Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland, and Iowa Give the Big Ten a Third Chance. Vegas Big Ten Predictions for Week 4 Here.
Saturday Blitz Vegas Big Ten Predictions Week 4
Texas State Bobcats at Illinois Fighting Illini
Line: Illinois by 13.5
After a blowout loss to Washington, all the questions about Illinois’s defense are back at the forefront of this team. What’s worse is they’re about to face a Texas State team that doesn’t have a bad offense. The Fighting Illini, unfortunately, are going to have to just accept it. Wes Lunt has got to be more consistent at reading defenses because the Illini will have trouble winning any game without him throwing 300 yards or more. He’ll have to be used a lot this weekend going up against a Texas State defense that really hasn’t been tested yet. A by-committee running game with Josh Ferguson and Donovonn Young has got to get a lot better too, as neither has averaged 4 yards a carry on the year yet. That’s a problem, especially for Lunt, who needs a little bit of help if he’s going to be asked to always pick apart defenses. Geronimo Allison has at least become a very nice safety blanket for him to throw the ball to.
Texas State, meanwhile, has shown itself to have an okay defense and a very good offense. The unit is very balanced with quarterback Tyler Jones averaging more than 250 passing yards and 65 rushing yards a game on the year along with Robert Lowe averaging another 121 rushing yards a game on the year. So far the offense has averaged more than 550 yards a game, and Illinois is the best team to add to that against. Whether or not they win depends on if Jones can continue to be the anchor of the offense and how good the pass defense is. If they force Lunt into at least making a couple of mistakes and completely take the Fighting Illini offense out of the game, this could be a Bobcats win. If not, though, it will be a very long day for them. Texas State definitely has the chance to pull off the upset with its personnel.
Prediction
Get ready for a shootout. Texas State’s balanced attack will put up lots of points and make this game worth watching, but it won’t be enough. Illinois has a very good passing game when Lunt isn’t forced into making mistakes, and the Bobcats don’t appear to be the team that could force those types of mistakes. With that in mind, this will be a high-scoring affair that Illinois turns into a comfortable victory by the second half.
Illinois: 49 Texas Stat: 31