Illinois Football: Quick look at the 2017 schedule for the Illini
The Illinois football season is less than six months away and it is exciting to think that this team might have a shot at a bowl game this year.
Illinois finished last season 3-9 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten. It wasn’t what some fans expected out of first-year head coach Lovie Smith. But, honestly, it was a realistic number no matter how many times I wrote about the potential for an 8-4 record.
I still think there was more opportunity last year to end the season with a better record, though. The overtime loss to Purdue could have been different, and the last game of the season against Northwestern was close for a while.
Overall, though, last season was what it was. Illinois struggled with questionable quarterback play and inexperience they just couldn’t overcome. They also were trying to figure out a new system and that is always difficult especially in college where there is only so much practice time allowed.
Heading into the 2017 season things will hopefully be improved slightly. The quarterback play should be a little better with more talent coming in and Chayce Crouch and Jeff George getting playing time last year.
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The running backs are also back after a hefty slate last year. Kendrick Foster and Reggie Corbin should both be huge contributors. With the offense likely improving, I am curious how the defense will do.
Illinois lost some serious talent on the defensive line, but they still have two defensive tackles and a secondary that had a lot of playing time last season. They should be just as good as last year.
The schedule for 2017 seems to be favorable for the Illini at least. Their non-conference slate is home against Ball State and Western Kentucky and then away at South Florida.
It was a struggle for Ball State in the MAC last year so I assume that will be a win. Western Kentucky lost their head coach and running back from last year so that could likely be a win as well. That would start the Illini at 2-0 for the season.
The South Florida game will be pretty good. Illinois has to travel there so that is an advantage for the Bulls. They also finished last season 11-2 but that was in the AAC, so it’s not like they were playing top competition. South Florida does have a great duel-threat quarterback in Quinton Flowers, though.
I see this game as a coin flip and I will mark it up as a loss.
Heading into the Big Ten schedule the Illini would be 2-1. That isn’t terrible considering they would only need four more wins to go bowling.
Looking at their conference slate, I see Illinois winning at home against Rutgers, at Purdue, home against Indiana and then home against Northwestern. This would get Illinois to the six-win mark with four conference victories and two non-conference wins.
This isn’t too much to ask from this Illini team. These are winnable conference games and I am not even counting Nebraska coming to Champaign as a win either. If the Illini can start the conference slate off with a win against the Cornhuskers then watch out.
Next: Class of 2017 Position Grades for the Illini
These predictions aren’t final. This is an early look at the schedule for the Illini and what they could possibly do. Hopefully, come December we will be bowling once again.