Week 5 Preview: Illinois

[BIG ERN]

Record: 1-2 Series: Neb leads 9-3-1

Points Per Game 28.3 l 38.5

Total Yards 379 l 485

Passing 222 l 243

Rushing 157 l 242

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Points Allowed Per Game 28.3 l 18

Yards Allowed 354 l 366

Passing 196 l 207

Rushing 158 l 159

Players to watch:

QB Wes Lunt l 61-98 665 yards 6 TDs 1 INT

RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn l 40 carries 187 yards 2 TDs

WR Malik Turner l 15 receptions 223 yards 3 TDs

DE Carroll Phillips l 4 sacks through three games

New head coach Lovie Smith will have two full weeks to prepare for Nebraska as they begin conference play. The fighting Illini have't done too many things well so far this season, but they have been able to get to the quarterback. They currently rank 1st and 3rd in the nation for sacks and tackles for loss per game. Quarterback Wes Lunt doesn't have stats that will stand out, but he has taken care of the football thus far. The Illinois coaching staff has harped that their offensive line needs to be able to create more room for running backs Vaughn and Foster who each have big play ability.

In last years meeting Armstrong was only 10/31 with an INT. I look for him to have a nice bounce back game while spreading the ball around to the many play makers this team has. Look for Smith to mix up the blitzes to try and make Tommy make quick decisions --- Langs might also look for more well-times screen plays. It was nice to see Wilbon get some carries in his home state. Will this staff let that happen again vs Illinois? With Moore and Reilly banged up we could see some more runs this week with the four backs that are more than capable of carrying the load. It is to be noted that the two losses that Illinois has their opponents combined record is 7-1.

Areas we need to clean up:

• Net punting (119th)
  
• Penalty yards per game (105th)
  
• Rushing defense (72nd)
  

Areas we need to keep up:

• Red-zone defense (18th)
  
• Sacks allowed (14th)
  
• Time of possession (17th)
  

Prediction: Nebraska 38 Illinois 17

[RedDenver]

The defensive yards don't add up.

[Redux]

I have it on good authority we win this game handily.

 

You see, they lost their biggest asset from last years team that beat us. Cobra Commander and his Weather Dominator already had a prior engagement with G.I. Joe this weekend and will be unable to make the trip to Lincoln. GBR!

[Undone]

Last year's loss to them was the most frustrating of the season for me. It wasn't even so much the gaffe on our final offensive series as it was just this seemingly bizarre objective by Langsdorf to have Tommy throw the ball more on first down than was actually necessary.

 

This year's game will be drastically different. There's no doubt at all. Riley has shown clearly that his commitment to get Tommy involved in the run game combined with Ozigbo, Newby, and Wilbon's experience are going to put us into position to outclass them in huge ways.

 

I'm thinking we'll win by 14ish.

[NUance]

Pointspread is NU -21.

 

Hard to say how much traction, if any, the Illini have gained since Lovie took over. I always takes time for new schemes and a new playbook to become effective. We should beat these guys.

 

That said, I think Illinois is a better team than their 1-3 record indicates. Their two losses came to decent teams--North Carolina and Western Michigan. Not great, but decent. North Carolina beat Pittsburg last week. And Western Mich beat Northwestern on their home field in game 1.

 

Hard to say how much traction, if any, the Illini have gained since Lovie took over. I always takes time for new schemes and a new playbook to become effective.

 

EDIT: Oops. Meant to cut-n-paste, not copy-n-paste.

[BigRedBuster]

I'm pumped for this game. I was surprised this thread had fallen as far down as it had.

 

Each game we win, the team gains more confidence and gets stronger. This is another team that beat us last year and now it's time to let them know their proper place.

[ADS]

Something tells me the OL and Coach Cav are going to have a little extra motivation for this game.

[Saunders]

Illinois got thumped by North Carolina and Western Michigan. We should roll in this, and I wouldn't be surprised to see us give up less than 14 points.

 

Against those 2, they gave up 484 rushing yards at 5.3 YPC, and 8 rushing TD's. They're also allowing opponents to complete almost 70% of their passes.

 

IMO, I see it something like 42-10.

[Kiyoat Husker]

Pointspread is NU -21.

 

Hard to say how much traction, if any, the Illini have gained since Lovie took over. I always takes time for new schemes and a new playbook to become effective. We should beat these guys.

 

That said, I think Illinois is a better team than their 1-3 record indicates. Their two losses came to decent teams--North Carolina and Western Michigan. Not great, but decent. North Carolina beat Pittsburg last week. And Western Mich beat Northwestern on their home field in game 1.

 

Hard to say how much traction, if any, the Illini have gained since Lovie took over. I always takes time for new schemes and a new playbook to become effective.

 

Ok, we get it! You don't have to keep hammering the same point over and over.

[BoNeyard]

Lunt and Lovie concern me a little, especially since they had an extra week to prepare.

 

However, given that Illinois beat us last year and I am sure that is on the players and coaches minds, along with this being homecoming I give the edge to Nebraska.

 

I see a game similar to Northwestern. We will make some mistakes that keep points off the board, but overall we control this game and win.

 

Nebraska 31

Illinois 17

[jjamuss]

Homecoming is always an exciting game. I am hoping there is a revenge factor that will motivate this team a bit more than the negative news from last week's win. 5 and 0 sure sounds like a good way to head into the BYE week... Hoping to see more Diedrick Young, that kid is a beast at stopping runners dead in their tracks. Take no win for granted... grind it out Red!

 

Illini - 15

NU - 40

[Nebfanatic]

Illinois defensive stats don't ad up op.

 

As for this game I am very excited to take my girlfriend from Mississippi to her first Husker game and see all of the homecoming festivities!

 

Nobody on the NU sideline will accept defeat this time around against the Illini where as I believe they will be hoping for a win. Big difference in thought there and it will show.

 

38-7 win for Big Red in this one

[StumpGunn4]

I am thinking this game is 38-10. Tommy Gunn continues his heisman-esque season.

GBR

[BigRedBuster]

Illinois defensive stats don't ad up op.

 

As for this game I am very excited to take my girlfriend from Mississippi to her first Husker game and see all of the homecoming festivities!

 

Nobody on the NU sideline will accept defeat this time around against the Illini where as I believe they will be hoping for a win. Big difference in thought there and it will show.

 

38-7 win for Big Red in this one

Not to get into a big discussion about last year. But, I'm not sure who you think just 'accpeted defeat' last year on our sidelines.

[louisianared]

I think it will be 17-7 halftime, Huskers pull away in the 3rd and win 45-7. Team is much more mature and confident than last year. Riley seems to have adjusted his gameplan better to Nebraska. All positives for us.