Illinois State Redbirds

Illinois State predictions carry last season’s run with them: four road playoff wins, then a 35-34 loss to Montana State in the FCS Championship. This year the Redbirds are 5-2; ESPN priced six of those seven games, and they covered four.

Illinois State in 2026

The covers include a 28-24 win at Northern Illinois laying 2.5 and a 35-14 win at Southern Illinois laying seven on 17 October. The two losses came back to back: 28-21 at Northern Iowa as 19.5-point favorites, then 31-14 at home to South Dakota State while getting 2.5. The 76-0 opener over St. Francis (IL) has no line on ESPN.

Illinois State results

• vs St. Francis (IL), 29 Aug: won 76-0; no line on ESPN
• at Western Illinois, 5 Sep: won 41-10; covered -20.5; under 58.5
• at Northern Illinois, 12 Sep: won 28-24; covered -2.5; over 47.5
• vs Eastern Illinois, 19 Sep: won 49-13; covered -29.5; over 53.5
• at Northern Iowa, 26 Sep: lost 28-21; missed -19.5; under 58.5
• vs South Dakota State, 3 Oct: lost 31-14; missed +2.5; under 51.5
• at Southern Illinois, 17 Oct: won 35-14; covered -7; under 54.5

Illinois State schedule, Eastern times

• vs Indiana State, 24 Oct, 3 PM
• vs Murray State, 31 Oct, 2 PM
• at North Dakota, 7 Nov, 2 PM
• at Youngstown State, 14 Nov, 12 PM
• vs South Dakota, 21 Nov, 1 PM

Illinois State in 2025

In the 2025 regular season Illinois State went 8-4 and 5-6 against the spread: 2-6 as favorites, 3-0 as underdogs and 1-4 at home. The playoff wins came at SE Louisiana, North Dakota State (29-28), UC Davis and Villanova.