Tennessee vs. Illinois Player Props for Music City Bowl | Best Prop Bets & TD Picks
With both offenses poised to explode behind the play of their senior quarterbacks, my Tennessee vs. Illinois player props for the Music City Bowl are focused on three of the best playmakers taking the field.
The action gets started at 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, with Tennessee sitting as a 3.5-point betting favorite in one of three matchups highlighted in today's college bowl game predictions.
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🏈 Tennessee vs. Illinois player prop bets: 2025 Music City Bowl
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| Player | Prop bet | Best odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeSean Bishop, RB, Tennessee | Over 78.5 rushing yards | -114 via FanDuel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hank Beatty, WR, Illinois | Over 64.5 receiving yards | -114 via FanDuel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mike Matthews, WR, Tennessee | Over 4.5 receptions | -120 via FanDuel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 Tennessee vs. Illinois best bet: Music City Bowl
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DeSean Bishop, RB, Tennessee: Over 78.5 rushing yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tennessee has become a running back factory under Josh Heupel, and redshirt sophomore DeSean Bishop looks like the next one destined for the NFL. Bishop has been one of the best big-play backs in the country this season, ranking in the top 15 in 15-plus-yard runs (19) and breakaway rate (49.4%).
That ability to create splash plays has helped him average 92.5 rushing yards per game over his last seven games, including going Over 78.5 in three straight outings.
Illinois ranks outside the top 40 in EPA per rush on defense.
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Hank Beatty, WR, Illinois: Over 64.5 receiving yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Illinois is set to lean on its passing attack against a Tennessee defense that's ranked No. 60 in defensive SP+. And it helps that the Volunteers will be without four of their top cornerbacks.
With Tennessee so thin in its secondary, I expect Luke Altmyer to go to Hank Beatty early and often, so much so that he's my favorite TD pick in my Tennessee vs. Illinois predictions for the Music City Bowl.
Beatty is among the most reliable pass catchers in the country, with zero drops, and he's gone Over 64.5 receiving yards in five games this season.
Mike Matthews, WR, Tennessee: Over 4.5 receptions (-120) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tennessee is without its star receiver, Chris Brazzell II, who opted out of the game. That opens up the door for sophomore Mike Matthews to be Joey Aguilar's favorite target against an Illinois defense that allows the third-most passing yards in the Big Ten (226.5).
Matthews has gone Over 4.5 receptions in five of his last 11 games, and without Brazzell, he should step into his role as the X-receiver on the outside.
With Brazzell in the lineup, Matthews averaged 3.3 receptions for 64.1 receiving yards on 5.75 targets per game.
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📺 How to watch Tennessee vs. Illinois: Music City Bowl
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30
- Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville)
- TV: ESPN
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