Wasn't really that interested in a couple of corn-fed Midwest teams banging helmets and scavenging for 4 yards at a time in 1940s-style football. This is what USC and Oregon wanted to join? Just wait until those Westies play a Big Ten game in the November sleet of East Lansing, Madison, Iowa City, etc. Just traveling to some of those places will be tough. Major fade. As for here, Bret Bielema is such a fine defensive coach that I have to think he confuses Huskers true freshman QB Dylan Raiola a fair amount. Not really sure why this is above 7 in what seems like a matchup where points will be scarce. The model has NU by 5. I'll pay to 10 jic.

You'd think it was 1971 again in Lincoln, with Cornhusker backers excitedly talking about new QB Dylan Raiola like he's another Jerry Tagge. Understandable, maybe, with Nebraska at 3-0 after the uninspiring 5-7 performance of Matt Rhule's Nebraska debut a year ago, hindered by lack of production at QB. Not sure, however, the Huskers should be laying this sort of price, as Bret Bielema believes he has the Fighting Illini on the upswing as well, with the defense also excelling in a 3-0 start and ex-Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer looking more comfy at the controls of the offense and limiting mistakes. That recipe could create plenty of spread value for Illinois in this fall's Big Ten. Play Illinois

Illinois and Nebraska both come in undefeated, both have covered all their games, and both have stayed under all their games. So Illinois pushed 21 in their last game against Central Michigan 30-9. I think they're unders over the course of the season has forced this number too low compared to what it should be and it makes an over play for me. Both these quarterbacks have had good offenses their first three games and I don't expect the defense to slow it down that much and it doesn't need to be, we just got to get to 43 points by both teams to win. Over for me.

On paper this game looks like it might be a snoozer with both teams allowing less than 10 points per game. On the other side of the ball, though, both teams average over 30 per game. While the defensive numbers are flashy, neither team has really faced an offensive juggernaut (all due respect to Colorado, but their offensive line knocks them down a notch). I don't expect this game to be a shootout by any means, but something like 27-20 pushes this game comfortably over this number. I'm confidently on the over here.

The last two years, we've seen final scores of 26-9 and 20-7 in this rivalry. Both teams have played to the under in each game this season as they're each led by a strong defense. This one has the makings of a slugfest won by the home team. Nebraska 23, Illinois 16.