Wisconsin Football: 2017 game-by-game predictions
By Shane Lunnen
(Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
This will be the third straight week where Wisconsin faces a mediocre or worse team. Illinois may be the worse of the bunch.
The Illini offense was terrible in 2016. They finished 123rd in the nation in total offense and 122nd in scoring offense. Quarterback Wes Lunt is gone and like Maryland, there is a competition for who the starter will be this coming season. Junior Chayce Crouch appears to have a leg up on the others and probably will be given the nod. Senior running back Kendrick Foster is back after he ran for 720 yards and found the endzone seven times last season.
It will be a challenge for the Illini on defense. Linebacker Tre Watson is the only star on this defense right now and the entire front four needs replaced. Despite being young, the secondary could be a strength. Sophomore safeties Patrick Nelson and Stanley Green gained a lot of experience last year and both finished in the top five in team tackles.
Illinois last beat Wisconsin in 2007 and that won’t be changing this year. Despite the Illinois secondary being decent, Alex Hornibrook has a career day against them, with over 300 yards passing and four touchdowns. Crouch can’t move the Illinois offense much outside of a few field goal drives and this one is done early. Wisconsin keeps winning and inching closer to a Big Ten West championship.