← Matchups

UAB Blazers @ Illinois Fighting Illini

2026-09-03 · 9:00 PM · Gies Memorial Stadium · Champaign, IL
Illinois -15.3
Projected spread
61.2
Projected total
23–38
Proj score (away–home)
79%
Illinois win prob
First recorded meeting between these programs
UAB Blazers
Trent Dilfer · 7-17 · offense-minded
Balanced · 52% run Ball-control
Illinois Fighting Illini — defense
DEFENSE OFFENSE CB S S CB LB LB LB DE DT DT DE WR WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB
Illinois Fighting Illini — offense
Illinois Fighting Illini
Bret Bielema · 47-41 · offense-minded
Balanced · 54% run Ball-control
Unit strength weaker · avg · stronger

Position groups are shaded by team-unit strength (rush & pass offense vs. run & pass defense), not individual players — per-player ratings wait on the 2026 rosters. Identity, tempo, dual-threat and unit strength are measured from the 2025 season.

Power breakdown

TeamDivPowerOffDef (higher = better)Rank
UAB Blazers AAC FBS -2.7 +0.9 -3.6 #234
Illinois Fighting Illini B1G FBS +10.3 +5.0 +5.3 #29
UAB offense vs. Illinois defense
-4.3 pts
Illinois offense vs. UAB defense
+8.6 pts
Travel · context only
Away team travels 461 mi

These situational spots are shown for context, not baked into the projection: we tested travel, altitude and rest against 6,000+ games and found the power and efficiency ratings already account for them, so adding them again would double-count.

Power = points vs. an average D1 team (Off + Def), FBS and FCS on one scale. The projection assumes a 2.4-pt home edge (0 at neutral sites). An efficiency adjustment from season-to-date EPA and success rate applies once teams have played enough games; before then it is 0 and the number is the power rating alone. Player-level matchups, team strengths/weaknesses, and the Vegas-line comparison arrive as those phases land.