For a second consecutive week, big-time money is being placed on Illinois

Okay, this is starting to get crazy.

Someone is really buying into this Illinois team to start the 2019 season. And they are quite literally putting their money on the line to prove it.

The Illini opened the 2019 season as favorites over Akron, and at least one bettor was putting big-time money on the game. A total of $80,000 from one person was supposedly put on Illinois -17 in the opener, and another five-figure bet is being placed in Week 2.

According to Patrick Everson of Covers.com, someone placed a $55,000 bet on the Illini for Saturday’s game against UConn. This time, the line was set at -20.5:

Well, someone really likes Illinois in college football this week. Per @CGTechnology_'s Tony DiTommaso, book to $55K bet to win $50K on Illinois -20.5 at Connecticut. @Covers

— Patrick Everson (@Covers_Vegas) September 4, 2019

Everson also reported that MGM books bumped the line to Illinois -22 as a result:

And MGM books go from Illinois -20.5 to -22 on mid-5-figure wager for Illini's road game Saturday vs. Connecticut. @Covers https://t.co/JuiK54uvW2

— Patrick Everson (@Covers_Vegas) September 5, 2019

Is this the same mysterious figure betting hard on Lovie Smith’s squad in back-to-back weeks? And will the Illini continue to make this individual look smart?