Sep 3, 2026
College football picks today: Week 1 Thursday best bets include Colorado vs. Georgia Tech play [9/3/2026]
Read Article Southern Illinois vs. Samford prediction: Southern Illinois favored to win in college football Week 1 [2026]
Updated: | First published:
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Written by Mac Douglass, Senior Editor
Dimers' simulation model projects a 93.6% win probability for Southern Illinois at Pete Hanna Stadium.
Samford and Southern Illinois will lock horns in Week 1 college football action at Pete Hanna Stadium on Thursday, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.
Dimers' proven college football model projects Southern Illinois as the most likely winner in this Southern Illinois vs. Samford prediction.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks, backed by the same system that has dominated college football and NFL betting markets across multiple seasons..
Southern Illinois vs. Samford prediction and odds
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Southern Illinois vs. Samford, forming part of our college football predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model gives Southern Illinois a 93.6% chance of beating Samford. Our predicted final score has Southern Illinois winning 37-14.
According to our model, Southern Illinois (-21.5) has a 53.4% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 53.5 points has a 52.7% chance of staying under.
Latest betting odds
We have sourced the best college football odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
- Spread: Southern Illinois -21.5 (-111) / Samford +21.5 (-111)
- Moneyline: Southern Illinois -2200, Samford +1200
- Total: Over/Under 53.5 (-111/-112)
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Model picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
- Spread: Southern Illinois -21.5 @ -111 via DraftKings
- Moneyline: Samford @ +1200 via Fanatics
- Total: Under 53.5 @ -112 via DraftKings
According to our college football best bets, the top play to make on this game is Southern Illinois -21.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.
Game info & kickoff details
Thursday's college football game between Samford and Southern Illinois at Pete Hanna Stadium is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Southern Illinois vs. Samford
- Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Pete Hanna Stadium
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Make the most of Dimers' Southern Illinois vs. Samford predictions by exploring the below offers.
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Conclusion
We predict Southern Illinois, with a 93.6% win probability, will likely beat Samford in Thursday's college football matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Mac Douglass specializes in NFL previews for the NFC South and NFC East, MLB best bets, Formula 1 race previews, and professional tennis insights. Combining predictive simulations and data-driven sports analysis, Mac provides in-depth content to elevate the betting experience for sports fans.
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