Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois: Live updates, score, results, highlights, for Thursday's NCAA Football game

Live scores, highlights and updates from the Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois football game

The Eastern Illinois Panthers will start their season against they. Kickoff is scheduled at 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday at Memorial Stadium.

Looking back to last season, Eastern Illinois had a phenomenal run, finishing with a superb 8-3 record. On the other hand, Illinois will seek to improve after finishing 5-7.

Eastern Illinois must know they're fighting an uphill battle given the 27.5-point spread they're up against. They finished last season with a 7-3 record against the spread.

The disadvantage in the odds might be especially worrying for Eastern Illinois considering the team was a sub-par 2-3 as the underdog last season. Betting on them to win was the most profitable play last year, as bettors who put $100 on that outcome in every game walked away with $682.60. Illinois will open their season as the favorite, and the team was 3-2 as such last season.