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Mississippi State vs. Illinois Odds, Picks, Predictions College Football: Bulldogs Favored in ReliaQuest Bowl

Philip Wood

Last Updated: January 2, 2023 4:13 AM EST • 2 min 2 sec read.

Chase Brown of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks for yards against the Michigan Wolverines.
Chase Brown of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks for yards against the Michigan Wolverines. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images via AFP.

Eight-win teams Mississippi State Bulldogs and Illinois Fighting Illini square off in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday. Read on for our top Mississippi State-Illinois picks based on the top odds.

The Fighting Illini struggled down the stretch, losing three of their last four games. Each loss was by one possession, including a 19-17 defeat against the Michigan Wolverines.

Mississippi State won three of its last four, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs. In its final regular season game, Miss State defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 24-22 to win the Egg Bowl.

Here is our best Mississippi State vs. Illinois ReliaQuest Bowl college football pick (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our college football best bets.

Mississippi State vs. Illinois Game Info

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 2, noon ET
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
  • Weather: 80 degrees, 25% chance of precipitation, 7-mph winds

Mississippi State vs. Illinois Odds

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Mississippi State vs. Illinois Odds Analysis

This line opened as a pick‘em, but the Bulldogs now find themselves favored by 2.5 to 3 points at most major sportsbooks. Around 61% of the cash on 73% of the tickets backs Mississippi State. 

The total opened at 44.5 and went up to 46, as there has been a clear preference, with 61% of the tickets but a whopping 86% of the money coming on the Over. 

Mississippi State vs. Illinois Pick

Under 46 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Bulldogs averaged 30.5 points per game this season, but struggled against good defenses throughout the year. They scored just 19 against Georgia, six vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide, and 17 against the Kentucky Wildcats. 

The Fighting Illini allow just 13.4 PPG, and held a Michigan team that averaged 40.1 PPG in 2022 to just 19. Illinois limited nine of 12 opponents to fewer than 20 points throughout the year.

There aren’t many opt-outs in this game, though the Bulldogs are without leading wide receiver Rara Thomas. This will impact their offensive game plan, as Miss State threw for 310.8 yards per game and rushed for just 80.1. 

The Illini average only 24.9 PPG, and they scored 30 or more points only four times this season. They bring a well-balanced attack, and will look to exploit a Bulldogs’ defense that gives up 146.5 rushing YPG. That approach should drain the clock and keep this one very low-scoring.

Mississippi State vs. Illinois Best Odds

DraftKings (-110)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
Under 46Under 45.5Under 46Under 46Under 46
-110-105-110-110-110

FanDuel is the only sportsbook that offers this line at less than 46, which means it's also the only sportsbook you shouldn't go to place this bet. Any other major book is a good option, as they all offer the same number at the same price.

Mississippi State vs. Illinois pick made 12/31/2022 at 10:29 a.m. ET.

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related Pages

Best Online Sportsbooks | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only) | Illinois Sports Betting | Illinois Sportsbook Promos | Illinois Sports Betting Apps

Written By:
Philip Wood
Phil is a Sports Betting Analyst for Sportsbook Review and BettingPros.com, specializing in NFL and college football. He previously covered college football and college basketball for CanesInsight.com, where he also hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast. Phil is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is if a line doesn't make sense, just assume that Vegas knows something you don't. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. Some would call him a frontrunner for his love of the Yankees and the Celtics, but he's also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and will never forgive the refs for the blown pass interference call against the Cowboys in 2015.