Maybe the half point will come back to bite me, but I still like the Jayhawks at this number. No team in college football returns more production from last season than Kansas (85%). That depth was on display last week when the team scored 48 points with its backup quarterback. On Friday, dynamic dual-threat QB Jalon Daniels is expected to return, which means points galore. The Jayhawks face an Illinois team that needed a pick-six and a last-second field goal to beat Toledo last week and will be hitting the road for the first time this season. Rock chalk.

Jalon Daniels as the starting quarterback for Kansas certainly gives them better chances to win. Yet, to begin the season there will be expected rust. Illinois shook off a potential upset to get by Toledo by two points. They will be sharper tonight and rise to the occasion in their first road game. Grab the points with Illinois.

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is expected to play after sitting out last weekend's game with back stiffness, but he won't be the deciding factor in this one. The Illinois defense is dynamic and versatile -- last week's game vs. Toledo notwithstanding. Teams improve the most between Week No. 1 and No. 2, and the Fighting Illini's defense is too good to stay down for long.

Kansas QB Jalon Daniels returns in the nick of time. Illinois allowed the fewest points in FBS last season, and Daniels was absent from the Jayhawks' opener. With nine other starters back from last season, KU's offense can generate enough points to overcome its porous defense. The Illini stumbled to a two-point win over Toledo a week ago, which suggests its defense has backslid from 2022.

The Bill Self Bowl! Definitely would be a better basketball matchup. Out of principle, I'll never play a football game on a spread of 3, and I don't see this going down ... in fact, a couple books are starting to post 3.5. So we'll hit Kansas ML now with star QB Jalon Daniels expected to play after missing the opener -- even if he doesn't start. Illinois lost a lot off last year's good team and it showed in a fortunate Week 1 escape against Toledo. Kansas will wear new "Blackhawk" uniforms and it should be a pretty wild atmosphere in Lawrence on a Friday night. Believe there will be a Children of the Corn reenactment by the KU band at halftime.

Kansas HC Lance Leipold is one of the best kept secrets in college football. Leipold won six Division Championships in eight years at Wisconsin-White Water. He spent six years at Buffalo building the program with three straight bowls while winning two of those games. At Kansas last year he took the Jayhawks to their first bowl game in 14 years. Leipold can falt out coach. He has the talent and his team is very fundimentally sound. QB Jalon Daniels missed last week's win with a back injury but back up Jason Bean was very good. Daniels is a two-point upgrade. My model has the Jayhawks winning by 6.5 points.

Kansas QB Jalon Daniels is expected to play after missing Week 1 with a back injury, and that's not only going to increase our offensive expectations for any Jayhawks game but especially against this Illinois defense. The Illini are really strong up front, but struggled to contain dual-threat quarterback Dequan Finn in a close win against Toledo. Also, I think Illinois will be able to score a bunch too with new quarterback Luke Atlmyer, who led the team not only in passing but also rushing last week.

Illinois’ defense has regressed since last season. The Fighting Illini lost a bunch of defensive players to the draft and it showed in week one. They allowed 28 points, at home, to Toledo. Now, they go on the road to face a Kansas offense that averaged 35.6 points per game last season. The Jayhawks biggest liability has always been their defense and Illinois scored 30 points last week, so both offenses could take advantage.

Illinois got fortunate last week to get a late field goal at home and beat Toledo 30-28. Ole Miss QB transfer Luke Altmyer did what he was supposed to and led his team in passing and rushing. But now he’s on the road making his first start. Kansas rushed for 245 yards and threw for 276 yards against Southeast Missouri in a 48-17 win but failed to cover -32.5. Kansas brings back 16 starters from last season's fun squad. Kansas should be -6 so I feel good laying Kansas cheap here.