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Illinois Football: Game-By-Game Prediction for the 2016 Season

By Rees Woodcock

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Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Fighting Illini defensive lineman Chunky Clements (11) sacks Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Fighting Illini defensive lineman Chunky Clements (11) sacks Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois will continue their losing as they face another tough opponent in No. 17 Iowa.

Last season the Illini and the Hawkeyes played in a close contest that was won by Iowa.  This was a great game, though.

Iowa ended up winning because of a late fumble by Vaughn that sealed the deal.  But, Vaughn is back and is a little more seasoned now.

My heart tells me to pick the Illini here but I can’t because having the Illini 8-3 seems unfathomable right now.

So, I think this game will be close the entire way with Iowa coming out ahead at the end of the game.

CJ Beathard is back for the Hawkeyes at quarterback this season.  He threw for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns last year against the Illini.

The one big loss for Iowa is running back Jordan Canzeri.  He had 256 yards and a touchdown on the ground and another touchdown through the air last season.

The loss of Canzeri will help the Illini but Iowa still has a nice stable of running backs waiting in the wings.

Lunt had a good game last season as well.  He threw for 317 yards and a touchdown.  Vaughn also rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown but had that gut-wrenching fumble late.

I think Illinois hangs tough again but comes up short in a hard-fought battle.  They now move to 7-4.

Next: at Northwestern

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