The first real weekend of College Football is over as Week 1 wrapped up with Chapel Bill and the Tar Heels getting embarrassed at home by the TCU Horned Frogs. Nevertheless we are back for another full slate of pigskin action. Week 2 is here, and I’ll be the first to admit, it ain’t all that great. However we’ve still got some spreads within a field goal, so there should be at least a little excitement for the fans. The Illinois Fighting Illini are down in North Carolina taking on the Duke Blue Devils, and we’ve got our favorite picks.
Editor’s Note: The odds have moved, but I’ve still got faith in this pick (and my future bet that is involved).
Check out the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#11 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Duke Blue Devils NCAA Football Insights
Will Darian Mensah be focused this week in a personal look ahead spot?
The Fighting Illini surprised everyone last season by winning 10 games with four over ranked opponents, including a 6-3 record in the Big Ten. Now they look to repeat last year’s performance, or even build off of it, and I think they are capable.
I am on the Fighting Illini win total over 8.5 games for +150 this season, and we’ve got a big one against Duke this weekend. They obliterated Western Illinois in their Week 1 contest, beating the Leathernecks 52-3 at home. The Illini backups got to see some tick in the blowout, and everyone should be well rested and ready to do in Durham. Luke Altmyer was 17/21 with 217 passing yards and three touchdowns in the opener, but can he keep it going this week?
On the Blue Devils’ side of things, they took down Elon (University, not Musk) by a score of 45-17 at home. Things were a little shaky in the first half, as the Phoenix scored a touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game up at 10 going into halftime, but then Duke made the necessary adjustments. Darian Mensah led the Blue Devils to five touchdowns in the second half, finishing with with a stat line of 27/34 for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Now the four million dollar man leads the Blue Devils as a short home favorite against a tough Big Ten opponent.
Matchup Information – Illinois vs. Duke – September 6
- Venue & Location: Wallace Wade Stadium (Durham, NC)
- Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
- Kick Off: 12:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Illinois vs. Duke Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of September 6, 2025 at 9:14 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- Illinois -2.5 (-115)
- Duke +2.5 (-105)
Moneyline
- Illinois -128
- Duke +108
Total
- Over 48.5 (-110)
- Under 48.5 (-110)
Now, full transparency as always, I am on the Illini Win Total over this season. I have this one chalked up as a win when evaluated the whole schedule, and overall I feel like I am much lower on the Duke Blue Devils this season compared to the rest of the market. With that being said, a wise man (My Father) once told me, “Don’t be a moron, put more on”, and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing in this game.
I’m doubling down on the Illini and let me tell you why.
Illinois vs. Duke NCAA Football Picks and Predictions
Can Altmyer lead the Illini to a road win against the Blue Devils?
Illinois vs. Duke Prediction: Illinois Wins & Covers, Over 50.5
Best Bet: Illinois ML (-150) BetOnline
If you can find a -2.5 great, I’m not one to mess with short spreads. That’s just how I roll. I personally booked -145 yesterday, and shop around as always if you would like. Regardless, I think Illinois rolls, and it’s not just because of how good their offense is.
Illinois returned much of their offensive production last year, including RB Aiden Laughery, wide outs Hank Beatty and Malik Elzy, as well as TE Tanner Arkin. All caught multiple passes in Week 1, and the offense showed no signs of slowing down. Duke certainly took more time for them to get going, and with the new pieces that makes sense. But if they looked bad (in the first half) against an opponent like Elon, then what do we expect against a top 15, Big Ten team. We’ve also got a bit of a narrative attached to this one as well.
I am betting that Darian Mensah might not be as focused as he should, especially early on. Last season, this guy was the quarterback at Tulane and led them to a 9-4 record, but sat out the bowl game in order to chase an NIL bag, and that man caught it. The Blue Devils paid him four million to come play football this year, and guess where they have to go next week?
Not only does Mensah face his former team that he abandoned, he has to go into New Orleans and pull off a win on the road. This man is in as big of a lookahead spot as I’ve ever seen, and I think it overtakes the entire team this weekend. Give me Illinois to pull this one off on the road.
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