#21 USC vs #23 Illinois NCAAF Pick: Big Ten Battle in Week 5 (Sep 27)

• Undefeated (4-0) USC is coming off a 45-31 victory versus Michigan State.
• Illionois (3-1) is looking to get back on track after last week’s 63-10 loss to Indiana.
• It’s been a while since these teams met, which was back in 2008 with USC beating Illinois 49-17.

This Big Ten matchup pits an undefeated Trojan team looking to give the Fighting Illini a second consecutive loss. Despite USC being the visiting team, they are stacked as favorites to take home the win, so let’s see if Illinois can give their fans an unlikely upset.

USC Look to Show Their Worth

The Trojans are undefeated so far and have already beaten two Big Ten rivals this season. USC will try and put salt on Illinois’ wounds as they are still hurting from last week’s embarrassment. This is a great opportunity for the Trojans to prove that they can win on the road against a strong rival such as Illinois.

As mentioned before, it’s been years since they last played, so it’s a potential rivalry in the making. Let’s hope for a battle from both sides.

Illinois to Get Back on Track

All the Fighting Illini should be focusing on is getting a win at home against USC. A second consecutive loss would be detrimental to their season and will make it hard to be taken seriously moving forward.

They’ve shown to be a good team this season as they have had some impressive wins so far. So maybe they just weren’t on their A-game against Indiana, and this is the opportunity to get back on track.

#21 USC vs #23 Illinois NCAAF Pick

There is a reason why USC is undefeated, so let’s try and not look into this too deeply. Illinois is hurting and embarrassed, so they will work extra hard to prevent another whooping.

The Trojan are looking to continue their winning streak, especially on the road. Make sure you place your bets on USC against a struggling Fighting Illini.