Vegas Big Ten Predictions
Youngstown State at Illinois
Line: Illinois by 9
Writing Illini
The Illinois Fighting Illini have a new quarterback, a new go-to receiver, and still a bad defense as they go into year three of head coach Tim Beckman’s tenure. Improvement is still expected after going 2-10 in 2012 and 4-8 in 2013. That seat is getting warmer. The amount of turnover has made the Fighting Illini the trendy victim of an FCS upset prediction this weekend especially since they are running into a pretty good FCS program.
Youngstown State has a pretty balanced team that was 8-4 last year and found different ways to win, and lose. This year, with higher FCS expectations, a win against Illinois could make a big statement for them going into the regular conference games.
Prediction
This game won’t be as close as people think. Youngstown State has the ability to score, which they will do a good bit of, but Illinois can score a lot as well. So expect this to be a blowout and a shootout that doesn’t get within two scores after the midway point of the second quarter.
Illinois: 52 Youngstown State: 27