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Illinois Football: Illini game-by-game predictions for the 2018 season

By Rees Woodcock

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 07: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 7, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 07: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 7, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 14: Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 14: Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Illinois @ Rutgers

The fifth game of the season for the Illini is their first home game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. There are confidence boost games throughout the year and this should be one of those.

Positive

Rutgers was one of the worst teams in college football in just about every stat last season. They were No. 127 in the nation in scoring averaging 13.7 points per game. They were also No. 125 and No. 101 in passing yards and rushing yards per game, respectively.

The Scarlet Knights defense was slightly better but they still gave up 192.1 yards per game on the ground which ranked No. 90 in the nation. They were also No. 63 in the nation in pass defense allowing 229.5 yards per game. Illinois isn’t exactly going up against a juggernaut here.

Negative

Illinois was also quite bad in a lot of areas as well. They were sub-100 ranked in most areas and the ones they weren’t sub-100, they were middle of the pack at best. Rutgers also came into Champaign last season and beat the Illini 35-24.

On the stat sheet, Illinois actually beat Rutgers in just about every category but the score in 2017. The turnovers the Illini gave up were crucial ones, though. They had two interceptions in the game. One ended up being in Rutgers territory and the other stalled out a good drive by the Illini.

Keys to the Game

Now that Illinois is much-improved at the quarterback position, I expect a better product. I don’t want to see that many picks in this game. AJ Bush has the ability to run around the field. Illinois running backs are also talented and should have a good day against a bad Rutgers rush defense.

Giovanni Rescigno is back for the Scarlet Knights as well. He wasn’t much of a factor in the game last year, so I wouldn’t worry too much about him. The Illini secondary should be able to give him fits all day long.

Illinois did struggle against the Rutgers run game in 2017. But, the top two leading rushers for the Scarlet Knights both departed the program. That leaves Raheem Blackshear to carry the rock. He did have a good game against the Illini, but he wasn’t their leading rusher. Honestly, if you shut down the Rutgers running game, you shut down Rutgers. I think the Illini have a great chance of stopping their run game.

Prediction

Illinois 28 – 14 Rutgers

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