Penn State vs. Illinois game preview, prediction

What to watch for as Penn State and Illinois meet in this Week 3 college football game and the Big Ten conference opener

Fresh off a hot 2-0 start behind some elite quarterback play from an up and coming sophomore, No. 7 ranked Penn State hits the road in the Big Ten opener against Illinois in college football's Week 3 action on Saturday.

What do you need to know about the matchup? Here's what you should watch for as Illinois and Penn State square off, along with our Week 3 game predictions.

Penn State vs. Illinois prediction, preview

Penn State vs. Illinois picks, predictions / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Sept. 16
Time: 12 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. CT
TV: Fox network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Penn State vs. Illinois odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Penn State -14.5
Total: 48.5 (O -111, U -111)
ML: PSU -800 | ILL +450
FPI pick: Penn State 86.5%

Related: Penn State vs. Illinois picks, predictions, Week 3 college football odds, lines

What to watch for

Penn State vs. Illinois predictions / USA Today Images

1. Battle at the line. On paper, the Illinois run defense leaves plenty to be desired, but consider that it's against a pair of talented running teams. The Illini allow 224 rushing yards per game and could struggle against Penn State's ground attack. Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton each post about 5 ypc, are both over 100 yards on the season, and have 5 of the team's 8 rushing TDs. If the Nittany Lions can grind out consistent gainers on the ground and move the chains on money downs, Illinois won't have much of a chance, especially if it can't return the favor using its own backs.

2. Illinois' QB. Transfer quarterback Luke Altmyer is capable of throwing your tacklers out of position and is a very capable dual threat, as well, leading the team in rushing in the first two games. He's hitting 69% of his passing attempts so far and has more rushing yards so far (139) than Singleton does (117). Isaiah Williams is Altymer's top target with 11 catches but is yet to catch a touchdown pass. Turnovers are an issue, however, as Altmyer has three interceptions, and he could prove a liability against Penn State's expert edge rush if he doesn't act decisively.

3. Illinois up front. The Illini present a dynamic duo at defensive tackle between Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph, who between them led the country with 27 tackles for loss and 81 quarterback pressures a year ago. West Virginia was able to get a little physical with Penn State in the opener and held up decently against the run. Watch how the battle between PSU's interior blockers and Illinois' inside rush develops and how well Penn State can create running lanes on the interior for its backs in the A and B gaps.

Penn State vs. Illinois prediction

Illinois is a shadow of itself compared to last season's team, especially in the secondary, which had NFL-caliber skill working deep and a front seven that could stop anything in front of it. Now, the unit is the Big Ten's worst statistically, struggling against Toledo and especially against Kansas' skill threats. 

Illinois will get some stops at the line on the inside, but Penn State has more combinations to get out of trouble and create space. Especially with the added dimension of Drew Allar spreading the field out. The quarterback is a 78 percent passer with no turnovers and doesn't have to be a hero thanks to Penn State's capable ground attack.

College Football HQ picks...

• Penn State wins 34-16
• Covers the spread
• And hits the over

Related: Penn State vs. Illinois score prediction by college football computer model

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