Monday, May 21st, 2012
The Illinois Fighting Illini from the Big Ten conference will face the UCLA Bruins from the PAC 12 conference in the Fight Hunger Bowl in an NCAA college football game on New Years Eve.
Start time from San Francisco California is scheduled for 3:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN.
The point spread reveals the Illinois Fighting Illini favored by -1 ½ points with an over under lined at 44 points.
Money early has come in on the side of the Fighting Illini as Illinois is now favored by -2 ½ points.
The over under has shot up to 47 points in the early wagering.
Illinois Fighting Illini money line bettors will lay –135 odds with the underdog UCLA Bruins returning +115 odds to win outright without the points on their side.
UCLA and Illinois meet on the college football gridiron in the Fight Hunger Bowl for the first time since the 2004 season where the UCLA Bruins earned the 35-17 road win against the Fighting Illini as a -1 ½ point betting favorite.
The over under came in at over the closing line of 50 points.
Both head coaches for each team have been fired and will not be on the sidelines for this bowl game.
The UCLA Bruins enter play in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl with an overall record of 6-7 on the season. The team is 1-6 away from home.
UCLA averages 23 points and 388 yards per game with 190 rushing yards for 4.7 yards a carry.
On defense the Bruins allow 32 points and 424 yards a game. Teams run for 191 yards against them for 5.2 yards per rush against average.
The club is 2-5 versus bowl teams. They have wins against California and Arizona St and suffered losses to Oregon, Utah, Stanford, Texas and Houston.
The Bruins dropped their last two games.
They are coming off the 49-31 road loss at the Oregon Ducks in the PAC 12 conference championship game as a +31 point underdog.
The over under came in at over the closing line of 66 ½ points.
UCLA put up 337 offensive yards while giving up 571 yards to the Ducks.
The Bruins rushed for 160 yards on 43 carries for 3.7 yards a carry.
The team had four turnovers and took two from Oregon.
They allowed the Ducks 352 yards rushing on 50 carries for 7 yards per rush against average.
Quarterback Kevin Prince completed 13 of 26 passes for 164 yards with two touchdowns. Prince had 15 rushes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Derrick Coleman on 16 carries ran for 83 yards.
Johnathan Franklin rushed for 35 yards on nine carries.
Nelson Rosario led UCLA with six receptions for 9 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Joseph Fauria caught four passes for 50 yards.
Taylor Embree had an 18 yard pass reception.
The Illinois Fighting Illini plays in the Fight Hunger Bowl with an overall record of 6-6 on the 2011 regular season. The team is 1-3 away from home.
Illinois averages 22 points and 358 yards per game with 171 rushing yards for 4.1 yards a carry.
On defense the Fighting Illini gives up 20 points and 291 yards per game. Teams run for 132 yards against them for 3.3 yards per rush against average.
The Fighting Illini is 4-5 versus bowl teams this year.
They have victories against Arkansas St, Arizona St, Western Michigan and Northwestern. The losses came against Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn St, Purdue and Ohio St.
Illinois spoiled rotten down the stretch losing six straight games.
They are coming off the 27-7 road defeat at the Minnesota Golden Gophers as a -10 point betting favorite.
The over under landed under the closing line of 44 points.
Illinois got outgained by the hapless Minnesota Golden Gophers by a 333 yard to 160 yard differential.
The team rushed for 82 yards on 32 carries for 2.6 yards per rush.
Illinois turned it over once and took none away from the Golden Gophers.
They allowed Minnesota to run for 248 yards on 53 carries for 4.7 yards per rush against average.
Quarterback Reilley O’Toole hit on 11 of 21 passes for 63 yards. O’Toole scrambled for 26 yards on six runs from scrimmage.
Nathan Scheelhasse saw work and completed 4 of 6 throws for a mere 15 yards. Scheelhasse had eight rushes for negative yardage.
Jason Ford carried the ball 11 times for 43 yards.
Troy Pollard ran for 33 yards on six carries and a touchdown.
A.J. Jenkins led Illinois with four receptions for 30 yards.
Jake Kumerow had three receptions for 15 yards.
Matt LaCosse had an 11 yard pass reception.
For the Latest CFB Odds Please Visit our CFB Odds Page
CFB Trend: Illinois Fighting Illini is 6-0 to the under in their past six games.
Tags: betting, college football, december 31st 2011, espn tv, fight hunger bowl, illinois fighting illini, Odds, pick, preview, saturday, ucla bruins
