Penn State at Illinois Week 3 College Football Matchup Penn State at Illinois Matchup - Week 3
Sat, Sep 16 2023 · Week 3 · 🏟 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL · Turf · 60,670 cap
Penn State✈ 547 mi-1 hr TZ
30 13
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Penn State
36
Illinois
14
P&R Line Penn State -22
P&R Total O/U 49.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Penn State -14 · O/U 47.5
Matchup Prediction
Penn State has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Penn State entering this game.
Momentum Control
73.7%
Penn State wins
Solid
Game Control
75.9%
Penn State wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Penn State -14
O/U 47.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Penn State · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Penn State 2023 Schedule
Penn State's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Penn State vs West Virginia-21.0W38–1548.0W38–15OY
Sat 9/9Penn State vs Delaware-44.0W63–755.0W63–7OY
Sat 9/16Penn State at Illinois-14.0W30–1347.5W30–13UY
Sat 9/23Penn State vs Iowa-14.0W31–038.5W31–0UY
Sat 9/30Penn State at Northwestern-27.0W41–1348.0W41–13OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/14Penn State vs Massachusetts-42.0W63–055.0W63–0OY
Sat 10/21Penn State at Ohio State+4.0L12–2047.0L12–20UN
Sat 10/28Penn State vs Indiana-31.0W33–2445.0W33–24ON
Sat 11/4Penn State at Maryland-8.5W51–1550.5W51–15OY
Sat 11/11Penn State vs Michigan+4.0L15–2444.5L15–24UN
Sat 11/18Penn State vs Rutgers-19.5W27–639.5W27–6UY
Fri 11/24Penn State vs Michigan State-20.0W42–042.0W42–0UY
Sat 12/30Penn State vs Ole Miss-5.5L25–3853.0L25–38ON
Illinois 2023 Schedule
Illinois's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Illinois vs Toledo-7.0W30–2845.5W30–28ON
Fri 9/8Illinois at Kansas+3.5L23–3457.5L23–34UN
Sat 9/16Illinois vs Penn State+14.0L13–3047.5L13–30UN
Sat 9/23Illinois vs Florida Atlantic-16.0W23–1745.5W23–17UN
Sat 9/30Illinois at Purdue+1.0L19–4454.0L19–44ON
Fri 10/6Illinois vs Nebraska-3.5L7–2043.0L7–20UN
Sat 10/14Illinois at Maryland+13.5W27–2452.0W27–24UY
Sat 10/21Illinois vs Wisconsin+3.0L21–2540.5L21–25ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/4Illinois at Minnesota+1.5W27–2643.0W27–26OY
Sat 11/11Illinois vs Indiana-4.5W48–4543.5W48–45ON
Sat 11/18Illinois at Iowa+2.5L13–1533.5L13–15UY
Sat 11/25Illinois vs Northwestern-5.0L43–4546.5L43–45ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Penn State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Penn State
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Penn State
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Penn State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Penn State #40
+0.445
Illinois #66
+0.245
Penn State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Penn State #62
+0.586
Illinois #35
+0.562
Penn State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Penn State #2
0.232
Illinois #87
0.153
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Penn State Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Penn State #5
+9.049
Illinois #71
+6.993
Penn State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Penn State #25
+0.907
Illinois #30
+0.786
Penn State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Penn State #4
66.2
Illinois #129
74.0
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Penn State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Penn State Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Penn State
8.8
Illinois
8.0
Offense Rating
Penn State
19.0
Illinois
18.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Penn State
10.2
Illinois
10.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Penn State Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Penn State #29
2.00
Illinois #70
1.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Penn State #22
0.00
Illinois #86
3.00
Penn State +1.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 73.7% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Penn State Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Penn State #1
91.9
Illinois #1
36.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Penn State #16
3.6
Illinois #90
54.2
Penn State +55.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Penn State with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Penn State
James Franklin #1
81–36 (69%) · Yr 10 at school
OC Mike Yurcich Yr 3 #1
DC Manny Diaz Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Illinois
Bret Bielema #1
14–14 (50%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Barry Lunney Jr. Yr 2 #1
DC Aaron Henry Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself