USF football: 3 bold predictions for Week 3 showdown vs. Illinois

2. Quinton Flowers will dominate Illinois by air and by land

While Chayce Crouch has a miserable game against the Bulls defense, Quinton Flowers will make easy work of the Illini defense on Friday night. While they have contained solid mid-major quarterbacks Riley Neal and Mike White, the Illinois defense as currently constructed has never seen a talent quite like Flowers.

The veteran South Florida quarterback has started the season quietly, posting just 398 passing yards and 137 rushing yards in his first two games of the season. After losing the chance to rebuild his reputation in the canceled conference game at Connecticut, it will be harder to eclipse the 3000-yard/1500-yard barrier as a passer and rusher.

But Flowers will do his best to boost his stats once he returns to the field at Raymond James Stadium on Friday night. Though he might not quite double his season passing yardage, Flowers will top 300 passing yards and get at least three touchdowns in the air. Look for him to also have his first 100-yard rushing game of the year.

The time lost should make Flowers more motivated to capitalize and maximize every remaining opportunity. In his final season with USF, the veteran will make the most of this chance against a rising Big Ten opponent at home.