Purdue vs. Illinois Recap: Collin Dixon Carries Both Props

Purdue beat Illinois 24-17 on the road. The Boilermakers built a 13-0 lead in the second quarter on two Jacobo Echeverria Lozano field goals and a 21-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Browne to Tra'Mar Harris. Illinois answered before the half, then spent the rest of the day chasing. Both teams finished with 345 total yards, but Purdue had zero turnovers and held the ball for 31:33. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game, and both ran through Collin Dixon.

What cashed

ALT: Collin Dixon 75+ receiving yards (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: The main bet365 number was 99.5, so 75 sat well below where the market had him. Purdue's defense had given up more 40-yard plays than any Power Four team.
• What happened: Dixon finished with 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown, 41.5 yards clear of the line. He was steady rather than explosive: his long was 21, and that 21-yard catch midway through the fourth quarter is the one that pushed him past 75. Most of his work came on short throws that he turned into first downs.
• Worth watching: The gap between the main line and the alt was the edge here. When a top receiver's main number sits far above a reachable alt, that cushion is worth checking again.

Collin Dixon over 5.5 receptions (-150 at bet365): CASHED

• Our read: Dixon came in as Illinois' top target with 30 catches, 430 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season, and Purdue's secondary had been the softest in the Big Ten.
• What happened: He cleared it by 4.5 catches. Dixon had five catches by halftime, including a 7-yard touchdown from Katin Houser with 21 seconds left in the second quarter. His sixth came on a 19-yard grab early in the third quarter. He also added a 15-yard run.
• Worth watching: Dixon caught nearly half of Houser's 21 completions. As long as the offense funnels that much volume to one receiver, his catch count is a market worth a look.

How the game played out

Illinois' first drive went 14 plays and came away with no points, while Purdue added a second field goal and a touchdown. After Illinois cut it to 16-10 on a 54-yard Ethan Moczulski field goal, Purdue went 61 yards in 7 plays and scored on a 1-yard Antonio Harris run plus a Browne two-point run. John Slaughter then picked off Houser on the next drive. Ty Robinson's 2-yard touchdown catch with 1:26 left made it a one-score game, but Purdue ran out the clock.

Trends to watch

• Purdue's kicker carried the early scoring: Echeverria Lozano made field goals from 30, 34 and 33 yards.
• Asaad Waseem caught only three passes for Purdue but turned them into 98 yards, with a long of 61.
• Illinois' run game had 120 yards on 27 carries, but the passing game ran through Dixon.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these markets? Read up on the alt line and player props, or see more at the college football hub.