The USC Trojans (4-0) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (3-1) square off on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL) in a battle of Big Ten opponents.
The Fighting Illini are underdogs, but by less than a touchdown (+6.5), versus the Trojans (with an over/under of 61.5 points).
Keep reading to check out our preview for this this matchup between the Trojans and the Fighting Illini, and find all of our betting picks here, too!
To Cover the Spread
Bet $20, Payout $37.54
USC -6.5 vs. Illinois
USC vs. Illinois betting lines
- Spread favorite: Trojans (-6.5)
- Moneyline: Trojans (-247), Fighting Illini (+201)
- Total: 61.5 points
- TV Channel: FOX 4K
- Live Stream: Fubo
USC vs. Illinois betting info and stats
- USC has two wins against the spread so far this season (2-2-0). USC is 2-2 ATS when the favorite by at least 6.5 points. In four games as the moneyline favorite, USC has gone 4-0. Illinois is 3-1-0 against the spread this season. Illinois has not covered the spread in games it was the underdog by at least 6.5 points (0-1). This will be the second game this year Illinois is the moneyline underdog. The Fighting Illini lost the first one.
USC vs. Illinois recent stats and trends
USC Trojans
Illinois Fighting Illini
USC vs. Illinois key players
USC Trojans
- Jayden Maiava has thrown for 1,223 yards (305.8 ypg) to lead USC, completing 70.8% of his passes and recording nine touchdown passes this season. He’s also contributed in the ground game with 55 rushing yards on 15 carries with four rushing touchdowns.
- The team’s top rusher, Waymond Jordan, has carried the ball 57 times for 443 yards (110.8 per game), scoring three times.
- Eli Sanders has been handed the ball 39 times this year and racked up 250 yards (62.5 per game) with two touchdowns. He’s also contributed in the pass game with six grabs for 105 yards and one touchdown.
- Makai Lemon’s leads his squad with 438 yards as a receiver. He’s racked up that yardage on 24 catches (out of 29 targets) and scored three touchdowns.
- Ja’Kobi Lane has hauled in nine receptions totaling 239 yards, finding the end zone one time as a receiver so far this campaign.
- Lake McRee’s nine receptions have yielded 189 yards and one touchdown.
- Braylan Shelby has racked up 3.5 sacks to pace the team, while also recording 3.0 TFL and five tackles.
- Eric Gentry, USC’s top tackler, has 16 tackles, 4.0 TFL, and three sacks this year.
- Bishop Fitzgerald has picked off a team-leading three passes. He also has nine tackles and three passes defended to his name.
Illinois Fighting Illini
- Luke Altmyer has thrown for 855 yards on 70% passing while tossing nine touchdown passes with zero interceptions this season.
- Kaden Feagin has run for 240 yards on 55 carries so far this year while scoring three times on the ground.
- Ca’Lil Valentine has collected 169 yards (on 31 carries) with two touchdowns.
- Hank Beatty’s 302 receiving yards (75.5 yards per game) are a team high. He has 21 catches on 25 targets with one touchdown.
- Collin Dixon has totaled 151 receiving yards (37.8 yards per game) and two touchdowns on 10 receptions.
- Hudson Clement has racked up 102 reciving yards (25.5 ypg) this season.
- Gabe Jacas paces the team with 3.5 sacks, and also has 1.0 TFL and 11 tackles.
- Matthew Bailey, Illinois’ leading tackler, has 22 tackles this year.
- Tanner Heckel has picked off a team-leading one pass. He also has seven tackles, one sack, and one pass defended to his name.
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