Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils Prediction & Picks - NCAA

USA - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
9/6/25 12:00
Duke Blue Devils

Prediction:

 

Illinois Fighting Illini ML

-148
$500+ offered for betting!

New customers only | Commercial content | 21+ age limit | T&Cs apply

 by Matt Lowrimore in NCAA Picks

There are not a ton of marquee games on the Week 2 college football Saturday slate; however, one game that should be interesting will feature the Illinois Fighting Illini, out of the Big Ten, and the Duke Blue Devils, out of the ACC. Let’s take a look at the match statistics and predictions for this game between the Fighting Illini and the Blue Devils. 

Illinois enters this game with a record of 1-0, having beaten the Western Illinois Leathernecks in Week 1 by a score of 52-3. The Fighting Illini had a total of 440 yards of offense, while allowing a total of 163 yards. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Aidan Laughery had 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

As for Duke, they enter this game with a record of 1-0, having beaten the Elon Phoenix in Week 1 by a score of 45-17. The Blue Devils had 548 yards of offense, while their defense allowed 275 total yards. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns, while Anderson Castle led the team in rushing with 69 yards.

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils Form

Table

Teams % P W D L
39
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
1000 1 1 0 0
44
Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils
1000 1 1 0 0

Illinois Fighting Illini and Duke Blue Devils Latest Matches

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini Latest matches
L W W W W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Aug 29, 2025 - NCAA

Western Illinois Leathernecks
3 :  52
Illinois Fighting Illini

Dec 31, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

South Carolina Gamecocks
17 :  21
Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
38 :  28
Northwestern Wildcats

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
38 :  31
Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

Michigan State Spartans
16 :  38
Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

Minnesota Golden Gophers
25 :  17
Illinois Fighting Illini
W W L W W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Aug 29, 2025 - NCAA

Western Illinois Leathernecks
3 :  52
Illinois Fighting Illini

Dec 31, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

South Carolina Gamecocks
17 :  21
Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

Michigan State Spartans
16 :  38
Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

Minnesota Golden Gophers
25 :  17
Illinois Fighting Illini

Oct 19, 2024 - NCAA

Michigan Wolverines
7 :  21
Illinois Fighting Illini

Oct 12, 2024 - NCAA

Purdue Boilermakers
49 :  50
Illinois Fighting Illini
W L L W W
Victories

3/5 (60%)

Draw

0/5 (0%)

Defeats

2/5 (40%)

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
38 :  28
Northwestern Wildcats

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
38 :  31
Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Oct 26, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
9 :  38
Oregon Ducks

Sep 28, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
7 :  21
Penn State Nittany Lions

Sep 20, 2024 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
31 :  24
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils Latest matches
L W W W L W
Victories

4/6 (67%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Aug 28, 2025 - NCAA

Elon Phoenix
17 :  45
Duke Blue Devils

Jan 2, 2025 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Duke Blue Devils
20 :  52
Ole Miss Rebels

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
23 :  17
Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

Virginia Tech Hokies
28 :  31
Duke Blue Devils

Nov 9, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
29 :  19
North Carolina State Wolfpack

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
31 :  53
Miami (FL) Hurricanes
W W W L W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Aug 28, 2025 - NCAA

Elon Phoenix
17 :  45
Duke Blue Devils

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

Virginia Tech Hokies
28 :  31
Duke Blue Devils

Oct 26, 2024 - NCAA

SMU Mustangs
28 :  27
Duke Blue Devils

Oct 18, 2024 - NCAA

Florida State Seminoles
16 :  23
Duke Blue Devils

Sep 28, 2024 - NCAA

North Carolina Tar Heels
20 :  21
Duke Blue Devils

Sep 14, 2024 - NCAA

Connecticut Huskies
21 :  26
Duke Blue Devils
W L L W W L
Victories

3/6 (50%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

3/6 (50%)

Jan 2, 2025 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Duke Blue Devils
20 :  52
Ole Miss Rebels

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
23 :  17
Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Nov 9, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
29 :  19
North Carolina State Wolfpack

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
31 :  53
Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Oct 5, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
14 :  24
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Sep 21, 2024 - NCAA

Duke Blue Devils
45 :  17
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Illinois Fighting Illini - Duke Blue Devils Key Points

  1. Duke allowed 163 rushing yards in Week 1
  2. Illinois rushed for 209 yards in Week 1
  3. Duke averaged 11.4 yards per pass in Week 1
  4. Illinois allowed 4.6 yards per pass in Week 1

Our Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils Prediction

Illinois may be on the road in this game, but is the small favorite. They are also ranked as the #11 team in the country, but it is hard to say if they deserve that based on who they played in Week 1. Speaking of Week 1, the Fighting Illini looked to be well-balanced, having thrown and rushed for more than 200 yards.

As for Duke, they had some issues defending the run, allowing 163 yards to Elon in Week 1. That being said, their passing offense was excellent. The Blue Devils are likely to lean on their passing offense in this game as well, though the Fighting Illini allowed just 4.6 passing yards per play. Illinois also held Western Illinois to 29 total rushing yards, just 1.1 yards per play.

This game looks as if it will be tight throughout; however, given the balanced offense the Fighting Illini showed in Week 1 and their stout defense, our Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils prediction is: Illinois Fighting Illini ML.

Prediction:

 

Illinois Fighting Illini ML

-148
$500+ offered for betting!

Jackpot Pools

DK Jackpot Pools

DraftKings's long-running promo Jackpot Pools gives bettors a chance to win a whopping $10,000 which grows with every entry! 

To win, you'll need to answer all 15 questions correctly and the pool is yours! If there are multiple winners, the pool will be split. If no one wins, however, the jackpot rolls over to the next pool, increasing the winnings. You can enter up to 10 times each pool to give yourself an even greater chance of winning. Once the event has completed, you can collect your winnings within 24 hours so keep an eye on the pool! Don't miss out on your chance to win big and make your picks today!

Get started today!

All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils Picks