OFFICIAL 2024 Rutgers Illinois Prediction Thread

[Knight Shift]

Monangai runs for over 100 yards.
Rutgers wins 21-17 in front of 49,453 hand-counted fans.

 

[BeantownKnight]

Monangai runs for over 100 yards.
Rutgers wins 21-17 in front of 49,453 hand-counted fans.

I really wouldn't mind seeing that. I think that Illinois is a rather sound team. So, I think that we really need to be playing sound football, as well. That means - no penalties, turnovers, or poor game management. We have to execute scoring drives just like we did last week. Our biggest issue right now is - do we still have enough depth?

Not feeling entirely confident about this one. But, since I'm a homer, I'm going with:
Illinois - 18
RU - 24

And, Monangai channels his inner Brian Leonard and executes the first Leonard Leap in more than a decade On the Banks.

 

[rob kight]

I am going with the same score as last week RU 31-17 I think the game unfolds similar to last week.

 

[Knight Shift]

I am going with the same score as last week RU 31-17 I think the game unfolds similar to last week.

Illinois has a better defense than Maryland. Aaron Henry (DB coach under Chris Ash at RU) is their DC after Ryan Walters left to become HC at Purdue. Henry doing a decent job.

On some podcast or perhaps it was a presser with Bielema, it came up what a moribund program Illinois has been for the 2000's. Only 2 regular season winning seasons until Bielema was hired, and he has one 8 win season and another good season this year. He has been a good fit for Illinois.

Rk	Year	Conf	W	L	T	Pct	W	L	T	Pct	SRS	SOS	AP Pre	AP High	AP Post	CFP High	CFP Final	Coach(es)	Bowl	Notes
Rk	Year	Conf	W	L	T	Pct	W	L	T	Pct	SRS	SOS	AP Pre	AP High	AP Post	CFP High	CFP Final	Coach(es)	Bowl	Notes
1	2024	Big Ten	7	3	0	.700	4	3	0	.571	8.61	3.01		19		25	25	Bret Bielema (7-3)
2	2023	Big Ten	5	7	0	.417	3	6	0	.333	-0.42	3.84						Bret Bielema (5-7)
3	2022	Big Ten	8	5	0	.615	5	4	0	.556	10.01	1.17		14		16		Bret Bielema (8-5)	ReliaQuest Bowl (L)
4	2021	Big Ten	5	7	0	.417	4	5	0	.444	2.20	4.61						Bret Bielema (5-7)
5	2020	Big Ten	2	6	0	.250	2	6	0	.250	-6.39	4.36						Lovie Smith (2-5), Rod Smith (0-1)
6	2019	Big Ten	6	7	0	.462	4	5	0	.444	-0.08	0.61						Lovie Smith (6-7)	Redbox Bowl (L)
7	2018	Big Ten	4	8	0	.333	2	7	0	.222	-6.05	0.79						Lovie Smith (4-8)
8	2017	Big Ten	2	10	0	.167	0	9	0	.000	-7.87	5.38						Lovie Smith (2-10)
9	2016	Big Ten	3	9	0	.250	2	7	0	.222	-7.75	3.75						Lovie Smith (3-9)
10	2015	Big Ten	5	7	0	.417	2	6	0	.250	1.18	3.26						Bill Cubit (5-7)
11	2014	Big Ten	6	7	0	.462	3	5	0	.375	-2.53	3.00						Tim Beckman (6-7)	Heart of Dallas Bowl (L)
12	2013	Big Ten	4	8	0	.333	1	7	0	.125	-3.86	1.98						Tim Beckman (4-8)
13	2012	Big Ten	2	10	0	.167	0	8	0	.000	-10.35	2.56						Tim Beckman (2-10)
14	2011	Big Ten	7	6	0	.538	2	6	0	.250	2.63	1.17		16				Ron Zook (6-6), Vic Koenning (1-0)	Fight Hunger Bowl (W)
15	2010	Big Ten	7	6	0	.538	4	4	0	.500	7.77	1.47						Ron Zook (7-6)	Texas Bowl (W)
16	2009	Big Ten	3	9	0	.250	2	6	0	.250	-3.67	2.24						Ron Zook (3-9)
17	2008	Big Ten	5	7	0	.417	3	5	0	.375	2.96	2.04	20	20				Ron Zook (5-7)
18	2007	Big Ten	9	4	0	.692	6	2	0	.750	8.07	1.76		13	20			Ron Zook (9-4)	Rose Bowl (L)
19	2006	Big Ten	2	10	0	.167	1	7	0	.125	-5.87	1.13						Ron Zook (2-10)
20	2005	Big Ten	2	9	0	.182	0	8	0	.000	-7.54	7.37						Ron Zook (2-9)
21	2004	Big Ten	3	8	0	.273	1	7	0	.125	-4.53	1.83						Ron Turner (3-8)
22	2003	Big Ten	1	11	0	.083	0	8	0	.000	-8.63	4.62						Ron Turner (1-11)
23	2002	Big Ten	5	7	0	.417	4	4	0	.500	2.56	2.89						Ron Turner (5-7)
24	2001	Big Ten	10	2	0	.833	7	1	0	.875	12.71	3.79		7	12			Ron Turner (10-2)

 

[newwavedave1]

Illinois 27 - Rutgers 17.

 

[dfr1966]

RU 24-14

 

[yesrutgers01]

28-20 RU

 

[Extra Point_rivals157299]

Figuratively the ball hit the goal post for Rutgers. RU- 31 Illinois- 24

 

[Joey Bags]

RU 24
IL 21

 

[Waldo73]

RU 28 Ill 24

 

[RUfromNJ]

Illinois 22
Rutgers 26

A - 46,818

 

[Rufans]

RU 31
IL 27

 

[DHajekRC84]

Monangai runs for over 100 yards.
Rutgers wins 21-17 in front of 49,453 hand-counted fans.

SI has that same prediction. (Score)

 

[DHajekRC84]

RU 31
IL 27

I like this one.. I think we continue to score.. now I'm thinking 31-21 as our D plays better too.

 

[RU#1fan]

RU 31
Illinois 20

 

[RUFAN91]

RU 24 ILL 17, a tough defensive effort, ILL goes up early, a couple missed FG's on both sides, Monangai gets past a tackler late in the 4th quarter for a large gain (like Ray Rice did vs PITT all those years ago) punching in a TD to pull away for the win.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Rutgers Scarlet Knights 92
Illinois Neutered Mascots 3

As always, I reserve the right to modify my prediction as we get closer to game time.

 

[RUbytheshore]

Rutgers 27 - Illinois 21

 

[bac2therac]

Monangai runs for over 100 yards.
Rutgers wins 21-17 in front of 49,453 hand-counted fans.

RUTGERS 23 Illinois 19 in front of 35,556 at peak

 

[RU-Hunter]

RU 24 - Illinois 17

 

[RUfromNJ]

Line has shifted by 3.5 pts towards RU since Weds