2012 Illini Football Predictions

[trevdv]

OK, so it's not so premature now... just a couple months away from the start of football, it's time to analyize the experts' predictions, and give some of our own... So far I've purchased Phil Steele's magazine and read as many pre-season online polls as I can. I see us realisticly ending up between the top 30-45 in the nation. Steele has us in his top 20 overall defensive unit, and in his top 40 overall offensive units. He predicts a Texas Bowl berth for us this year and sees us going either 7-5 or 8-4. I would tend to agree with the polls and his predictions of us being a "highly ranked-mediocre" team this season. Thoughts? Go Illini

[AHSIllini32]

you never gave your record prediction?!?! Come on man!

It's great that the line, "I know these predictions are really premature" doesn't hold up anymore! Obviously not knowing which, if any, injuries will occur from now until the WMU game means these could still be adjusted.

However, I see us going:
Sat, Sept 1 Western Michigan - W (30-13)
- I know they still have their QB but I just don't think this game will be that close.
We may not score 30 as I put down but I don't think this game will be within 2 td's.

Sat, Sept 8 at Arizona State - W (21-13)
- Think this will be close throughout but will how much they lost on offense (and
defense really) I think we come out on top in a statement game. Maybe not
nationally or anything but just for us as fans.

Sat, Sept 15 Charleston Southern - W (41-13)
- Should be the only blowout of the year. Get some young guys some PT in the 2nd
half.

Sat, Sept 22 Louisiana Tech - W (27-13)
- Potential trap game? "Easy" opponent the week before, 1st B1G game the following
week, an opponent who, if taken lightly, can beat us...could be, but I think our
defense and new coaching staff won't let that happen.

Sat, Sept 29 Penn State - W (24-21)
- Think this is where we get some national recognition by knocking off PSU in a close
game where, GUESS WHAT!?, ST makes the difference in OUR favor this time!
Wouldn't that be just swell for once. I know they named mcgloin starter and have a
new staff and all that but I think at home we get it done.

Sat, Oct 6 at Wisconsin - L (13-20)
- I think this is a loss but I don't think it will be a big loss. I just don't see how
ANOTHER transfer QB can come in and make a difference like Wilson did last year.
That said, I still think they have more talent than us and on the road in that
environment it adds up to a loss.

Sat, Oct 13 at Michigan - L (17-27)
- Back to back losses in primetime games but I think the D does an admirable job in
keeping Denard in check but I just don't think we score enough. Michigan should be
pretty good.

Sat, Oct 27 Indiana - W (30-10)
- Back on the winning track against the loosiers. Don't think this will be close and I
think we get a defensive TD and a ST TD.

Sat, Nov 3 at Ohio State - L (17-28)
- The brutal stretch of our schedule ends with us going 1-3 as jerk-wad Meyer gets
us. I think they complete more than 1 pass this time and hand us our 3rd loss.

Sat, Nov 10 Minnesota - W (28-13)
- Again a game that I don't think will really be all that close throughout. I know Kill
did a fairly good job last year and they beat us as were finishing our nose-dive to
end last year but I think our new coaching staff is better and so are our athletes.

Sat, Nov 17 Purdue - W (24-10)
- I know they beat us last too right at the beginning of our downward spiral but again
I think our D does their thing and we don't wait until the 4th quarter like last year to
start scoring and we take care of them.

Sat, Nov 24 at Northwestern - W (31-13)
- Just because I friggin can't stand Fitzy and I hope we beat the pants off of them!

So there you have it. I did this without having predetermined how many wins I thought we'd have. I just took it game by game and apparently I think we are going to win 9 games! However, with new coaches and new systems I wouldn't be surprised if we lost the ASU and/or PSU games and ended 7-5/8-4.

[GilThorpe]

I just dont see us shooting out of the gate 5-0 like last year . At ASU, home vs LaTech and home vs PSU are all games we could lose, and I see us losing one of them.
I think if things break our way, we go 7-5.
an 8-4 year would be simply phenominal.

[DrewD007]

I can see a range from as little as 5 wins to as many as 10. The offense is just to hard to predict at this point in time. I do think the defense will be every bit as good as last season. Gun to my head, I'd say we go 8-4 (6-1 at home, 2-3 on road).

[FinalFour88]

I think either 6-6 or 7-5. Can't decide which.

