USC Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction & Picks - NCAA

USA - NCAA

USC Trojans
9/27/25 12:00
Illinois Fighting Illini

Prediction:

 

USC Trojans ML

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 by Matt Lowrimore in NCAA Picks

Saturday’s Week 5 college football slate will feature a ton of interesting games, one of which will see the 21st-ranked USC Trojans take on the 23rd-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini. Let’s take a look at the match statistics and predictions for this game between the Trojans and the Fighting Illini.

USC enters this game with a record of 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big Ten. The Trojans most recently beat the Michigan State Spartans in Week 4 by a score of 45-31. USC’s offense had a total of 523 yards, while its defense allowed 337 yards. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Waymond Jordan led the team in rushing with 157 yards.

As for Illinois, they enter this game with a record of 3-1 and 0-1 in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini most recently lost to the Indiana Hoosiers in Week 4 by a score of 63-10. Illinois’ offense had a total of 161 yards, while its defense allowed 579 yards. Quarterback Luke Altmyer threw for 146 yards and one touchdown, while running back Kaden Feagin led the team in rushing with 18 yards.

USC Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Form

Table

Teams % P W D L
1
USC Trojans
USC Trojans
1 2 2 0 0
14
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
0 1 0 0 1

USC Trojans and Illinois Fighting Illini Latest Matches

USC Trojans
USC Trojans Latest matches
L W W W W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Sep 20, 2025 - NCAA

Michigan State Spartans
31 :  45
USC Trojans

Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA

USC Trojans
33 :  17
Purdue Boilermakers

Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA

Georgia Southern Eagles
20 :  59
USC Trojans

Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA

Missouri State Bears
13 :  73
USC Trojans

Dec 27, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Texas A&M Aggies
31 :  35
USC Trojans

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
49 :  35
USC Trojans
W L W W W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Sep 20, 2025 - NCAA

Michigan State Spartans
31 :  45
USC Trojans

Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA

Georgia Southern Eagles
20 :  59
USC Trojans

Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA

Missouri State Bears
13 :  73
USC Trojans

Dec 27, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Texas A&M Aggies
31 :  35
USC Trojans

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
49 :  35
USC Trojans

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

Nebraska Cornhuskers
20 :  28
USC Trojans
L L L L W W
Victories

2/6 (33%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

4/6 (67%)

Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA

USC Trojans
33 :  17
Purdue Boilermakers

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

USC Trojans
19 :  13
UCLA Bruins

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

USC Trojans
21 :  26
Washington Huskies

Oct 19, 2024 - NCAA

USC Trojans
28 :  29
Maryland Terrapins

Oct 5, 2024 - NCAA

USC Trojans
17 :  24
Minnesota Golden Gophers

Sep 21, 2024 - NCAA

USC Trojans
24 :  27
Michigan Wolverines
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini Latest matches
W W W W W L
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Sep 20, 2025 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
10 :  63
Indiana Hoosiers

Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA

Western Michigan Broncos
0 :  38
Illinois Fighting Illini

Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
45 :  19
Duke Blue Devils

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
W L W W W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Sep 13, 2025 - NCAA

Western Michigan Broncos
0 :  38
Illinois Fighting Illini

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
L L W W W L
Victories

3/6 (50%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

3/6 (50%)

Sep 20, 2025 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
10 :  63
Indiana Hoosiers

Sep 6, 2025 - NCAA

Illinois Fighting Illini
45 :  19
Duke Blue Devils

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

USC Trojans - Illinois Fighting Illini Key Points

  1. USC is 2-2 ATS this season
  2. USC is averaging 57.0 points per game this season
  3. Illinois is 3-1 ATS this season
  4. Illinois is averaging 37.8 points per game this season

Our USC Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction

Illinois’ flaws were quickly taken advantage of in Week 4 by Indiana, and things will not get any easier when they play USC in Week 5. The Trojans’ offense is just as explosive as the Hoosiers, which is indicated by the fact that USC is averaging 57 points per game this season. 

It is fair to say that USC’s defense is susceptible to allowing points, so Illinois should have much more success compared to the poor showing in Week 4. That being said, the Fighting Illini’s defense is likely to be overwhelmed by the speed of the Trojans’ offense. For that reason, our USC Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction is: USC Trojans ML.

Prediction:

 

USC Trojans ML

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USC Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Picks