FBS-CFB Game Preview: Eastern Illinois Panthers (3-8) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2)

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Venue & Event Details

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL

Kickoff: 1:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM CST

Broadcast: SEC Network+ / ESPN+

Weather Forecast

Temperature: 62°F at kickoff, dropping into upper 50s by evening

Conditions: Partly cloudy skies, light winds (5–8 mph)

Impact: Ideal conditions for both passing and rushing

Injury Report

Alabama: QB Ty Simpson (healthy, 2,461 yards, 21 TDs, 1 INT); WR Germie Bernard (605 yards, 6 TDs) and WR Ryan Williams (528 yards, 4 TDs) both available. RB Jamarion Miller (321 yards, 2 TDs) probable after minor ankle tweak.

Eastern Illinois: QB Connor Wolf (924 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs); RB Charles Kellom (633 yards, 3 TDs) and RB Cole LaCrue (508 yards, 7 TDs) healthy. WR CJ Nelson (393 yards, 3 TDs) probable after shoulder soreness.

Key Player Matchups

Ty Simpson (Alabama QB) vs EIU Secondary: Simpson’s efficiency (21 TDs, 1 INT) will test a defense that has allowed 30+ points in 6 of last 8 games.

Alabama WR Germie Bernard & Ryan Williams vs EIU CBs: Bernard and Williams provide explosive playmaking against a secondary that has struggled with deep coverage.

RB Charles Kellom (EIU) vs Alabama Front Seven: Kellom’s power running (633 yards) faces an SEC defense that held LSU to just 9 points earlier this month.

Recent Team Forms

Eastern Illinois: Lost 42–12 vs Lindenwood (Nov. 15); on a 6-game losing streak.

Alabama: Lost 23–21 vs Oklahoma (Nov. 15); previously beat LSU 20–9 (Nov. 8).

Series History

First-ever meeting between Eastern Illinois and Alabama.

Betting Trends:

Alabama is 6–4 ATS this season.

Eastern Illinois is 3–8 ATS.

Overs have hit in 3 of last 5 Alabama games.

Historical Betting Results

Alabama has won 22 straight vs FCS opponents.

SEC teams are 25–0 vs OVC/Big South teams in the past decade.

Eastern Illinois last FCS playoff appearance was in 2015.

Prediction: Alabama 52 – Eastern Illinois 10

Game Odds

Eastern Illinois Panthers               57.5

Alabama Crimson Tide                  – 50.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 21, 2025