[illinifaninaz]

Minimum 8-4: Maximum 10-2! Home: 7-0 or 6-1 Away: 3-2 or 2-3! The Defense will win a couple of games for this team! OMVP: Ferguson or Scheelhause DMVP: Buchanan or Black Panther

Go Illini!

[trevdv]

hehe... right... about those predictions

1. Illinois 26, WMU 21 - I can see a tie or deficit at halftime, pull away in 2nd half.
2. Illinois 38, Arizona St 35 - This'll be a higher scoring affair than most expect; FG win.
3. Illinois 44, Charl. So. 10 - Some 2nd-stringers get their chance; D shines in blowout.
4. LA Tech 10, Illinois 9 - I see a huge upsest here in this low-scoring trap game.
5. Illinois 34, PSU 27 - D plays their butts off, show that upset was a fluke & we mean business.
6. Wisky 21, Illinois 13 - Sorry. Can't see it. Even though they're weaker they have Ball.
7. Michigan 35, Illinois 28 - 2 meaningless TDs late make score sound good; game isn't.
8. Illinois 45, Indiana 10 - D goes crazy w/ picks and sacks galore; blowout HC win.
9. OSU 28, Illinois 0 - This is similar to LY's OSU game; expected loss, unexpected blowout.
10. Illinois 7, Min 3 - clinch bowl berth w/ 6th win of season against struggling Gophers.
11. Purdue 28, Illinois 24 - Boilermakers pick up ANOTHER win against us at home no less.
12. Illinois 50, Northwestern 49 - Illini win in 2OT in crazy one up in Evanston to finish year.

I can see Wisky and OSU going tied for 9-3 or tied for 8-4, with us coming in right behind at 7-5, then Purdue at 6-6, PSU at either 6-6 or 5-7, and Indy in the basement at 3-9.

13. Illinois 28, Iowa State 20 - I can see a solid Big 12 Cyclone team putting up a fight against us, but we pick up our third straight bowl win at the Texas Bowl in Houston.

[KJKobs]

Originally Posted by illinifaninaz

Minimum 8-4: Maximum 10-2! Home: 7-0 or 6-1 Away: 3-2 or 2-3! The Defense will win a couple of games for this team! OMVP: Ferguson or Scheelhause DMVP: Buchanan or Black Panther

Go Illini!

Black Panther? Come on man, it's Black Cat!

[Monte Carlo]

Originally Posted by trevdv

hehe... right... about those predictions

1. Illinois 26, WMU 21 - I can see a tie or deficit at halftime, pull away in 2nd half.
2. Illinois 38, Arizona St 35 - This'll be a higher scoring affair than most expect; FG win.
3. Illinois 44, Charl. So. 10 - Some 2nd-stringers get their chance; D shines in blowout.
4. LA Tech 10, Illinois 9 - I see a huge upsest here in this low-scoring trap game.
5. Illinois 34, PSU 27 - D plays their butts off, show that upset was a fluke & we mean business.
6. Wisky 21, Illinois 13 - Sorry. Can't see it. Even though they're weaker they have Ball.
7. Michigan 35, Illinois 28 - 2 meaningless TDs late make score sound good; game isn't.
8. Illinois 45, Indiana 10 - D goes crazy w/ picks and sacks galore; blowout HC win.
9. OSU 28, Illinois 0 - This is similar to LY's OSU game; expected loss, unexpected blowout.
10. Illinois 7, Min 3 - clinch bowl berth w/ 6th win of season against struggling Gophers.
11. Purdue 28, Illinois 24 - Boilermakers pick up ANOTHER win against us at home no less.
12. Illinois 50, Northwestern 49 - Illini win in 2OT in crazy one up in Evanston to finish year.

I can see Wisky and OSU going tied for 9-3 or tied for 8-4, with us coming in right behind at 7-5, then Purdue at 6-6, PSU at either 6-6 or 5-7, and Indy in the basement at 3-9.

13. Illinois 28, Iowa State 20 - I can see a solid Big 12 Cyclone team putting up a fight against us, but we pick up our third straight bowl win at the Texas Bowl in Houston.

Very interesting the ups and downs in predicted scoring. Just curious as to why you pick us with 50 against Northwestern and 28 against Michigan (preseason No. 1 by many) but only 7 again Minnesota, which shouldn't be a good team and isn't necessarily known for its defense. Not arguing, just truly interested in your thought process. I don't follow the football nearly as much as the b-ball so think your response could provide some much needed insight for me.

[illynifan34]

7-5 and bowl win and the crowds go crazy.

