Illinois Fighting Illini vs Duke Blue Devils Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/06/2025

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 6, 2025

Venue:  Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Illinois -3, Duke +3; Over/Under:  50.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Illinois -3, Duke +3; Over/Under:  49.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Illinois -3, Duke +3; Over/Under:  49.5 points

Illinois Fighting Illini:  1-0 (0-0) (3rd place, Big Ten)

Duke Blue Devils:  1-0 (0-0) (5th place, ACC)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Big Al McMordie is on a HOT STREAK in college football on a 97-64-2 CFB RUN for +$26,970 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  won their last game at home against the Western Illinois Leathernecks 52-3.

Duke Blue Devils:  won their last game at home against the Elon Phoenix 45-17.

Illinois is entering this game with a 1-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Western Illinois 52-3. Luke Altmyer was the starting QB and he completed 17/21 passes for 217 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Aidan Laughery led the team in rushing yards with 101 and 2 TDs. Hank Beatty led the receivers with 108 receiving yards on 5 receptions. Gabe Jacas led the defense in that game with 4 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Gabe Jacas led the defense in sacks with 2. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Duke is entering this game with a 1-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Elon 45-17. Darian Mensah was the starting QB and he completed 27/34 passes for 389 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Anderson Castle led the team in rushing yards with 69. Cooper Barkate led the receivers with 117 receiving yards on 5 receptions. Vincent Anthony Jr. led the defense in that game with 3 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles while Vincent Anthony Jr. and Josiah Green each led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Duke listed as a 3 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Duke is 1-0 overall and they looked good in their season opener. They beat Elon 45-17 and it took them some time to get going, but they figured things out in the 2nd half and started to roll. Meanwhile, Illinois is also 1-0 overall with a 52-3 win over Western Illinois and that game was never close. Illinois enters this game as a ranked team so they have a lot more to lose in this game on the road and it will be a game that this Duke team brings their best effort for at home. Neither team was really tested in week 1 either with both playing teams from the FCS so this is going to be the first real test for both teams and it will likely be a tighter game where neither team wants to play from behind. Illinois is going to try to control this game with their run game and style of play, but Duke has a really good QB who can make plays through the air and they have the ability to come back if they fall behind. This could end up being a really tight game with Duke using this game against a ranked opponent to prove themselves and it could be decided by a field goal so it is best to take the points with the home team. The best way to place a bet here is on Duke to cover the spread in this game. 

Illinois Duke Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 6, 2025 (12:00 pm ET start time) is Duke 23 Illinois 20.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Illinois Fighting Illini Duke Blue Devils prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAF predictions and previews.

Illinois Fighting Illini: 27-43 ATS when the line is +3 to -3. 6-11 1H ATS as a road favorite of 7 points or less. 18-26 1H ATS off a home win by 17 points or more. 26-15 1H OVER in a road game where the total is between 49.5 and 56.

Duke Blue Devils: 36-17 ATS when the line is +3 to -3. 8-2 ATS off a home win. 9-3 ATS after playing a game at home. 24-17 OVER when the line is +3 to -3. 8-4 OVER after playing a game at home.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  A. Knapik (OG) Questionable - Knee. J. Clarke (CB) Questionable - Undisclosed. B. Clawson (CB) Questionable - Undisclosed. T. Cox (CB) Out - Undisclosed. J. Forster (RB) Out - Undisclosed. J. Hirdes (OG) Out - Knee. G. Smith (TE) Out - Undisclosed.

Duke Blue Devils:  T. Moore (S) Out - Knee.

“Once the game was in control, we kind of contained some of the stuff we worked on to save that for the right moment.” - Bret Bielema after his team’s win against Western Illinois in their last game. 

“Whatever happened in the first half, let it go. I felt once we got going, we took over the game.” - Manny Diaz after his team’s win against Elon in their last game. 

WR Elzy, Malik

WR Clement, Hudson

WR Dixon, Collin

TE Arkin, Tanner

QB Altmyer, Luke

RB Laughery, Aidan

WR Hagans, Sahmir

WR Barkate, Cooper

WR Brown, Que'Sean

TE Hasley, Jeremiah

QB Mensah, Darian

RB Moore, Jaquez

Passing: L. Altmyer (217)

Rushing: A. Laughery (101)

Receiving: H. Beatty (108)

Touchdowns: A. Laughery (2)

Passing: D. Mensah (389)

Rushing: A. Castle (69)

Receiving: C. Barkate (117)

Touchdowns: S. Hagans (2)

Coaches:

Illinois Fighting Illini: Bret Bielema (5th season)

Duke Blue Devils: Manny Diaz (2nd season)