Will Underdog Illinois Shock the Music City Bowl? FanDuel Says Yes!

Illinois is heading back to the postseason party once again—third time in four years, no less. This time around, the Illini are eyeing something special: a chance to notch consecutive nine-win seasons, a feat that’s never graced their history books before. But, hold on a sec… FanDuel’s odds makers aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for them. The Orange and Blue entered Sunday night as 6.5-point underdogs to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, a matchup that’s as fresh as it gets since these two haven’t crossed paths before in football. With a total points line floating at 61.5 and a tight moneyline showing Volunteers at -225 versus Illini’s +184, this game’s shaping up to be a nail-biter—assuming Illinois can keep their key players, like QB Luke Altmyer, on the field. Coach Bret Bielema’s pumped and calls this a first-class opportunity to spotlight a remarkable senior class. Kickoff is locked for 4:30 p.m. CT on December 30, streaming live on ESPN. Want the full scoop? LEARN MORE.

For the third time in four years, Illinois is bowling.

And for the second time in as many years, Illinois is hoping to win a bowl (and claim back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time… ever).

But not so fast, my friend: The oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook think the Illini have some work to do — the Orange and Blue opened Sunday night as 6.5-point underdogs to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.

FanDuel’s moneyline for the Volunteers is -225, while it’s +184 for the Illini.

The total was set at 61.5, so the oddsmakers are predicting something in the area of 33-27, which definitely seems reasonable if the Illini don’t see a bunch of players opt out, including Luke Altmyer, who started every game at QB this past season.

Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) has never faced Tennessee (8-4, 4-4 SEC) in football, so there will be some history on the line.

“We are excited to accept the invitation to a first-class bowl game against a quality SEC opponent in Tennessee,” said head coach Bret Bielema in a statement Sunday. “This is an outstanding opportunity for our program and our fans to celebrate one of the most accomplished groups of seniors in Illinois history with a national spotlight. We will see all the Illini FamILLy in Nashville.”

Kickoff in Nashville is set for 4:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 30. The game will air on ESPN.