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

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Jul 25, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Chris Ash addresses the media during the Big Ten football media day at the Hyatt Regency. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Rutgers has a new head coach this season in Chris Ash, but they also have the same ole bad team.

The Scarlet Knights finished the 2015 season with a record of 4-8 and none of their wins had any quality in them.

This game shouldn’t be difficult for the Illini despite some of Rutgers talent returning from the previous campaign.

Quarterback Chris Laviano is back for the Scarlet Knights. He threw for 16 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 2,247 yards while having a 60.9-percent completion rate last season.

These numbers weren’t good and I expect them to get worse this season since he lost his best wide receiver, Leonte Carroo, to the NFL.

Rutgers also had a three-headed backfield last season that lost a member. They still return Robert Martin and Josh Hicks to man the backfield this year.

Both of these running backs combined for 1,437 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

The area Illinois will really expose is the Rutgers defense.

Last season, Rutgers gave up an average of 186.1 yards per game on the ground and 275.9 yards per game through the air.

I think Illinois’ offense will have a field day with the Scarlet Knights and move onto 6-0 and become a ranked team halfway through the season.

Next: at No. 7 Michigan

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