Illini Football 2018

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#1      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
2018 Illinois Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 01___Kent State_________________________11:00am BTN
Sat, Sep 08___Western Illinois___________________6:30pm BTN
Sat, Sep 15___USF (Soldier Field, Chicago, IL)___2:30pm BTN
Fri, Sep 21___Penn State_________________________8:00pm FS1
Sat, Sep 29___--bye--
Sat, Oct 06___@Rutgers
Sat, Oct 13___Purdue (Homecoming)________________2:30pm or 3:00pm
Sat, Oct 20___@Wisconsin_________________________11:00am
Sat, Oct 27___@Maryland
Sat, Nov 03___Minnesota
Sat, Nov 10___@Nebraska
Sat, Nov 17___Iowa
Sat, Nov 24___@Northwestern

All times CT



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http://fightingillini.com/news/2018/5/23/football-five-illini-on-athlon-preseason-all-big-ten-teams.aspx
This made me appreciate Louis Dorsey that much more. Seems like the first lethal TE for Illinois since Cumberland.
 
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#2      
Don't forget Matthew Robinson either! My guess is to START the season is:
1) Cam Thomas
2) AJ Bush
3) Mj Rivers
4) Coran Taylor
5) Matthew Robinson
By the end of the season any one of those QBs could be the guy. yet.


Let's not forget that the tail end of Beckman and of Lovie's tenure, due to injury we ran out of quarterbacks. Every single season.
 
#3      
I think a good measure of how we ought to feel about this season will be our record against the spread. We were 5-7 against the spread in each of Lovie's first two seasons and haven't had a winning record ATS since 2010.
 
#4      

Deleted member 716187

D
Guest
New to the board so I cant start a thread. can we start a 2018 predictions thread? `Just to have something to talk about, get more activity on the forum.
 
#5      
2018 Illinois Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 01___Kent State W
Sat, Sep 08___Western Illinois. W
Sat, Sep 15___USF (Soldier Field, Chicago, IL) W
Fri, Sep 21___Penn State. L
Sat, Sep 29___--bye--
Sat, Oct 06___@Rutgers. W
Sat, Oct 13___Purdue (Homecoming). W
Sat, Oct 20___@Wisconsin L
Sat, Oct 27___@Maryland. W
Sat, Nov 03___Minnesota. W
Sat, Nov 10___@Nebraska. L
Sat, Nov 17___Iowa. W
Sat, Nov 24___@Northwestern L


8-4

OK I drink koolaid, but not unreasonable Iowa, Minnesota stretch it a bit, but maybe
 
#6      
When do they update the roster with official heights/weights etc?

Interested in seeing the weight changes by the freshman
 
#7      

Deleted member 631370

D
Guest
New to the board so I cant start a thread. can we start a 2018 predictions thread? `Just to have something to talk about, get more activity on the forum.

Losses. A lot of them.
 
#8      

Deleted member 654622

D
Guest
8-4

OK I drink koolaid, but not unreasonable Iowa, Minnesota stretch it a bit, but maybe

IF we get decent QB play, I can see 6-6. We beat Min, lose to Iowa and Maryland

Side note: We REALLY NEED to beat Minnesota
 
#9      

dgcrow

Kelso, WA
IF we get decent QB play, I can see 6-6. We beat Min, lose to Iowa and Maryland

Side note: We REALLY NEED to beat Minnesota

I always hope for 6 wins and a minor bowl. It would, of course, be a good step forward for the program.
 
#10      

Deleted member 716187

D
Guest
Losses. A lot of them.

I saw a defense that showed potential to be great last year, just the youth and lack of depth hurt. Offense has the WRs and RBs to be dangerous, just need better QB and O line play. I think this all improves this year and we see a few more wins. I think with decent QB play 6-6 isnt unrealistic and can even we can even see 8-4. anything under 5-7 will be a major disappointment for me.
 
#11      
Prepare to be disappointed then.

4 wins would be great. Though it is more important to show improvement.
 
#12      
2018 Illinois Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 01___Kent State
Sat, Sep 08___Western Illinois
Sat, Sep 15___USF (Soldier Field, Chicago, IL)
Fri, Sep 21___Penn State
Sat, Sep 29___--bye--
Sat, Oct 06___@Rutgers
Sat, Oct 13___Purdue (Homecoming)
Sat, Oct 20___@Wisconsin
Sat, Oct 27___@Maryland
Sat, Nov 03___Minnesota
Sat, Nov 10___@Nebraska
Sat, Nov 17___Iowa
Sat, Nov 24___@Northwestern


W
W
W
L
W
W
L
L
W
L
L
W

7-5 the kool aid flows was really hard to not go 8-4
 
#13      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Think we'll see good strides from the D, but that is dependent on the LBs staying healthy and the D not being on the field constantly. Needless to say, a lot hinges on QB.
 
