Wisconsin Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2018

Lovie Smith’s Illinois Fighting Illini are coming off a winless Big Ten season and are still a few seasons away from really competing for a Big Ten West title. Inconsistencies on offense, specifically the quarterback position, thwarted any chance a win last season and heading into 2018, the Illini hope to get things straightened out.

One thing the Illini can pride themselves on is their defense. It is not top of the country or anything overwhelming, but the defense put the team in enough games last season where if the offense had made a play or two, the outcome might have been different.

One of the Badgers’ worst performances last season came in a road game at Illinois, where they were triumphant 24-10. As the Badgers needed to prove to the college football world they were worthy of their ranking, a struggle at Illinois did the opposite, enabled the critics and ultimately casting a dark cloud over the Badgers schedule and performance early on.

The Illini have not won in Madison since 2002 and overall the Badgers have won eight straight meetings in a relatively  balanced all-time series. Wisconsin returns enough artillery on offense to put up a better showing and with the Illini’s struggles on offense looming, it will be hard for them to keep up with the Badgers in Camp Randall.

Running back Jonathan Taylor was held to under 100 yards last year in Champaign. Next season in Madison against the Illini might be a different story.

Final Score: Wisconsin 42, Illinois 9 (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)