I will enter 2019 as delusionally positive and excited for football as ever, but I would be somewhat nervous if I were Lovie. Conventional wisdom seems to be we need to go bowling. Good recruiting news aside, the casual fan that drives ticket sales and revenue needs to see postseason play in 2019 ... many have already jumped ship. Sticking with trying to be positive:
BEST CASE
W at UConn
W vs. Eastern Michigan
L vs. Nebraska
W at Minnesota
L vs. Michigan
L vs. Wisconsin
W at Purdue
W vs. Rutgers
W at Michigan State
L at Iowa
W vs. Northwestern
You can shuffle around the wins and losses, but these are the most likely results, IMO. We are due for a surprise (W at MSU), and Iowa/Wisconsin seem to absolutely own us. With that said, I could see (nay, hope for) a determined Illini squad being VERY hungry for an upset at Iowa after they embarrassed us this year, and Iowa might be looking ahead to a trip to Nebraska the next week. Either way, I think our best case is 7-5 with that schedule. I would take it enthusiastically!
MY PREDICTION
W at UConn
W vs. Eastern Michigan
L vs. Nebraska
W at Minnesota
L vs. Michigan
L vs. Wisconsin
W at Purdue
W vs. Rutgers
L at Michigan State
L at Iowa
W vs. Northwestern
We beat Northwestern at home to make a bowl. However, I could go 50/50 on winning at Purdue.
Even though my "prediction" is to be a coin-flip-bowl-team, no postseason is probably going to do it for me as far as supporting staying the course. Call that illogical or whatever, but we need to get to six wins next year.