Illinois Fighting Illini vs South Carolina Gamecocks picks, predictions, odds, TV channel, streaming for Citrus Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

ESPN's FPI analytics view the Illini as underdogs against the Gamecocks, but the numbers also tell a more complex story

South Carolina's best defensive player -- actually, the nation's best defensive player -- won't play in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve. Illinois won't have its all-Big Ten receiver.

Onis Konanbanny committed to Tennessee over Florida State before his senior season got underway. The four-star defensive back originally from the United Kingdom did not ink in December. Before the Early Signing Period, Konanbanny took his first visit outside of Knoxville since committing to the Vols -- to Florida.

We like it when the odds are stacked against us! Now five days out from the Citrus Bowl, the Illini remain heavy underdogs against No. 15 South Carolina for their clash in Orlando. The spread opened at many books at -11.