Illinois Football Season Record Predictions

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#26      
mossimo142
v. Ball State - W
v. Western Kentucky - W
@ South Florida - L
v. Nebraska - W
@ Iowa - L
v. Rutgers - W
@ Minnesota - W
v. Wisconsin - L
@ Purdue - W
v. Indiana - W
@ Ohio State - L
v. Northwestern -W

Drinking the Kool Aid and riding the youth movement, I say 8-4.
Realistic I think we win 2 of our first four, 2 of the second four, and 2 of the last four. Realistic 6-6.
 
#28      
Ransom Stoddard
v. Ball State - W
v. Western Kentucky - L
@ South Florida - L
v. Nebraska - L
@ Iowa - L
v. Rutgers - W
@ Minnesota - L
v. Wisconsin - L
@ Purdue - L
v. Indiana - W
@ Ohio State - L
v. Northwestern -L

3-9 but we look much better getting there.
 
#29      
Illwinsagain
mossimo142 said:
v. Ball State - W
v. Western Kentucky - W
@ South Florida - L
v. Nebraska - W
@ Iowa - L
v. Rutgers - W
@ Minnesota - W
v. Wisconsin - L
@ Purdue - W
v. Indiana - W
@ Ohio State - L
v. Northwestern -W

Drinking the Kool Aid and riding the youth movement, I say 8-4.
Realistic I think we win 2 of our first four, 2 of the second four, and 2 of the last four. Realistic 6-6.
Click to expand...

I'll have some of what you're having!
 
#30      
illiniguy24
The X factor of our season is the USF game. If we somehow steal that one, we could go 7-5 or 8-4. Assuming we are 2-0 going into it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#31      
ChiefIllini
mossimo142 said:
Realistic 6-6.
Click to expand...

Relatively far from what I'd consider a realistic prediction.

I dont see us beating South Florida and Western Kentucky. Heck, Ball State isn't a game I see us up by 20 at half.

Purdue is really the only B1G team I see thats actually worse than us. We probably take one against a better team.

A realistic prediction would be 3 or 4 wins. Thats what I'm going with. Of course thats the boring answer, since many have the line at 3.5. Weakness at QB and inexperience all around typically dont lead to a good year. It'll take another 12 months for me to really be optimistic about this team. This is by no means a knock on the staff. They have almost exactly 1 year under their belt. I will always give FB coaches a full 4 years before I ask for any real change. Would love to be proven wrong by the team though :)
 
#32      
KnoxIllini2
v. Ball State W
v. Western Kentucky L
@ South Florida L
v. Nebraska L
@ Iowa L
v. Rutgers W
@ Minnesota W
v. Wisconsin L
@ Purdue W
v. Indiana W
@ Ohio State L
v. Northwestern L
5-7 (4-5)

We stumble out of the gate losing 4 of 5. Our fortunes reverse with a solid win against Rutgers. We continue our momentum by pulling off an upset on the road against the Fightin' Flecks.

We get humbled by Wisconsin but then go on our second 2 game winning streak of the season, sweeping the state of Indiana in 2017 and getting back to .500.

Ohio State does Ohio State things and they're playing their 3rd string most of the second half.

With everything on the line against the Mild Cats on senior day we clank a potential gaming winning field off the right upright and lose 28-27.

(When I started going down the list I did not expect to put us down at 5-7. I'll be beyond happy if it holds true, but I'll be happier still if that kick bounces in against the Kitties ;)).
 
#33      
CAIllini
Gut unfortunately says 2 wins over Ball State & Purdue, plus maybe one upset sneaker given the level of youth on this team. So put me down for 3-9.

Hope I'm wrong, but see our best case scenario as only 5 wins (add two more wins from Rutgers, WKU, and another random upset). With downside potential to go 2-9 or maybe even 1-9 if we're not ready week 1.

By the end of the year I just hope team Lovie can keep selling the future and close on a decent class then build from there next year....

