Illinois Football Season Record Predictions

#1      

mhuml32

mhuml32
Cincinnati, OH
mhuml32
These were sparsely mentioned in the "Illinois Football 2017" thread, but I thought it might be best to have a dedicated thread to our fearless predictions. Here is the schedule:

v. Ball State
v. Western Kentucky
@ South Florida
v. Nebraska
@ Iowa
v. Rutgers
@ Minnesota
v. Wisconsin
@ Purdue
v. Indiana
@ Ohio State
v. Northwestern


For good measure, feel free to make a non-record prediction (better passing game than expected, Dudek puts up 1,000 yards, D-line looks better than 2016 version, etc.)



I'll start us off with predicting a 4-8 season and Smalling having three consecutive 100-yard games to end the season.
 
#2      

icengineer

I
Southern Illinois
icengineer
mhuml32 said:
These were sparsely mentioned in the "Illinois Football 2017" thread, but I thought it might be best to have a dedicated thread to our fearless predictions. Here is the schedule:

v. Ball State W
v. Western Kentucky L
@ South Florida L
v. Nebraska W
@ Iowa L
v. Rutgers W
@ Minnesota L
v. Wisconsin L
@ Purdue W
v. Indiana W
@ Ohio State L
v. Northwestern W

6-6 :thumb:

For good measure, feel free to make a non-record prediction (better passing game than expected, Dudek puts up 1,000 yards, D-line looks better than 2016 version, etc.)

Passing yds total 2500-3000yds 1 Rec 800-999yds, 1 RB 1000+yds
Click to expand...
 
#4      

illini2002

I
illini2002
Its official 6-6

W - v. Ball State
W v. Western Kentucky
L - @ South Florida
L - v. Nebraska
L- @ Iowa
W - v. Rutgers
L - @ Minnesota
L- v. Wisconsin
W - @ Purdue
W - v. Indiana
L - @ Ohio State
W - v. Northwestern

As I have said for over a month now. 6 - 6 . So here are my picks. With us winning 4 out of the last 7 games, 3 out the last 4.

:shield:
 
#5      

FiveStar

F
FiveStar
v. Ball State-W
v. Western Kentucky-W
@ South Florida-L
v. Nebraska-L
@ Iowa-L
v. Rutgers-W
@ Minnesota-L
v. Wisconsin-L
@ Purdue-W
v. Indiana-W
@ Ohio State-L
v. Northwestern-W

6-6 with 3-1 in the last four. Schedule eases aside from osu and the freshman are now more experienced. This is extremely homerish and wouldn't be surprised by a record down to 3-9. 2-10 or worse would mean something has gone terribly wrong.
 
#6      

LFOD

LFOD
LFOD
W - v. Ball State
W v. Western Kentucky
L - @ South Florida
L - v. Nebraska
L- @ Iowa
W - v. Rutgers
L - @ Minnesota
L- v. Wisconsin
W - @ Purdue
L - v. Indiana
L - @ Ohio State
L - v. Northwestern

4-8, followed by a bowl season in 2018.
 
#7      

FC Illiniman

F
FC Illiniman
mhuml32 said:
These were sparsely mentioned in the "Illinois Football 2017" thread, but I thought it might be best to have a dedicated thread to our fearless predictions. Here is the schedule:

v. Ball State w
v. Western Kentucky w
@ South Florida L
v. Nebraska w
@ Iowa L
v. Rutgers w
@ Minnesota L
v. Wisconsin L
@ Purdue w
v. Indiana w
@ Ohio State L
v. Northwestern W


For good measure, feel free to make a non-record prediction (better passing game than expected, Dudek puts up 1,000 yards, D-line looks better than 2016 version, etc.)



I'll start us off with predicting a 4-8 season and Smalling having three consecutive 100-yard games to end the season.
Click to expand...

7-5 we go bowling.
Lovie should be B1G coy
 
#8      

NJILLINI

N
Castle Pines, Colorado
NJILLINI
5-7. Wins are Ball St, Western KY, Rutgers, PU and the Evanston Kitties.
 
