2019 Season Prediction Time
Nonconference Results: 3-0
Akron 8/31: Never a doubt, we cruise to a 49-7 victory. W
@UConn 9/7: Being the first road game of the season, a little hairy in the first half, but the Illini pull away in the second 34-17. W
Eastern Michigan 9/14: A well played football game by both teams and we prevail 31-20. W
B1G Ten Results: 5-4
Nebraska 9/21: The Nebby hype train hits a bit of a hiccup and the Illini have their first win over a ranked team since 2011*. It is an absolute shoot out 59-53. The question still lingers if Lovie's D can stop college offenses. W
* I thought Minnesota was ranked when we won in 2014 but everything I've found says they were not.
@Minnesota 10/5: The off week could not have come at a better time to prep for The Row-the-Boat Bowl. Lovie spent most of the time looking in the mirror stoically to counter Fleck's general Fleckiness. With the beard trimmed and looking sharp the defense matches the crispness of their coach. Not the beat down we were hoping for but the win we deserve, 24-10. W
Michigan 10/12: The Illini are ranked for the first time since 2011. Coincidentally they're also in their first Top 25 match up since 2011. More or less the Illini are attempting to exercise the demons of 2011. This game, to some, has been the most anticipated game since future schedules were announced. It will live up to the hype under the lights. Memorial Stadium will be packed and the crowd quite rancorous due to a few reasons:
A. Muck Fichigan
B. Copious amounts of alcohol since 7am
C. Continued copious amounts of stadium beers
Late in the 4th quarter the Illini down by 4, Brandon Peters with a strike to Casey Washington for the game winning touchdown. Michigan gets a chance but throws an interception as time expires. Poetic Justice. Crowd storms the field. Peters is carried on shoulders. Lovie shows some emotion. I show some emotion. We all show some emotion. 27-24. W
Wisconsin 10/19: Yeah, big time hangover. Not just from the copious booze, but from that total ESPN Classic we played the week before. Wisconsin, bigly, 42-17. L
@Purdue 10/26: Sometimes when Purdue and Illinois play a competitive football game against each other, they're both horrible. Not this time however. Both teams from the B1G West have proven that they aren't cupcakes anymore. In another Big 12-esk shootout, with 1,100 combined yards, the Boilermakers take this one at home 49-42. L
Rutgers 11/2: Rutgers thank you for following our two game losing streak. We are so glad to see you. Order is restored in a pretty ho-hum not stress inducing contest. The Illini clinch their first winning regular season since *checks notes* 2007. 24-13. W
@Michigan State 11/9: Coming off a big win against Penn State and then conveniently having a bye afterwards spells trouble for our beloved. The Illini trail the whole game but make it interesting and hang around late into the 4th, but it isn't enough. 24-21. L
@Iowa 11/23: This game certainly does not live up to the infamous 63-0 shellacking. The Illini, coming off their latest bye week in likely a decade, storm out to their own 24-7 first half lead. Iowa slowly creeps back to make it 24-21 into the 4th. The Illini have a drive cut short at the 25 leaving it at 4th and 4. Lovie elects to take the field goal. A collective scream at the TV says, "GO FOR IT!" The field goal is made making the score 27-21. With plenty of time left on the clock Iowa chews as much as they can on their march to the goal line to take the lead, 28-27. With less than a minute left Illinois is not able to cross the 50 yard line and losses 28-27. The conversation is only about Lovie's clock management and situational awareness. L
Northwestern 11/30: Fritzy and the kitties make the trek down 57 to a surprisingly solid post Thanksgiving crowd. Those stadium beers have worked wonders all season. The product on the field has also seen significant improvement, which also helps. That improved Illini product brings The Land of Lincoln Trophy back to Champaign where is has a nice place to live in the Smith Center. 28-20. W
The Illini pull off an exciting 8-4 (5-4) campaign. They break the curse of 2011 by getting two wins(!) after opening 6-0. Lovie earns another 2 year extension, which only helps recruiting. The long awaited bid for a bowl game is clinched. Thoughts of the possibilities for the 2020 season are a bit overwhelming for most, but that's what happens when Illini Nation finally gets a chance to come out.
Hope you enjoyed the Kool-Aid. Go Illini.