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Illinois Football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2019 season

By Rees Woodcock

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini flag is seen during a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 24, 2018, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini flag is seen during a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 24, 2018, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – APRIL 06: Purdue Boilermakers head coach Jeff Brohm during the Purdue spring game on April 6, 2019, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – APRIL 06: Purdue Boilermakers head coach Jeff Brohm during the Purdue spring game on April 6, 2019, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

W – Illinois at Purdue – October 26

Illinois has a tough stretch of games where they will drop multiple in a row. But they then take on the Purdue Boilermakers down in West Lafayette. Purdue is the sexy pick by the media to do good things this season, but I think they are poised for a step backward.

Purdue’s head coach, Jeff Brohm, is a great coach. I think he has done an amazing job down there and continues to get solid recruits to come play for the Boilermakers. But this is a transition year for Purdue. I think they are going to struggle at quarterback.

David Blough started for the Boilermakers at quarterback in 2018. He threw for 3,705 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has now departed the program and his backup, Elijah Sindelar, is taking over the starting role.

Sindelar threw for 283 yards, 2 touchdown and 3 interceptions as the backup to Blough last season. He is a big quarterback who is prone to mistakes. The quarterback position isn’t the only weakness for Purdue, though. I think their running back situation will hurt them too. Their leading returning running back is Alexander Horvath who rushed the ball 9 times for 42 yards in 2018.

Let’s not forget that Purdue’s defense gave up a lot of points last season too. They averaged giving up 30 points per game, which ranked No. 80 in the nation. This is a game the Illini can win and I think they will. It is a great matchup for the Orange and Blue.

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