#9      

Illiini

Illiini
In the land of the Nittany Lion
Illiini
I think we pick up more than PU, RU and NwU in the B1G. I'm not sure where the other one will come, but we get at least one because the dice just happen to land that way.

And I have this recurring fantasy that lightning strikes in Columbus. Hey, look, I said it was a fantasy. I figure I'm due one, and I figure it's one I can share with a lot of other people. Who's in?
 
#10      

rhackler

R
rhackler
Illiini said:
I think we pick up more than PU, RU and NwU in the B1G. I'm not sure where the other one will come, but we get at least one because the dice just happen to land that way.

And I have this recurring fantasy that lightning strikes in Columbus. Hey, look, I said it was a fantasy. I figure I'm due one, and I figure it's one I can share with a lot of other people. Who's in?
Click to expand...

Looking at tO$U's schedule, it's not out of the question. They have a tough stretch at the end with several physical games. The Illini could steal one.

Saturday Oct. 28 Penn State
Saturday Nov. 4 at Iowa
Saturday Nov. 11 Michigan State
Saturday Nov. 18 Illinois
Saturday Nov. 25 at Michigan
 
#11      

blmillini

B
Bloomington, IL
blmillini
Fall short at 5-7 with wins over Ball St., WKU, Purdue, Rutgers and Indiana with a bowl bid next season.
 
#15      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
W vs. Ball State
W vs. Western Kentucky
L at #19 South Florida
W vs. Nebraska
L at Iowa
W vs. Rutgers
L at Minnesota
L vs. #9 Wisconsin
W at Purdue
W vs. Indiana
L at #2 Ohio State
L vs. Northwestern

6-6 (4-5) ... and I'll be happy with it, too!
 
#18      

SampsonRelpenk

SampsonRelpenk
Edwardsville, IL
SampsonRelpenk
I predict a spirited 3-9 or 4-8 campaign. I think we lose a heartbreaker to WKU but make up for it with an upset in conference as the young bucks improve.
 
#19      

Shane Walsh

Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
Cynthiana, Kentucky
Shane Walsh
I am also thinking that 3-9 sounds about right. Lovie will right the ship, just not quite yet.
 
#20      

MGR95

M
MGR95
rhackler said:
Looking at tO$U's schedule, it's not out of the question. They have a tough stretch at the end with several physical games. The Illini could steal one.

Saturday Oct. 28 Penn State
Saturday Nov. 4 at Iowa
Saturday Nov. 11 Michigan State
Saturday Nov. 18 Illinois
Saturday Nov. 25 at Michigan
Click to expand...

You're kidding..
 
#21      

Serious Late

Serious Late
Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Serious Late
Expecting 3-9, but hoping on hope we find a way to 6-6. I expect we will only be favored in the Ball State game in the non-conference, so 1 non-conference win and 2 conference wins. Gonna guess Rutgers and Purdue, but we could easily lose one of the games we expect to win and win one or two we shouldn't.

3.5 is the line, so 3-4 wins is a very reasonable expectation. We find a way to 5-6 wins... what a surge in expectations that would create! That would jump start the program's resurgence for sure.
 
#23      

BananaShampoo

B
Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
BananaShampoo
Worst case 2-10. Best case 5-7.

I think we fall somewhere in between, because man, this is a young team.

W - v. Ball State
W v. Western Kentucky
L - @ South Florida
L - v. Nebraska
L- @ Iowa
W - v. Rutgers
L - @ Minnesota
L- v. Wisconsin
L - @ Purdue
W - v. Indiana
L - @ Ohio State
L - v. Northwestern

That's 4-8, but with 2 B1G wins I think that's better than most will expect of this team (outside of it's fanbase). Poised for at least 6 wins and a bowl game in 2018. Rebuild on track. :thumb:
 
#25      

Serious Late

Serious Late
Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Serious Late
FC Illiniman said:
All have such a lack of confidence, ball can bounce many ways, you all seem to think we not even touching it.:eek:
Click to expand...

The vast majority of posters in this thread have Illinois easily covering their season win total according to Vegas. The average prediction is exuding confidence relative to expectations.