Line: Illinois by 5 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Illinois must win to be bowl eligible and make back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 2010-11. John Paddock will get his second straight start at quarterback for Illinois.
Illinois must win to be bowl eligible and make back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 2010-11. Northwestern secured its first bowl berth since 2020 when it beat Purdue