Tennessee at Illinois Week 1 College Football Matchup Tennessee at Illinois Matchup - Week 1
Tue, Dec 30 2025 · Postseason · Neutral Site · 🏟 Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN · Turf · 68,798 cap
Tennessee✈ 159 mi-1 hr TZ Illinois✈ 283 miSame TZ
Away (Neutral)
28 30
Final
Home (Neutral)
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Tennessee
30
Illinois
31
P&R Line Illinois -1
P&R Total O/U 61.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Tennessee -3 · O/U 62.5
Matchup Prediction
Tennessee has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Tennessee entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Tennessee wins
Lean
Game Control
64.9%
Tennessee wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Tennessee -3
O/U 62.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Tennessee · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Illinois 2nd straight Home Game
Tennessee 2025 Schedule
Tennessee's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Tennessee vs Syracuse-13.5W45–2653.5W45–26OY
Sat 9/6Tennessee vs East Tennessee State-39.5W72–1758.5W72–17OY
Sat 9/13Tennessee vs Georgia+3.5L41–4450.5L41–44OY
Sat 9/20Tennessee vs UAB-39.5W56–2469.5W56–24ON
Sat 9/27Tennessee at Mississippi State-7.5W41–3463.5W41–34ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/11Tennessee vs Arkansas-10.0W34–3168.5W34–31UN
Sat 10/18Tennessee at Alabama+8.5L20–3760.5L20–37UN
Sat 10/25Tennessee at Kentucky-7.5W56–3455.5W56–34OY
Sat 11/1Tennessee vs Oklahoma-3.0L27–3355.5L27–33ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/15Tennessee vs New Mexico State-41.5W42–959.5W42–9UN
Sat 11/22Tennessee at Florida-3.5W31–1157.5W31–11UY
Sat 11/29Tennessee vs Vanderbilt-2.0L24–4566.5L24–45ON
Tue 12/30Tennessee vs Illinois-3.0L28–3062.5L28–30UN
Illinois 2025 Schedule
Illinois's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 8/29Illinois vs Western Illinois-48.5W52–362.5W52–3UY
Sat 9/6Illinois at Duke-2.5W45–1949.0W45–19OY
Sat 9/13Illinois vs Western Michigan-27.5W38–050.5W38–0UY
Sat 9/20Illinois at Indiana+7.0L10–6351.5L10–63ON
Sat 9/27Illinois vs USC+6.5W34–3262.5W34–32OY
Sat 10/4Illinois at Purdue-7.5W43–2755.5W43–27OY
Sat 10/11Illinois vs Ohio State+15.5L16–3451.5L16–34UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/25Illinois at Washington+3.5L25–4254.5L25–42ON
Sat 11/1Illinois vs Rutgers-13.5W35–1363.5W35–13UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/15Illinois vs Maryland-15.5W24–651.5W24–6UY
Sat 11/22Illinois at Wisconsin-8.5L10–2742.5L10–27UN
Sat 11/29Illinois vs Northwestern-7.0W20–1344.5W20–13UN
Tue 12/30Illinois vs Tennessee+3.0W30–2862.5W30–28UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
Tennessee PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Tennessee
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Tennessee
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Tennessee
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Tennessee #5
+0.529
Illinois #39
+0.374
Tennessee Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Tennessee #19
+0.730
Illinois #21
+0.631
Tennessee Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Tennessee #19
0.184
Illinois #75
0.153
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Tennessee Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Tennessee #9
+9.019
Illinois #29
+8.300
Tennessee Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Tennessee #5
+0.959
Illinois #15
+0.923
Tennessee Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Tennessee #92
71.8
Illinois #39
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Illinois Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Tennessee Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Tennessee
14.6
Illinois
8.0
Offense Rating
Tennessee
21.0
Illinois
18.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Tennessee
6.4
Illinois
10.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Tennessee Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Tennessee #19
1.64
Illinois #71
1.18
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Tennessee #75
1.18
Illinois #97
1.09
Tennessee +0.45
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 11 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Tennessee Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Tennessee #1
66.3
Illinois #1
52.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Tennessee #15
22.2
Illinois #56
35.5
Tennessee +13.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 64.9% of games historically
Based on 12 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Tennessee with a solid GC edge. Teams with this profile have covered 53.0% of the time historically (n=330) — a mild lean.

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

Coaching Matchup
Tennessee
Josh Heupel #1
37–14 (73%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Joey Halzle Yr 3 #1
DC Tim Banks Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Illinois
Bret Bielema #1
27–22 (55%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Barry Lunney Jr. Yr 3 #1
DC Aaron Henry Yr 3 #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