The Fighting Illini, fresh off of dismantling the Badgers in Madison, will look to take a foothold on the Big Ten West Saturday night. Saturday should be the first sellout crowd since 2016 vs North Carolina. Fans for the first time since 2011, when Illinois was ranked as high as 16th, feel their team may have something special brewing in Champaign. There’s a tangible buzz around Illinois football that will make the hair on your arm stand. Memorial Stadium will be absolutely rocking for this Big Ten showdown.
Beating Iowa will serve as affirmation to the national media and fans alike that Illinois Football is for real. Just how real is still to be determined, but dispatching Wisconsin and Iowa in consecutive weeks is a great start. The Brett Bielema era has officially kicked off, folks.
Takin’ Care Of Business The Illini Way
As my grand-pappy used to say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So, when it comes to the game-plan going into Saturday’s game the Illini need to stick to their strengths. Those strengths include, but are not limited to: the nation’s top scoring defense, the nation’s leading rusher, and a complimentary passing game. “Bielema Ball” is alive and well, and unless you’re Ohio State, it’s the most proven way to win the Big Ten.
Superstar Versus Half A Star
The Illini’s number one scoring defense matched up against the 243rd scoring offense in the country. There isn’t one singular thing the Hawkeyes are good at on the offense and will be why they lose. This Iowa team is a far cry from what we saw last year when they were ranked in the top 10 for the majority of the season. Despite their defense holding teams to only 10 points per game, the offense has only scored more than 10 points three times this season. That’s not going to get it done, even in the Big Ten. Head coach Kirk Ferentz could face the same fate as fellow Big Ten coach Paul Chryst.
As for Illinois, the defense has been superb. I can’t remember a harder hitting defense in Champaign — at least not in the last 10-15 years. Iowa’s offense better pack a lunch because it’s going to be a long night for them. The best part about this Illini defense isn’t just the fact they bring the hammer, they do it under complete control because they don’t have to think. They have been coached so well by defensive coordinator Ryan Walters that all they have to do is react to what they see. Discipline plus physicality equals controlled chaos and so far no team has had a consistent answer for it.
Fighting Illini Continue Chase-ing Records
Chase Brown currently sits at 733 rushing yards through five games, only 964 yards away from Mikel Leshoure’s record of 1,967 yards in 2010. In order to break that record Brown will have to average 138 yards in the final seven games. Continuing that run against an Iowa defense will be his biggest test. Wisconsin had done a decent enough job keeping Brown in check until he broke off a 49 yard touchdown in the third quarter. The junior running back may not only parlay his performance so far this year into Heisman contention, but an NFL career. Saturday’s game is chocked full of individual and team affecting implications.
Iowa ranks 13th in the country in rushing defense, although they failed to contain Michigan running back Blake Corum who rushed for 133 yards on 29 attempts. Bielema’s workhorse will have his work cut out for him, but if he wants to be considered the top back in the Big Ten or even the country he will need to prove it against a tope-tier defense. If Brown and Co. can get it done on the ground that’ll open it up for the Illini’s sneaky efficient pass game.
Can Lunney and DeVito Dial Up The Timely Heat?
Illinois’ offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. has done a great job keeping defenses on their toes. The offense isn’t as one dimensional as someone may think. The passing game hasn’t put up gaudy numbers, but it has been more than effective. That is thanks to Lunney’s ability to pull the right strings at the right time. They do as good of a job as anyone getting their playmakers in space. Many times it is one move and the receivers are immediately getting north. The Illini receiving corps is quietly becoming pretty dang good. Isaiah Williams and Pat Bryant could get open in a phone booth. Brian Hightower is looking more and more like a prototypical redzone threat.
Quarterback Tommy DeVito has been instrumental in taking care of the ball and spreading the love. In limited attempts the Senior quarterback has complete a pass to 13 different receivers, six of which have found the endzone. Even more impressive has been his efficiency. Bielema ball is built around running the rock so as a quarterback you have to make every opportunity count. DeVito has done that to the tune of a 70% completion rate and only two interceptions. Again, nothing flashy, but it gets the job done in keeping defenses honest. Making teams pay for stacking the box is becoming his MO.
Can Our Beloved Illini Check Another Box By Beating Iowa For The First Time Since ’08?
Yes. One million percent yes. I might be drinking that orange Kool-Aid by the gallon, but these two teams are on opposite paths this year. Illinois will do their thing on defense and Iowa will struggle to consistently move the chains just like everyone else. Iowa’s lack of any true outside threat will allow the Illinois defense to clamp down on a weak run game. The Illinois defensive backs will have quarterback Spencer Petras seeing ghosts.
The hogs up front will eventually grind the Iowa front down and Chase Brown will run all over Memorial Stadium. DeVito will find the open man and make an over-committed Iowa defense pay. Any Illinois fans that make it down to Champaign should be leaving a happy camper. Illinois takes care of business and keeps their no touchdown allowed at home streak alive. Final score prediction: 24-9
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