By Pete Fiutak College Football News | College Football Predictions, Analysis and Updates
The bowl eligibility concern is gone now for Rutgers after beating Minnesota and Maryland, the team is playing well - it's playing like Rutgers plays when it's working - and now it's time to have some fun. Don't expect fireworks, but the team plays fun games if you like tough battles.
Illinois continues to rumble its way to wins. There's a shot at a ten-win season if it wins out - 2001 was the last one and there's just three in 133 years - with a win here, and then at Northwestern, and then in the bowl game. The passing game is interesting, the defense okay, and head coach Bret Bielema has put together a nice run.
Illinois vs Rutgers: How to Watch and Game Preview
Illinois is the type of team Rutgers doesn't want to deal with - it doesn't screw up.The Scarlet Knights win by controlling the tempo, winning the turnover battle, and not getting penalized.
They do all the little things right. Illinois is in the top ten in America in fewest penalties and penalty yards, and while turnovers were a little bit of an issue in the losses to Oregon and Minnesota, there's just ten on the season.Rutgers isn't going to throw its way to a win, Illinois just has to be okay on the ground and should be able to average close to five yards per carry, and ...
Why Rutgers Will Win
Hold up against the run, and Illinois can be beaten.It's been the rise of QB Luke Altmyer and the passing attack that cranked up the Illinois production this season to another level, but it wins when it's effective on the ground.
Illinois is 6-0 when running for 135 yards or more 1-3 when it doesn't. But here's the weird thing ...Rutgers if fine when teams run well. It's 4-1 when allowing more than 135 yards, doing okay when it bends but doesn't break. It should load up to slow the Illini down, it'll control the clock and keep the score low, and ...
Illinois vs Rutgers: Who Will Win?
Can Illinois score early? Rutgers isn't built to come up with a big comeback. It needs to keep this in range.Last week Rutgers took the lead early, kept it close, and took over later. Against Minnesota it took the lead early, kept it close, and took over later.
Against USC it got down 21-3 in the first half and that was it, against Wisconsin it got down 28-0, and ... Illinois' best quarter is the first, outscoring teams 68-43.