WKU Football: Hilltoppers vs. Illinois — Staff Predictions
The Tops take on the Illini tomorrow and, as you’ll quickly find, our staff shares a consensus with Vegas and just about all other prediction services. Well, to an extent.
Fletcher Keel: 1–0
On one hand, WKU should beat Illinois this weekend. Despite the departure of Jeff Brohm and several offensive weapons (most notably, Taywan Taylor and Ace Wales) the Toppers are still a better team than the Illini.
However, the Tops were better than Indiana in 2015, and that ensued in a three-point loss. The Tops were better than Illinois in 2014, and that was a defeat in the same stadium where Saturday’s contest will be played.
I want to belive that Sanford will open the playbook. I want to believe the return of Quinton Baker will give a brand new dynamic to the offense. I want to believe Mike White explodes for 450 passing yards and four touchdowns.
I just don’t know if I can believe it. If this were last year’s team, it’s no question. But, it isn’t, obviously.
However, having said all that, I think — above my best interests — that WKU is victorious on Saturday. I want to pick Illinois, but I’m taking the Toppers. It’ll either be like a 40–20 type blowout or a 46–36 shootout. Don’t quote me on either, but gimme dem Topperz.
Ross Shircliffe: 1–0
This game is an early chance for WKU to make a statement against a middling Power 5 program. Last week’s performances by both teams left a lot to be desired. I do believe between suspensions, injuries and conservative play-calling that Mike Sanford was holding a lot back last week against EKU. The return of Quinton Baker will add another dimension to WKU’s running and passing games. I believe that Sanford will take several more shots down field against the Illini’s young secondary. We’ll also see several exotic rotations and a random trick play as the offense scores 38 points on the road.
WKU’s defensive performance last week did give me somewhat of a pause. They struggled with a pass rush and missed Marcus Ward’s leadership in the secondary. Luckily for the Tops, Chayce Crouch struggled to show any consistency against a mediocre Ball State defense. I do believe that WKU will handle the Illinois running game, as the key will be limiting Mike Dudek’s damage. I think he’ll have a good game but WKU will limit Illinois other weapons. This game will go back and forth into the fourth quarter, I think Mike White will be the difference as WKU pulls away late for a 38–27 victory.
Jared Rosdeutscher: 1–0
WKU was able to pull off a win at home versus EKU in Week 1 while the Fighting Illini were able to (barely) hold off Ball State at home by blocking a field goal that would’ve sent the game in overtime. Personally, I thought WKU was holding back a lot against EKU offensively and kept things very basic in order to win the game and also not show too much of their playbook and what this team could look like. With that being said, I think we’ll see what the real WKU will look like against Illinois. I think the biggest key for both teams will be the offense.
WKU quarterback Mike White had a solid first game, completing 20 of 31 pass attempts for 264 yards and a touchdown, but we all know he’s capable of way better stats than that. Illinois’ Crouch went 10-for-19 with 145 yards to accompany a pick and a touchdown, which isn’t bad, but the Illini offense will need more than 216 total yards on offense if they want to beat WKU. But at the same time, WKU’s offense doesn’t need to become stagnant in the second half; the Tops scored more than half of their points against EKU in the second quarter alone and only scored twice in the entire second half. While I already like Sanford’s decision to use more time of possession on offense and eat some clock, it doesn’t need to come back to hurt them with long possessions with nothing to show for it.
For this game, I expect WKU to show more of their offense but keep the run and pass balanced. Illinois will want to make a statement early but what both teams do in the second half will be critical to who wins this game. I expect a close game but I think WKU will avenge their 2014 loss in Champaign and win 28–20.
Hunter Peay: 1–0
Last week’s effort by the Fighting Illini against Ball State was less than stellar, but so was WKU’s against EKU. Statistically, Ball State did much better than Illinois and I am left wondering how they lost. Ball State should have won the game, which is not a good sign for the Illini.
Saturday will be when the real season begins for the Hilltoppers, and we will learn what kind of team they actually are. With Quinton Baker back next week, and assuming Coach Sanford is truly going to open the playbook and this team is truly as good as many think they are, this could be a bad loss for this Big 10 foe. The Tops are favored by 7.5, but I’ll take them to beat the Illini by more. WKU will win 49–20 in Champaign.
What is your game prediction for WKU? Will the Tops finally get their first win against a Big Ten team? Let us know in a comment below, via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebookpage.