Though if he wants to just go ahead and shock the world with a bowl appearance and COY honors that would also do just fine! :)
 
#34      
champaignchris
I think we can be anywhere from 2-10 to 5-7. I'm not particularly concerned with record at this point of Lovie's tenure. I want to see the young talent improving and a team that looks like it knows what it's doing regardless of the talent discrepancy that will be on the field most Saturdays. I'll start worrying about W's in 2019.

That said, in the optimistic spirit of this thread, I'll go with 5-7 and backdooring our way into one of the last bowl bids because of our good acedemics.
 
#35      
BigStan97
Record doesn't mean much to me. Lovie is just starting the complete rebuild.

I would be happy with just one more win then last year and continue to recruit hard.
 
#36      
IlliniOllie
3-9 or 2-10. It feels like Lovie has been here longer than he has, but IMO we're still too early in the rebuild for much (realistic) hope. I think we'll be ready for Underwood & Co. by late October.
 
#37      
lexwaldez
CAIllini said:
Gut unfortunately says 2 wins over Ball State & Purdue, plus maybe one upset sneaker given the level of youth on this team. So put me down for 3-9.
Click to expand...

I think 2-3 wins is probably reasonable given what I saw this fall at practice.

Did you guys chip in and read that massive write-up Robert did on Illiniboard? He wants to drink the kool-aid, he really does, but he knows man. Deep down I think he KNOWS.

Given we're coming off a season where we were 2nd worst in the nation on 3rd down, our offense came up with zero yards just shy of 25% of the time, we had trouble with the turnover ratio, we're the most inexperienced team in college football and our youngsters are going to struggle on both D and O-lines, hey, I'm not sure I see 8 wins. BUT... Almost everyone returns next year and a lot of our problems are going to start going away.

Was it Robert that said to look at this season as a 24 or 25 game season and to watch the kids develop (I think it was Robert)? I agree wholeheartedly. The staff is making strides. The kids are being well coached and they're working hard. I can't find fault with anything. We just need to keep getting the right kids for the system and work on experience. The youngsters are absolutely going to get play time and they're absolutely going to get better. I think we see flashes of brilliance and mix in some head scratching mistakes. It's going to be fun to watch these kids play over the next 2-3 years. Looking forward to Sat!

Let's just try and temper our expectations, support the kids and the coaches if we do struggle and keep our eyes on the prize. The hard work, persistence, and patience will pay off. Now Josh, please get me some beer in the stadium... it could be a rough year.
 
#38      
icengineer
lexwaldez said:
I think 2-3 wins is probably reasonable given what I saw this fall at practice.

Did you guys chip in and read that massive write-up Robert did on Illiniboard? He wants to drink the kool-aid, he really does, but he knows man. Deep down I think he KNOWS.

Given we're coming off a season where we were 2nd worst in the nation on 3rd down, our offense came up with zero yards just shy of 25% of the time, we had trouble with the turnover ratio, we're the most inexperienced team in college football and our youngsters are going to struggle on both D and O-lines, hey, I'm not sure I see 8 wins. BUT... Almost everyone returns next year and a lot of our problems are going to start going away.

Was it Robert that said to look at this season as a 24 or 25 game season and to watch the kids develop (I think it was Robert)? I agree wholeheartedly. The staff is making strides. The kids are being well coached and they're working hard. I can't find fault with anything. We just need to keep getting the right kids for the system and work on experience. The youngsters are absolutely going to get play time and they're absolutely going to get better. I think we see flashes of brilliance and mix in some head scratching mistakes. It's going to be fun to watch these kids play over the nex25%t 2-3 years. Looking forward to Sat!

Let's just try and temper our expectations, support the kids and the coaches if we do struggle and keep our eyes on the prize. The hard work, persistence, and patience will pay off. Now Josh, please get me some beer in the stadium... it could be a rough year.
Click to expand...

You know what? I'm one of those pie-in-in-the-sky optimists who predicted 6 wins this year. But that is mostly just the homer in me. It is possible, but is it even a 25% chance of reality, sure, maybe, I guess....