#14      

Illiini

In the land of the Nittany Lion
Think we'll see good strides from the D, but that is dependent on the LBs staying healthy and the D not being on the field constantly. Needless to say, a lot hinges on QB.

And the QB depends on the OL.
 
#15      
Anything more than 3-9 would be heading in the right direction, imo.

Kent St, WIU, Rutgers are the 3 to expect to win. Any other wins means the team is improving and overachieving.
 
#16      
Anything more than 3-9 would be heading in the right direction, imo.

Kent St, WIU, Rutgers are the 3 to expect to win. Any other wins means the team is improving and overachieving.

Honest question from a fan who doesn't focus much on recruiting: Is that how the recruits will see things?
 
#17      

breadman

Herndon, VA
I suppose what also needs to be brought into this won/loss discussion is the status of all of our opponents for this upcoming season. I for one do not know who has gotten stronger or who has gotten weaker. I really believe the USF game will be a measuring stick of a game for the rest of the season. Would really love to beat them.
 
#18      
Let's look at the pro's and con's:


PRO
All those frosh will come back with a year of experience
Purdue and Minny at home
USF lost 9 All Conf players so they are beatable
If Dudek stays healthy, he can be a secret weapon again
Rod Smith offense gives us a chance to look like whole different team


CON
Completely unproven at QB
Lack of experienced depth
Rod Smith offense is new and takes a while to learn
Little experience at LB


The list could be long but feel free to add to it.
 
#19      
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but, the magnitude of those Cons is more severe then the potential Pros by a factor of about 2... Or put another way, the Pros are ALL wishful thining, but the Cons are pretty much cold hard facts.

I agree. I started wondering why so many people are picking 6 or 7 wins and I couldn't come up with a justification.
 
#20      

breadman

Herndon, VA
See? Did not know USF lost 9 all conference guys. Let's build on that, unless of course they have 9 freshman more than able to take their place.
 
#21      

BananaShampoo

Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
Let's look at the pro's and con's:


PRO
All those frosh will come back with a year of experience
Purdue and Minny at home
USF lost 9 All Conf players so they are beatable
If Dudek stays healthy, he can be a secret weapon again
Rod Smith offense gives us a chance to look like whole different team


CON
Completely unproven at QB
Lack of experienced depth
Rod Smith offense is new and takes a while to learn
Little experience at LB


The list could be long but feel free to add to it.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but, the magnitude of those Cons is more severe then the potential Pros by a factor of about 2... Or put another way, the Pros are ALL wishful thining, but the Cons are pretty much cold hard facts.

To be fair, the first Pro listed is a big one. A year of experience and a year older and stronger will make a big difference, especially since we lose almost none of our starters (plus hopefully have a healthy Epstein and Dudek). That said, I still don't think we win more than 4 games this season. Fewer blowouts, a couple extra wins and I'll be happy.
 
#22      

Deleted member 654622

D
Guest
I agree. I started wondering why so many people are picking 6 or 7 wins and I couldn't come up with a justification.

I am not saying 6 or 7 wins, but we can get to 4 or 5.

Should Win:
Kent
Western
Rutgers

Swing Games:
USF
Purdue
Minn

Should Lose:
Penn
Wisc
Maryland
Neb
Iowa
Northwestern
 
#23      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
W Sat, Sep 01___Kent State
W Sat, Sep 08___Western Illinois
L Sat, Sep 15___USF (Soldier Field, Chicago, IL)
L Fri, Sep 21___Penn State
Sat, Sep 29___--bye--
W Sat, Oct 06___@Rutgers
L Sat, Oct 13___Purdue (Homecoming)
L Sat, Oct 20___@Wisconsin
L Sat, Oct 27___@Maryland
W Sat, Nov 03___Minnesota
L Sat, Nov 10___@Nebraska
L Sat, Nov 17___Iowa
L Sat, Nov 24___@Northwestern

4-8, 5-7 at best

Illini nation expects a bowl after starting 3-2 (or maybe 4-1 if we can squeak past USF) and then melts down with a 6 losses in the final 7 games.

It's too bad this is a season where we don't play scUM, tOSU, or MSU, because normally that would bode well for a decent conference result.
 
#24      
To be fair, the first Pro listed is a big one. A year of experience and a year older and stronger will make a big difference, especially since we lose almost none of our starters (plus hopefully have a healthy Epstein and Dudek). That said, I still don't think we win more than 4 games this season. Fewer blowouts, a couple extra wins and I'll be happy.

Freshman plus one year are still just sophomores.

We're still fielding a Fresh/Soph team against varsity teams. It is not a recipe for winning.

I agree - the goal is to not get blown out (tOSU game excepted).
 
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