Tennessee vs. Illinois Predictions & Odds | 2025 Music City Bowl Best Bet & TD Pick
Neither of the programs taking the field in the Music City Bowl will be at full strength, but my Tennessee vs. Illinois predictions still expect a tight game between two teams that were ranked at various points this season.
Tennessee is a 3.5-point betting favorite for today's 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) Music City Bowl from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, in the third bowl game covered in our college bowl game predictions this week.
Stay ahead this bowl season with our updated college football bowl game odds and schedule.
🏈 Tennessee vs. Illinois predictions: 2025 Music City Bowl
See the latest college football odds and our college football picks for every bowl game.
| Best bets | Odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois +3.5 | -114 via Caesars | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hank Beatty anytime TD | +114 via Caesars | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 Tennessee vs. Illinois best bet
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Illinois +3.5 (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tennessee is expected to be without multiple starters, including four of its top NFL prospects, who all opted out.
Illinois can stay in this matchup by leaning on its passing attack and taking advantage of a Vols' defense with depth issues in the secondary. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is equipped to expose a Tennessee defense that's been so bad (ranked No. 60 by SP+) that it fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
And for as explosive as Tennessee's offense is under Josh Heupel, it could struggle to be as productive with three starters out, including star receiver Chris Brazzell II.
Score prediction: Tennessee 29, Illinois 27
🙌 Best Tennessee vs. Illinois touchdown pick: Music City Bowl
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Hank Beatty, WR, Tennessee: Anytime TD (+114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is Altmyer's last game, and he's positioned to go out with a bang against a defense missing its best players. Not only are the team's most lethal pass rusher (Joshua Josephs) and defensive tone setter (Arion Carter) opting out of the game, but the Vols' top corner won't be taking the field.
With cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III out for the season, and nickel Boo Carter being dismissed from the team, Colton Hood has stepped up in their place. But Hood won't be on the field for the Music City Bowl.
That means the Volunteers are extremely thin in the secondary, and Altmyer's go-to receiver, Hank Beatty, should take advantage. Beatty has been a breakout star this season, ranking No. 3 in the Big Ten in YAC (418) and No. 8 in yards per route run (2.65).
Though the senior has scored just four touchdowns this season, he's poised to burn an inexperienced secondary in his final collegiate game.
📝 Top NFL draft prospects for Music City Bowl
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| Player | Position | Key stats | NFL draft grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lance Heard, Tennessee | OT | 1 sack, 17 pressures allowed | Round 3-5 |
| Dominic Bailey, Tennessee | DL | 7.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks | Round 5-7 |
| Luke Altmyer, Illinois | QB | 76.4% adjusted completion rate, 25 total TDs | Round 6-UDFA |
| Miles Scott, Illinois | SAF | 59 tackles, 4 TFLs | Round 6-UDFA |
| James Thompson, Illinois | IDL | 34 tackles, 17 run stops | Round 6-UDFA |
| Tomiwa Durojaiye, Illinois | IDL | 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks | Round 7-UDFA |
| Hank Beatty, Illinois | WR | 867 scrimmage yards, 4 TDs | Round 7-UDFA |
📊 Live Tennessee vs. Illinois odds: Music City Bowl
Tennessee vs. Illinois opening odds
- Moneyline: Tennessee -135 | Illinois +115
- Spread: Tennessee -2.5 (-115) | Illinois +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: Over 59.5 (-110) | Under 59.5 (-110)
📈 Tennessee vs. Illinois betting trends
| Tennessee | Statistic | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 8-4 | W-L record | 8-4 |
| 4-7-1 | ATS record | 7-4-1 |
| 8-4 | O/U record | 5-7 |
| 6.6 | Yards per play | 5.9 |
| 5.5 | Yards allowed per play | 5.3 |
| +0.4 | Turnover margin | +0.4 |
| 3-2 | Last 5 games | 3-2 |
| L, 45-24 vs. Vanderbilt | Previous result | W, 20-13 vs. Northwestern |
📺 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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