But I can't help but give this post a :thumb:. I'd certainly be happy with this scenario, and can certainly see the positives and reasons to feel good about 2018. Progress is progress and if that's all we get out of this season I am going to be very happy with that.

I'd just love to see us exceed expectations for once, once in a very long time. We are due. It may not be in football. This year perhaps it will be in basketball. I don't know, but I would be overjoyed if it happened, in either sport.

:hailtotheorange:
 
#39      
champaignchris
champaignchris said:
I think we can be anywhere from 2-10 to 5-7. I'm not particularly concerned with record at this point of Lovie's tenure. I want to see the young talent improving and a team that looks like it knows what it's doing regardless of the talent discrepancy that will be on the field most Saturdays. I'll start worrying about W's in 2019.

That said, in the optimistic spirit of this thread, I'll go with 5-7 and backdooring our way into one of the last bowl bids because of our good acedemics.
Click to expand...

I misspelled "academics." :tsk:
 
#40      
IllinoisFanAtFSU
v. Ball State
v. Western Kentucky
@ South Florida
v. Nebraska
@ Iowa
v. Rutgers
@ Minnesota
v. Wisconsin
@ Purdue
v. Indiana
@ Ohio State
v. Northwestern

"Likely" wins: Ball State, Purdue, Rutgers
Winnable: Western Kentucky, Nebraska, Indiana, Northwestern
Unlikely but possible: South Florida, Iowa, Minnesota
Not happening: Wisconsin, Ohio State

I bolded the wins that I am projecting us getting to go 5-7, but my prediction is really win all three of the "likely" wins and then get two of the winnable ones. However, the range is anywhere from 2 of the first category and nothing else (2-10) to all of the first category, three of the second category, and one of the third (7-5). This season is more of a puzzle to me than it seems to be to most. I'll be encouraged by 4-8 or better.
 
#41      
mattcoldagelli
lexwaldez said:
Did you guys chip in and read that massive write-up Robert did on Illiniboard? He wants to drink the kool-aid, he really does, but he knows man. Deep down I think he KNOWS.
Click to expand...

Yep, agreed. We're going 3-9 at best, I fear. But that's ok - just show me the progress from the young guys from September to November.
 
#42      
ChiefIllini
mattcoldagelli said:
Yep, agreed. We're going 3-9 at best, I fear. But that's ok - just show me the progress from the young guys from September to November.
Click to expand...

Anyone who really cares about the program should understand this is more important than our record this year. We have what, the third youngest team in FBS?
 
#43      
gibb52
I'll go with 3-9. Too much youth, not yet enough seasoned talent.
 
#46      
ILLWKU
v. Ball State - W
v. WKU - L (sorry had too)
@ 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 -L

4-8. If we are to get to the magical 6 the best chances to pick up wins would be WKU, Minnesota, NW. Think Lovie needs one more year then we will start to see marked improvement.
 
#47      
SublimeBeast
v. Ball State - W
v. WKU - L
@ South Florida - L
v. Nebraska - L
@ Iowa - L
v. Rutgers - L
@ Minnesota - L
v. Wisconsin - L
@ Purdue - W
v. Indiana - L
@ Ohio State - L
v. Northwestern -L

2-10
 
#48      
BWBW
OK, I'll play this game, although I don't think we have any idea of how this team will perform on the field. But, I can't resist a little optimism. Maybe this year it will be justified. :)

v. Ball State - W
v. WKU - W (last second, something good happens to us)
@ 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 (with a 6 win regular season riding on the outcome, we win a close one at home when some of the youngsters truly shine)

6-6
 
#49      
redwingillini11
v. Ball State - W
v. WKU - L
@ 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 -L

I think we can overachieve from here and get to 5 or maybe even 6 wins, but I am going to say 4-8 is the realistic prediction.
 
#50      
KRSAS
I'm looking at their schedule and I think 4-8 is more than reasonable. However it's really the development of the players and strategy I'm looking for. As long as I see good angles on defense, fundamental tackling, less personal fouls and ball movement on offense I think we would definitely be on the right track. Go Illini!
 
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