ReliaQuest Bowl Odds - Mississippi State vs. Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini began the season 7-1 but dropped three games in a row in November to end at 8-4. This is the Illini’s first winning regular season since 2007 and first bowl game appearance since 2019 when they lost to Cal in the Redbox Bowl. This will mark the 20th postseason berth in program history. Meanwhile, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will play in their 26th bowl game in program history and made it all three seasons in the Mike Leach era. The Bulldogs threw the ball at a higher percentage of their offensive snaps than any other team this season, but Mississippi State ranks outside the top 100 in yards per rush and yards per pass.
2023 ReliaQuest Bowl at a Glance
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023
Time (ET) / TV: 12:00 PM / ESPN2
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Matchup: Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
College Football Betting Lines
Mississippi State Bulldogs +2.5
Illinois Fighting Illini -2.5
Total: 46.5
ReliaQuest Bowl Preview
Last game, the Illinois Fighting Illini won 41-3 against the Northwestern Wildcats as 14.5-point road favorites. The game went over the total of 38.5. Illinois has a record of 8-4 straight up, 8-4 against the spread, and 4-7-1 over/under the total. Illinois ranks 71st for total offense, 98th for passing, 48th for rushing and 84th for scoring. Defensively they rank 2nd overall, 5th against the pass, 9th against the rush, and 1st for points allowed. Also, Illinois ranks 103rd for fewest turnovers lost and 1st for takeaways.
Illinois is 8-4-0 against the spread this season. In games this season, when an underdog by 1 point or more, Illinois has gone 3-0 against the spread. Illinois games have gone over the total five times this year. The Fighting Illini have won two of the four games they’ve played as underdogs this season. The Fighting Illini are 2-1 this season when entering a game as the underdog by +100 or more on the moneyline.
Last game, the Mississippi State Bulldogs won 24-22 against the Ole Miss Rebels as 2.5-point road dogs. The game went under the total of 63. Mississippi State has a record of 8-4 straight up, 6-5-1 against the spread, and 6-5-1 over/under the total. Mississippi State ranks 64th for total offense, 11th for passing, 130th for rushing and 36th for scoring. Defensively they rank 39th overall, 36th against the pass, 58th against the rush, and 51st for points allowed. Also, Mississippi State ranks 111th for fewest turnovers lost and 19th for takeaways.
Mississippi State has covered the spread in a matchup six times this season. Mississippi State is 5-3-1 ATS when playing as at least 1-point favorites. Mississippi State games have finished with a final combined score above the over/under seven times this season. The Bulldogs have compiled a 6-2 record in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite. The Bulldogs have a record of 3-2 in games they have played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -123 or shorter.
ReliaQuest Bowl Prediction
In this situation, Illinois has the superior defense, which should carry them to a payout.
ReliaQuest Bowl Format
The ReliaQuest Bowl was originally founded as the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1986. The Outback Bowl took over as title sponsor in 1996 and has been in that role until this year when ReliaQuest took over. Currently, the bowl has conference tie-ins with the Big Ten and SEC, with a payout of $6.4 million.
ReliaQuest Bowl Past Results
| SEASON |
WINNING TEAM |
LOSING TEAM |
SCORE |
| 2022 |
Arkansas |
Penn State |
24-10 |
| 2021 |
Mississippi |
Indiana |
26-20 |
| 2020 |
Minnesota |
Auburn |
31-24 |
| 2018 |
Iowa |
Mississippi State |
27-22 |
| 2017 |
South Carolina |
Michigan |
26-19 |
| 2016 |
Florida |
Iowa |
30-3 |
| 2015 |
Tennessee |
Northwestern |
45-6 |
| 2014 |
Wisconsin |
Auburn |
34-31 (OT) |
| 2013 |
LSU |
Iowa |
21-14 |
| 2012 |
South Carolina |
Michigan |
33-28 |
| 2011 |
Michigan State |
Georgia |
33-30 (OT) |
| 2010 |
Florida |
Penn State |
37-24 |
| 2009 |
Auburn |
Northwestern |
38-35 (OT) |
| 2008 |
Iowa |
South Carolina |
31-10 |
| 2007 |
Tennessee |
Wisconsin |
21-17 |
| 2006 |
Penn State |
Tennessee |
20-10 |
| 2005 |
Florida |
Iowa |
31-24 |
| 2004 |
Georgia |
Wisconsin |
24-21 |
| 2003 |
Iowa |
Florida |
37-17 |
| 2002 |
Michigan |
Florida |
38-30 |
| 2001 |
South Carolina |
Ohio State |
31-28 |
| 2000 |
South Carolina |
Ohio State |
24-7 |
The 2021 Outback Bowl was not one of the best matchups in the game, as it had an Ole Miss team with a losing record facing Indiana. The Hoosiers entered the game as an 8-point favorite, but Mississippi proved they belonged in a bowl game and dominated Indiana throughout. Lane Kiffin’s offense proved too much for Indiana, and the Rebels got a 26-20 win. Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral was named the MVP. He was 30-of-44 for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
Most All-Time Wins
| WINS |
TEAM |
YEARS WON |
| 4 |
South Carolina |
2000, 2001, 2012, 2017 |
| 3 |
Florida |
2005, 2010, 2016 |
| 3 |
Georgia |
1997, 1999, 2004 |
| 3 |
Iowa |
2003, 2008, 2018 |
| 3 |
Michigan |
1987, 1993, 2002 |
| 3 |
Penn State |
1995, 1998, 2006 |
| 3 |
Tennessee |
1992, 2007, 2015 |
The South Carolina Gamecocks have the most Outback Bowl wins with four. Their most unforgettable win was in 2013 when they defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28 in the final seconds. Most notable in that game was Jadeveon Clowney’s devastating hit on Michigan’s Vincent Smith, which caused a fumble as Smith’s helmet flew 5 yards backward. It’s one of the most famous tackles in college football history.
2022-23 College Football Bowl Games
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