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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 28: Members of the Illinois Fighting Illini marching band perform before the game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 28, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Illinois @ Maryland

Another game on the Illini schedule that could be winnable is when they travel to the east coast to take on Maryland. This is a game Illinois can pull off on the road if they continue to play well.

Positive

There are some positives to draw from the matchup with Maryland. This Terrapins team wasn’t good on offense last year and the same goes for the defensive side of the ball. This just wasn’t a good team.

Maryland averaged 143 yards per game on the ground, which ranked No. 86 in the nation. Their passing game was even worse. They averaged 161.2 yards per game through the air, which ranked No. 114. Illinois is going to have a chance to attack this bad Maryland offense.

The Illini should have a better running game in 2018 as well. This will bode well for the team as they take on a Terrapins squad who averaged giving up 199.2 yards per game on the ground in 2017. That ranked No. 97 in the nation. So, there are some areas Illinois can exploit to win this game.

Negative

This game against Maryland is a Big Ten road contest. I am not sure how ready this young team is to win the games on the road they are supposed to. Road games are a big deal in this conference. This is a must win for the program and they will likely know that.

Maryland’s pass defense is top 70 as well. Illinois could be set at quarterback by this game, but if they aren’t, the Terrapins could exploit a struggling passing attack. Illinois will have to take them out by the run.

Keys to the Game

Maryland is getting back their starting quarterback and both of their leading rushers from 2017. That is going to be dangerous. Despite the stats not jumping off the page for both positions, I think more experience is always more dangerous. Illinois’ defensive backs and linebackers are going to have to continue making Max Bortenschlager inaccurate. He only completed 51.9-percent of his passes in 2017.

The Terrapins did lose their leader in tackles and sacks from last season, Jermain Carter Jr. But, they still return a decent amount from the defensive side of the ball. I just think the Illini offense is going to be more improved than the Maryland defense and that will be a huge factor in this game.

Prediction

Illinois 31 – 21 Maryland

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