Kansas QB Jalon Daniels is expected to play after sitting out the week one victory over Missouri State. He's one of the reasons why I picked the Jayhawks as my dark horse team in the Big 12 (read that here: https://medium.com/@mikebriggswriter/big-12-season-preview-predictions-d089e20ccc33). Daniels has the "it" factor — something that Illinois did not have in week one against Toledo.

The Illini needed a miraculous fourth-and-long conversion on their final drive to pull off the home win against a Rockets team that dictated the style of play. Toledo QB Dequan Finn plays a similar game as Daniels and had success, passing for 230 yards and rushing for 75 with three total touchdowns. Kansas can rely on RB Devin Neal and the ground game to provide balance for Daniels on Friday, putting pressure on the Illinois offense to keep pace.

U of I doesn't have the same ground game this year without Chase Brown and I'm skeptical that it can come from behind when KU gets out to an early lead. The Jayhawks have good linebackers and return all four starters in their secondary. I believe they will stall enough of the Illinois drives to win this game.

That said, I'm more comfortable with the ML at -160 than laying three points. I would rather pay up for a win than push if the Jayhawks only squeak out a three-point win!