Game Day: Virginia Cavaliers

Wake up Wahoos, it’s game day! It’s week two for the Cavaliers and today the Hoos will take on the Fighting Illini on their home turf in Champaign, IL. This year, both programs have made major changes and have something to prove. The Virginia-Illinois game will be broadcast on ESPN or fuboTV at 4:00 PM EST.

Virginia-Illinois: A Look Back

The Illini are currently in their second year under head coach Bret Beielema. Last year’s team finished 5-7 overall and came close to their first bowl appearance since 2019. Despite exceeding expectations, the Illini were handled by the Cavaliers in 2021 with a final score of 42-14.

In that game, Brennan Armstrong threw for 405 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tight end Jelani Woods caught five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Virginia’s defense, while not exactly a force, held the Illini to 116 rushing yards and 14 points.

Today, the Illini are looking to avenge that loss as the Cavs play on-the-road for the first time under new head coach Tony Elliott.

The Rematch: What to Expect

Bielema’s goal with the Illini is to create a run-heavy team with a strong offense and solid defense. While OC Tony Peterson and QB Brandon Peters are both gone this year, the Illini are returning some of their strong players including RB Chase Brown. Tommy DeVito, a transfer from Syracuse, will fill the QB role.

DeVito has fared well for the Illini so far. Illinois beat Wyoming like a drum in its season opener and held steady against Indiana last week before giving up a late touchdown and losing the game. The Illini defense held Indiana to 32 rushing yards last week but the Hoosiers put up 330 passing yards. If the passing defense is the weak spot for Illinois, Virginia will be able to exploit that and maintain control.

But, to control the field means Virginia’s run defense will have to step their game up because Bielema will do all he can to keep Brennan Armstrong and the Cavalier offense off the field for as long as possible. The Illini, and Chase Brown in particular, are very good at the rushing attack. Virginia’s defensive line has a lot of new faces and decent depth, but they didn’t perform as well as they should’ve in last week’s opener. That will not be an option heading into today’s matchup.

Offensively, Brennan Armstrong is the threat he was last year along with Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks recorded three receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns against the Illini in 2021. The challenge for Illinois’s secondary this year will be how to stop Wicks without leaving Keytaon Thompson, Billy Kemp IV, and Lavel Davis Jr. open.

Virginia-Illinois: Vegas Odds

Both of these teams have something to prove today.

The Cavs are motivated to beat the Illini for the second time in a row. They also want Tony Elliott’s debut season to be a winning one.

The Illini are motivate to avenge last year’s loss to the Cavs. They’ll want a win even more after last week’s loss to the Hoosiers.

While this matchup won’t be the cakewalk last year’s game was, the Illini secondary will find themselves overwhelmed by Brennan Armstrong and the Cavs receivers. Virginia’s defense will push itself to contain Chase Brown and shore up another victory for the Cavs.

Virginia is the underdog today. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, the spread is +4.5 The over/under is -110. The moneyline is +168. I’m betting the spread on Virginia; I think we’ll see the Cavs pull away in the second half to cover it.

For the Virginia- Illinois recap, check out The University of Virginia on Gridiron Heroics tomorrow!