Duke at Illinois Week 2 College Football Matchup Duke at Illinois Matchup - Week 2
Sat, Sep 12 2026 · Week 2 · 🏟 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL · Turf · 60,670 cap
Duke✈ 579 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
VS
Home
Preseason projection — This game has not yet been played and 2026 in-season data is not yet available. Edges are based on 2025 full-season performance. Confidence will increase once in-season games are logged.
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Duke
26
Illinois
33
P&R Line Illinois -7.5
P&R Total O/U 58.5
Confidence 66 Good
Matchup Prediction
Metrics disagree on this matchup
Momentum Control favors Duke, while Game Control favors Illinois. Split signals historically show weaker predictive confidence — treat as a toss-up.
⚡ Split Signal — Metrics Disagree
Momentum Control
61.3%
Duke wins
Lean
Game Control
50.6%
Illinois wins
Toss-up
Advanced Stats
3 factors agree (PPA + PPO + Havoc) → Duke · 82.4% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Illinois 2nd straight Home Game
Duke 2026 Schedule
Duke's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Duke vs Tulane-4
Sat 9/12Duke at Illinois+7.5
Sat 9/19Duke vs Stanford-16
Sat 9/26Duke vs William & Mary-28.5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/10Duke at Georgia Tech+2.5
Sat 10/17Duke vs North Carolina-11
Fri 10/23Duke at Virginia+3.5
Sat 10/31Duke vs Boston College-15
Fri 11/6Duke at NC State+3
Sat 11/14Duke at Miami+19.5
Sat 11/21Duke vs Clemson+1
Sat 11/28Duke at Wake Forest+2.5
Illinois 2026 Schedule
Illinois's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Illinois vs UAB-28.5
Sat 9/12Illinois vs Duke-7.5
Sat 9/19Illinois vs Southern Illinois-30.5
Sat 9/26Illinois at Ohio State+20.5
Sat 10/3Illinois vs Purdue-18
Sat 10/10Illinois at Michigan State-10.5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/24Illinois vs Oregon+12
Sat 10/31Illinois at Maryland-5.5
Sat 11/7Illinois vs Nebraska-7.5
Sat 11/14Illinois at UCLA-2
Sat 11/21Illinois vs Iowa+2.5
Sat 11/28Illinois vs Northwestern-10.5
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
Duke PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Duke
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Duke #25
+0.446
Illinois #39
+0.444
Duke Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Duke #24
+0.707
Illinois #21
+0.816
Illinois Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Duke #36
0.172
Illinois #75
0.153
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Duke Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Duke #26
+8.649
Illinois #29
+8.605
Duke Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Duke #30
+0.912
Illinois #15
+0.917
Illinois Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Duke #20
68.7
Illinois #39
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Duke Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season (prior year — 2026 data not yet available) · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Illinois Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Duke #50
4.1
Illinois #29
8.0
Offense Rating
Duke #86
14.3
Illinois #31
18.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Duke #26
10.2
Illinois #30
10.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Duke Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Duke #47
1.15
Illinois #71
1.08
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Duke #95
1.62
Illinois #97
1.00
Duke +0.07
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Illinois Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Duke #40
46.5
Illinois #33
51.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Duke #60
36.1
Illinois #56
35.3
Illinois +5.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
Duke
Manny Diaz #52
18–9 (67%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Jonathan Brewer Yr 3 #49
DC Jonathan Patke Yr 3 #112
Staff Rating
2.75 #65
Illinois
Bret Bielema #34
37–26 (59%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Barry Lunney Jr. Yr 3 #55
DC Bobby Hauck Yr 1 #68
Staff Rating
2.90 #55
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