Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: Predicting all 12 games for the Illini 2022 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 01: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 01: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 12
Next
Illinois football
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 02: The Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field in the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Illinois football @ #8 Michigan

I think it is pretty plain and simple. Illinois football has always struggled against the Michigan Wolverines, and it probably won’t change in 2022.

Illinois has now lost five straight against Michigan, the last four being by at least 17 points. The Wolverines lead the overall series 71-23-2. It hasn’t been a great rivalry by any means.

2019 was the last time the two teams matched up. Illinois fell to Michigan 42-25 in that game. Both teams are drastically different compared to what we saw in 2019, though.

Michigan is returning a lot of talent from the 12-2 program they had last year. Quarterback Cade McNamara is back, and he threw for 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. I still think JJ McCarthy would be a better option as their starter, though.

The Wolverines will be missing Hassan Haskins at running back. He led Michigan with 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. I don’t think they will miss a beat, as Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will be a pretty good one-two punch.

I do think Michigan could take a step backward on defense. They lost their top three leading tacklers, and the biggest losses of all were Aidan Hutchinson at defensive end and David Ojabo at linebacker. They had 14 and 11 sacks in 2021, respectively.

I believe Illinois will be able to put up some points against Michigan this season. The Wolverines will struggle to stop teams, but I also believe they can score points fairly easily as well. This should be a close game between the two teams. It will be in Ann Arbor, so I think Michigan will take this one.

Illinois loses – 42-28

Home/Illinois Football