Nebraska vs. Illinois fearless prediction and game preview.
Nebraska vs. Illinois Broadcast
Date: Saturday, September 21
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Network: BTN
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Nebraska (2-1) vs. Illinois (1-2) Game Preview
Why Illinois Will Win
Nebraska … what’s up with allowing all the blocked kicks?
The Huskers just aren’t sharp enough yet. They’re 2-1 with only the one tough loss to Colorado – they were winless last year at this time – but there are too many fumbles, the secondary has been awful, there are too many stalled drives that come away with no points, and getting five kicks blocked in three games are way too many.
That’s what Illinois needs. It has to hope for the other team to screw up more than it will.
The Illini offense hasn’t been bad. I’ll move the chains, the run defense has been solid, and the pass rush has been fantastic from the start. Illinois has to get to Adrian Martinez and make him press. The Husker QB has been good so far, but he hasn’t been terrific enough to make up for all of the other deficiencies.
Why Nebraska Will Win
The Huskers can get behind the line, too.
The pass defense is way too soft and there are too many third downs allowed, but the Nebraska front seven is living in the backfield with 27 tackles for loss so far. The Illinois offense stalls when it gets hit by a stiff breeze – make a play behind the line against this group, and the running game stops.
How did Illinois lose to Eastern Michigan? The Illini secondary was torched by Eagle QB Mike Glass, giving up 316 yards a week after getting hit for 275 yards by a UConn offense that shouldn’t be able to flirt with 300 yards throwing against air.
It hasn’t been perfect so far, but the Husker offense should be able to generate enough takeaways and get its own attack going just enough to force the Illini to press.
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What’s Going To Happen
Illinois will have its moments when the offense works better than the Huskers might like, and the passing game will come up with enough to stay alive, but Martinez will go off.
The Illinois secondary isn’t doing anything considering all the pressure the line is generating. Expect a wee bit of a shootout that’s more fun than you might think. Both teams will trade wild haymakers, but the Huskers will come up with a few more.
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Nebraska vs. Illinois Prediction, Line
Nebraska 40, Illinois 31
Line: Nebraska -13.5, o/u: 62.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
Must See Rating: 3
5: Ford v Ferrari
1: Dora and the Lost City of Gold
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Illinois Football Schedule
2019 Record: 2-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2019 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 2-7
2018 Record: 4-8
Aug. 31 Akron W 42-3
Sept. 7 at UConn W 31-23
Sept. 14 Eastern Michigan L 34-31
Sept. 21 Nebraska L
Sept. 28 OPEN DATE
Oct. 5 at Minnesota L
Oct. 12 Michigan L
Oct. 19 Wisconsin L
Oct. 26 at Purdue L
Nov. 2 Rutgers W
Nov. 9 at Michigan State L
Nov. 16 OPEN DATE
Nov. 23 at Iowa L
Nov. 30 Northwestern W
2019 Nebraska Football Schedule
2019 Record: 2-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 5-4
2018 Record: 4-8
Aug. 31 South Alabama W 35-21
Sept. 7 at Colorado L 34-31
Sept. 14 Northern Illinois W 44-8
Sept. 21 at Illinois W
Sept. 28 Ohio State L
Oct. 5 Northwestern W
Oct. 12 at Minnesota L
Oct. 19 OPEN DATE
Oct. 26 Indiana W
Nov. 2 at Purdue L
Nov. 9 OPEN DATE
Nov. 16 Wisconsin W
Nov. 23 at Maryland L
Nov. 30 Iowa W
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