The Illinois Fighting Illini will host the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday night Memorial Stadium in Champaign. The Illini enter the matchup as heavy favorites and looking to remain in the top 10 in the country. The Broncos are looking to rebound from an overtime loss to North Texas and secure their first victory of the season. Here, I break down this matchup in college football and bring you my Western Michigan vs Illinois prediction for the game.
Our Western Michigan vs Illinois Pick
- Pick: Illinois -27.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Western Michigan Broncos vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
- Broadcast: FS1
Western Michigan vs Illinois Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois -27.5 | Illinois -5000 / WMU +1500 | Over/Under 50.5 |
Key Storylines
- Illinois Offense: Quarterback Luke Altmyer has been exceptional early in the season. He has thrown for 513 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in the first two games. His chemistry with wide receiver Justin Bowick, who has three touchdowns already, has been an early highlight for the Illini.
- Western Michigan’s Struggles: The Broncos have yet to secure a win this season. They lost to Michigan State in their opener and lost to North Texas 33-30 in overtime last week. Quarterback Broc Lowry has completed just 10 of his 20 pass attempts early in the season and he will need to connect with his receivers often to give his team a chance in this contest.
- Turnover Battle: Illinois leads the nation with a +6 turnover margin. Western Michigan has been less disciplined and that could be a decisive factor in this game.
- Top 10 Illini: Illinois comes into this game ranked ninth in the country. They beat Duke by 26 points in their last game on the road and they will aim to build on that with one last non-conference win before Big Ten play begins.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Western Michigan is 2-0 against the spread despite being 0-2 straight up for the season.
- Illinois has also covered the spread in each of their first two games this year.
- Both teams are 1-1 in the over/under market through their first two games of the season.
- Illinois is 4-2 all-time against Western Michigan. The Broncos won the last meeting between these teams in 2016.
Western Michigan vs Illinois Model Projection
- Score Projection: Illinois 45 – Western Michigan 14
- Win Probability: Illinois 97%, Western Michigan 3%
Final Thoughts
Illinois enters this game as a deserved favorite. They have a high-powered offense and a defense that capitalizes on turnovers. Western Michigan has shown flashes of potential but has struggled with consistency and discipline. Given the disparity in talent and recent form for both teams, I expect Illinois to cover the spread and secure a convincing victory at home.
