Our countdown to kickoff coverage continues with our nine teams in nine days preview series. With just eight days left before kickoff, we look at Iowa’s eighth toughest Big Ten opponent, The Illinois Fighting Illini.
When do they play?
October 7th @ Kinnick Stadium
What you need to know:
The match up comes smack dab in the middle of the season, right before the bye week. The Illini will be Iowa’s sixth opponent, and fourth home game. Iowa has beaten Illinois in eight of their last nine meetings, Their last loss against them came in November of 2008.
What to Watch for:
Illinois had a rough go at it last season, finishing 3-9 with just 1 conference win. They were second to last in the Big Ten in scoring offense at just 19.7 ppg and third to last in the conference in scoring defense, giving up just under 32 ppg. Not necessarily a recipe for success! Iowa went into Champaign-Urbana late in the year last season and walked out with an easy 28-0 victory, and this year’s match up could produce a similar result.
What do they do well?
Illinois is good at… well… that remains to be seen. This is a team with a lot of youth that will experience plenty of growing pains under second year head coach Lovie Smith. They are in full blown rebuild mode, and even Smith himself is telling his fans to temper their expectations.
“It’s Year 2 for (fans) also,” Smith said in an interview with Big Ten Network. “They knew it’s not just about, ‘Hey, we’re going to the Rose Bowl right away.’ It’s going to take a little bit.
Going to the Rose Bowl right away? Illinois fans would be lucky to see their team go the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl right away. Lovie had a really good run in the NFL and the fans should be excited he’s at the helm, but this program is probably at least two more seasons away before even an eight win season is within reach.
Prediction
Illinois’ offense could operate much smoother than it did in 2016 considering that their new quarterback, 6’4 230lb junior Chayce Crouch, fits the dual-threat quarterback mold that offensive coordinator Garrick McGee prefers. That could allow Illinois to sneak up on teams by scoring more points, but Iowa obliterated Illinois’ defense last season with the running game. Iowa’s offensive attack could be boring, but it should also be effective. Sticking to what they know will be key, and that’s running the football. Expect 35-40 carries and upwards of 200 yards on the ground against Illinois.
Final Score- Iowa 35-Illinois 10