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It keeps getting lost in the narrative, but Duke really did win the ACC Championship last year. But well before that happened, now-superstar Miami quarterback Darian Mensah had a rough day in a 45-19 loss to a nasty Illinois team.
Both teams are a tad worse this time around, but the winner will have something big to build on. Duke wants it, Illinois needs it, and it should be one of the stronger games of the day.
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Illinois vs Duke: Quick Hits
- It’s the fourth time the two basketball superpowers have played in football. Duke won the first battle 15-13 in 1958, but Illinois is 2-1.
- Illinois was fine in the 42-23 win over UAB, but it was a little sluggish at times. It plays Southern Illinois next week before going to Ohio State.
- Duke already got revenge for one of last year’s early losses, beating Tulane 17-3. Next week it starts the ACC season against Stanford.
How To Watch Illinois vs Duke
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: FS1
Location: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
– Week 2 Schedule, Picks
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 2
Why Duke Will Win
The Illinois defense had a hard time with the UAB offense. The Blazers let it rip to try to keep up the pace, but there wasn’t enough of an Illinois pass rush to be a bother.
Duke’s offensive front was terrific in the opener against Tulane. It didn’t allow a sack or a tackle for loss, and it paved the way for over five yards per carry – Nate Sheppard ran for 227 yards and two scores.
Why Illinois Will Win
The Illini running game took over at times. There was one huge run, but the offense mostly relied on new quarterback Katin Houser, who completed 13-of-17 passes for 182 yards and three scores – with 54 of the yards coming on the Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
UAB managed to dominate the time of possession, but Illinois was able to stay ahead, and it didn’t make any big mistakes, with no turnovers and just one penalty. But again …
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Illinois vs Duke Prediction, Betting Lines
Controlling the clock. Illinois has to do a better job of that.
It was awful at getting the defense off the field. UAB was able to eat up chunks of time by hitting its third down plays. Duke dominated the time of possession battle against Tulane, and it’ll do what it can to control the tempo. Illinois will change that up by owning the running game and being far sharper on defense.
Illinois 30, Duke 24
Latest Consensus Line: Illinois -5.5, o/u: 51.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 12:22 AM.