January 3, 2025

Sport and Betting News

Predictions, Odds, and Best Bets for the Citrus Bowl matchup between South Carolina and Illinois

12 mins
  • Some happy coach is getting Cheez-It dumped on his head at the end of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between No. 15 South Carolina (9-3) and No. 20 Illinois (9-3).
  • The Gamecocks are 10-point favorites against the Illini and enter riding a six-game win streak.
  • Get the full cheese on the Citrus Bowl with our prediction, game preview and look at the best odds for Tuesday.

It’s an SEC vs. Big Ten battle in Florida when South Carolina (9-3, 9-3 ATS) meets Illinois (9-3, 8-3-1 ATS) in the Cheez-It bowl Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET in Orlando.

The Gamecocks are 4-1 in their last five games against the spread as favorites, but will be without SEC Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Kennard, who is prepping for the NFL Draft.

It’s a homecoming for Illinois, whose roster features 17 players from Florida.

We have the full scoop on the Cheez-It Bowl, including a look at the big storylines, players to watch and prediction.

South Carolina vs Illinois Odds

Teams Spread Moneyline Total
South Carolina -10.0 (-112) -395 O 49.5 (-110)
Illinois +10.0 (-108) +310 U 49.5 (-110)

Odds as of noon Dec. 30 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to check the top DraftKings Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any cheesy college football bowl game. 

South Carolina is 10-point favorites at our favorite sportsbooks, and you can also find 10.5 at some spots. The total is 49, but again, you can find it at 49.5.

This is the first meeting between these two schools. Both have been hot against the spread. South Carolina has won six of its last seven games against the number, while Illinois has won three in a row.

Illinois is just 5-7 over/under, but the last three games have all gone over. South Carolina is 7-5 against the total. The best moneyline value for South Carolina is -385 at Caesars and +310 for Illinois at BetMGM.

The Big Cheese

South Carolina was one of these teams with a case to make the CFP. They beat Clemson in their regular-season finale, and they beat Texas A&M, Mizzou and Vanderbilt during this win streak. But being maybe the fifth-best team in the SEC wasn’t enough.

The Gamecocks are led by redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, and if you haven’t watched him play yet, you’re in for a treat. He might be a bigger (6-foot-3) version of Lamar Jackson. He’s had over 300 yards of total offense in four of his last five games. He’s big, fast and has a live arm. NFL scouts are already tracking him. He’s only 19.

Defensively, South Carolina is missing Kennard, who led the SEC in sacks and TFLs, and running back Rocket Sanders opted out. The big thing to know is the Gamecocks defense ranked fourth in the SEC in rushing defense allowing 106 yards a game.

Hot Cheddar

There’s a narrative that Illinois coach Bret Bielema just wants to play smashmouth football and run the ball 50 times a game. That’s only partially true. The truth is Illinois does whatever it needs to do to win.

They do lean a bit run-heavy, with a trio of running backs: Aidan Laughery, Josh McCray and Kaden Feagin, but statistically, Illinois only ran for 151 yards a game this season, which was 79th in the nation.

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer is that quintessential experienced college QB who doesn’t do one thing especially well, but just wins. He threw for 2,543 yards and 21 TDs (that’s more than Sellers did). Illinois did lose star WR Pat Bryant for this one, but All-Big Ten DB Xavier Scott will play. He had four picks.

South Carolina vs Illinois Prediction

  • Illinois +10.5 at FanDuel
  • Under 49.5 at FanDuel

You just know there’s going to be some head-scratching game on New Years Eve where the big favorite just has its hands full all day long and can’t pull away. We’ve seen it too many times.

A talented, athletic SEC team is supposed to run all over the bigger but slower Big 10 team. Then they line up, and the Big 10 team plays smart and frustrates the SEC school. We love Sellers, but Illinois will stay in this one and make it close. Bring on the Cheez-Its!

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The Citrus Bowl is set to be an exciting matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Both teams have had successful seasons and will be looking to end their year on a high note with a victory in this prestigious bowl game.

As we look ahead to this matchup, let’s take a closer look at the predictions, odds, and best bets for this game.

Predictions:
The South Carolina Gamecocks come into this game with a record of 6-6, while the Illinois Fighting Illini finished the season with a record of 6-6 as well. Both teams have had their ups and downs throughout the season, but they have shown that they can compete with some of the best teams in the country.

In terms of predictions, this game is shaping up to be a close one. Both teams have strong offenses and defenses, so it could come down to which team can make the most plays when it matters most. Look for a high-scoring game with both teams putting up points on the board.

Odds:
As for the odds, the South Carolina Gamecocks are currently listed as the favorites to win this game. They are favored by a few points, but it is still expected to be a close matchup. The over/under for this game is set at around 55 points, indicating that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair.

Best Bets:
When it comes to placing your bets on this game, there are a few key factors to consider. Both teams have strong offenses, so taking the over on the point total could be a smart bet. Additionally, keep an eye on the spread as it could come down to the wire.

Another bet to consider is looking at the individual player props. Players like South Carolina’s quarterback and Illinois’ running back could have big games and provide value in terms of betting.

Overall, this Citrus Bowl matchup between South Carolina and Illinois is shaping up to be a thrilling game with plenty of scoring opportunities. Keep an eye on the odds and make your best bets accordingly.

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