoff | Saturday, September 26 at 12:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH |
| TV | FOX |
Illinois vs. Ohio State Odds
| Market | Buckeyes (Home) | Fighting Illini (Away) |
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | -27.5 (-105) | +27.5 (-115) |
| Total | Over 53.5 (-115) | Under 53.5 (-105) |
| Moneyline | -4000 | +1600 |
DraftKings Betting Trends
| Market | Side | Bets % | Handle % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Ohio State -27.5 | 84% | 73% |
| Point Spread | Illinois +27.5 | 16% | 27% |
| Total | Over 53.5 | 93% | 79% |
| Total | Under 53.5 | 7% | 21% |
| Moneyline | Ohio State | 97% | 59% |
| Moneyline | Illinois | 3% | 41% |
The Moneyline stands out: 97% of bets are on Ohio State, yet only 59% of the handle is. That 38-point disparity is the largest on the board and points to significant sharp action on Illinois at +1600, likely treating the Moneyline as a lottery ticket with outsized value.
Key Matchup Numbers
- Spread value for Illinois: The 11-point gap between bet percentage (16%) and handle percentage (27%) on Illinois +27.5 suggests professional bettors see value in the points. Nearly four touchdowns is a wide margin even for a talent gap of this magnitude.
- Over/Under imbalance: A staggering 93% of bets and 79% of handle favor the Over 53.5, with the 14-point gap implying some sharp resistance on the Under. The lopsided public lean could signal the total is properly set or even slightly inflated.
- Moneyline sharp indicator: Illinois is drawing 41% of the Moneyline handle on just 3% of bets, the clearest sharp-vs.-public divergence on this board. Large individual wagers on the Illini at +1600 are driving that imbalance.
DraftKings Player Props
- Jeremiah Smith (OSU) Receiving Yards 120+ (-124): Ohio State’s top target is heavily favored to clear 120 receiving yards at home against Illinois.
- Bo Jackson (OSU) Rushing Yards 80+ (-125): The Buckeyes’ lead back is priced as a strong favorite to reach 80 rushing yards in a projected blowout.
- Julian Sayin (OSU) Passing Yards 280+ (-118): The Ohio State quarterback is expected to put up a big day through the air with a main milestone set around 280 yards.
- Katin Houser (ILL) Passing Yards 190+ (+101): Even money on 190 passing yards for the Illinois signal caller, who may need to throw often while trailing.
- Hudson Clement (ILL) Receiving Yards 50+ (-105): The Illinois pass catcher sits near a coin flip to clear 50 receiving yards against the Buckeyes’ secondary.
Featured Parlays
FAQs
What are the Illinois vs. Ohio State odds this week?
Ohio State, ranked No. 7, is a 27.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Point Spread set at Ohio State -27.5 (-105). The Total is set at 53.5, and Ohio State is -4000 on the Moneyline.
What are CFB betting trends?
Betting trends show how the public is wagering on a game by breaking down the percentage of total bets (tickets) and total money (handle) on each side of a market. They help identify which side recreational bettors favor versus where larger, potentially sharper money is landing.
What is the difference between bets and handle?
Bets refer to the number of individual tickets placed, while handle represents the total dollar amount wagered. A side with low bet percentage but high handle percentage suggests fewer bettors placing larger wagers, often interpreted as sharp or professional action.
How do betting trends identify sharp money?
Sharp money refers to wagers placed by professional or highly informed bettors. It is typically identified through handle-vs-bet discrepancies: when a side draws a disproportionate share of money relative to its ticket count, sharps are likely involved.