Greg McElroy picks Duke to upset Illinois

One of the most intriguing games heading into week two of the college football season has to be No. 11 Illinois traveling to Durham for a clash with Duke. The game holds massive implications for both programs.

The Fighting Illini are looking to jump into the Top 10 of the AP Poll for the first time since November of 2001. On the other side, the Blue Devils are looking to prove that they can be serious contenders this season in the ACC.

Bret Bielema‘s Illinois team is coming off a 10-3 (best record since 2001) season and has been tabbed as a trendy pick to sneak into this year’s College Football Playoff field. Duke enjoyed a 9-4 season in 2024 under first-year head coach Manny Diaz, who led the Blue Devils to a Gator Bowl appearance.

ESPN‘s Greg McElroy took to the ‘Always College Football‘ podcast on Thursday to make his pick between No. 11 Illinois and Duke. The two programs have not met since 1965, when the Illini won 28-14. The all-time series is tied 1-1, so Saturday’s game will break that tie.

McElroy is rolling with Duke to take down No. 11 Illinois

“This game will be played in Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, between two programs with some ambition coming into the season fresh off some really good 2024 campaigns,” McElroy said. “Since 2017, the Blue Devils are 1-15 against AP-ranked opponents. The lone win came in 2023 against the Clemson Tigers. I think they get their second one. I’ll take Duke. The explosive firepower they have and the disruption they can create with their defensive front gives them the victory at home in what should be a really entertaining environment in Durham.”

Both programs opened the season strong, as Illinois boat raced Western Illinois 52-3 and Duke rolled Elon 45-17. The battle of quarterbacks is particularly intriguing about this matchup, as it will pit Illinois‘ Luke Altmeyer against Duke‘s Darian Mensah.

The two gunslingers combined for 606 passing yards and six touchdowns in their season openers, setting the table for what should be a high-scoring affair on Saturday. According to BetMGM, Illinois is a three-point favorite over Duke on the road. Kick-off between the Fighting Illini and the Blue Devils is scheduled for 12:00 PM ET on ESPN.