[NS2toAJ8]

8-4. Book it.

[Ransom Stoddard]

Originally Posted by NS2toAJ8

8-4. Book it.

I don't expect anything better than 7-5, and 6-6 seems most likely.

1. WMU - W
2. Arizona St - L
3. Charleston Southern - W
4. LA Tech - W
5. PSU - L - close loss
6. Wisky - L
7. Michigan - L - Big loss
8. IU - W
9. OSU - L - blowout loss
10. Minny - W
11. Purdue - L
12. Northwestern - W

[IlliniSteve]

A 6-6 finish would be less excruciating if the wins and losses are more spread out. Last year was really rough. Looking back there were a lot of positives that were overlooked because of the poor finish. Which is too bad.

I'll say we finish 7-5 this year and it's a nice debut for Beckman.

[U of I 89-05-10]

So much depends on whether or not Beckman and co. can revive our offense. If the offense even kind of hits its stride, we could have a 9 win season and with a little magic 10. If it's like last year, even with better coaching, I see more like 5-7 to 7-5. For now, I'll guess 7-5.

[RoxIllini]

IF we are spared of injuries, we learn what team work truly is besides on defense and our offense can stay awake all year and special teams don't stink, then we can pull off a 9-3 record. With even modest injuries we are looking at 6-6 and no bowl.

[trevdv]

Originally Posted by Monte Carlo

Very interesting the ups and downs in predicted scoring. Just curious as to why you pick us with 50 against Northwestern and 28 against Michigan (preseason No. 1 by many) but only 7 again Minnesota, which shouldn't be a good team and isn't necessarily known for its defense. Not arguing, just truly interested in your thought process. I don't follow the football nearly as much as the b-ball so think your response could provide some much needed insight for me.

Your points are valid, but I see some logic to up-and-down scoring. Three times last year we went from one game of double-digit scoring, to the next game of only single digit scoring. We WERE held to only 7 points against a terrible Minny team last year, and we did score almost 40 on NWU last year. Plus, I would love to see us whoop those Wildcats again. Maybe you're right about my Wolverines score; could be a little bit less. I just think some up-and-down scoring is only logical when trying to predict final scores; not every game can be a clean-cut 21-14 game... The failed two-point conversions and missed-FG's of college football are real and need to be recognized when trying to be predict accurate and random final scores.

[KBLEE]

Originally Posted by KJKobs

Black Panther? Come on man, it's Black Cat!

He grew up in the off-season.

[BobtheBarber2]

I miss the Missouri game, usually by halftime you had a pretty good idea how good or bad the season would be. Here's this expert's opinion:

Before and during the quarterback controversy 1 - 3
After the quarterback controversy 3 - 5

Maybe next - next year

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by BobtheBarber2

I miss the Missouri game, usually by halftime you had a pretty good idea how good or bad the season would be. Here's this expert's opinion:

Before and during the quarterback controversy 1 - 3
After the quarterback controversy 3 - 5

Maybe next - next year

I don't get any of this...

[trevdv]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

I don't get any of this...

I don't quite follow here either...

[DrewD007]

If we go 1-3 after the first four games I might be jumping from a tall building. Can't even fathom that at the moment.

[dgcrow]

6-6, 7-5 at best, then possibly a victory in a minor bowl.

[BZuppke]

I think our defense will be the difference. A strong D keeps you in most games and we have a strong D. So the original post above predicting 9 wins with a game by game analysis seems very plausible. It's hard to tell with a new coaching staff and all. We'll learn how good a coach TB and company are this year despite our record. We'll see how the team plays. I remember when Mackovic came in and we had just come off a 3 win season. He won in Columbus that year and we made it to a bowl. You could just see what a great "in game" coach he was. So, I'm going with 8-4 or 9-3 because you never know about losing a game you shouldn't or winning one you shouldn't. Making a bowl game will be key. If we can at least win 7 and go to a decent bowl, that will be 3 in a row and start to build some momentum.

[BigStan97]

i agree our Defense with all our proven guys back: Buchanan, Spence, Foster, Brown, Williams, Green, BlackCat, Sanni, Hull If most of these guys progress and get better our defense will be one heck of a D next year

now if our offense can just bring something extra to the table to compliment our D then i think we have a good shot at having a very respectable record.. for a first year coach here

[scubadunk]

7-5 win the games we should win and lose the games we should lose. Play competitive and look better on offense. Defense is stong but not as good as last year.