Despite what many are considering the most winnable of the remaining regular season games for Penn State, this game has the feeling of last to get a stop wins.
Illinois doesn't have a whole lot on their resume that blows you away. A 1-point steal from Nebraska is the nicest of the 4 wins. They hung tight with Iowa (who may be the most overrated team in the country) and didn't do too badly against a Wisconsin team that is still a little out of sorts.
When you look at the stats, Illinois has played 1 less game and has given up 12 less points than Penn State. Oddly enough, their offense has scored exactly 12 less points than Penn State, so the two seem a little more evenly matched than I expected.
Illinois is the #3 passing offense in the B1G and the #14 rushing offense which plays into Penn State's hands. The teams that have had success on the PSU defense this year have ran the ball, particularly an option (Army, Ohio State, Maryland). However, Indiana came into Beaver Stadium with a potent aerial attack and came away dominated.
If Penn State can apply a similar gameplan of bringing well-timed blitzes to compliment the front 4 as well as keep Lunt in contain, the result may be similar.
With Illinois 2 wins away from bowl eligibility and Purdue, OSU, Minn, and NW left on the schedule, the Illini may be approaching this as a "must-win" game. Penn State needs to bring the energy they had for the Indiana game... and the fans do, too.
This one has 2013 written all over it.
PENN STATE - 24
illinois - 20
Illinois doesn't have a whole lot on their resume that blows you away. A 1-point steal from Nebraska is the nicest of the 4 wins. They hung tight with Iowa (who may be the most overrated team in the country) and didn't do too badly against a Wisconsin team that is still a little out of sorts.
When you look at the stats, Illinois has played 1 less game and has given up 12 less points than Penn State. Oddly enough, their offense has scored exactly 12 less points than Penn State, so the two seem a little more evenly matched than I expected.
Illinois is the #3 passing offense in the B1G and the #14 rushing offense which plays into Penn State's hands. The teams that have had success on the PSU defense this year have ran the ball, particularly an option (Army, Ohio State, Maryland). However, Indiana came into Beaver Stadium with a potent aerial attack and came away dominated.
If Penn State can apply a similar gameplan of bringing well-timed blitzes to compliment the front 4 as well as keep Lunt in contain, the result may be similar.
With Illinois 2 wins away from bowl eligibility and Purdue, OSU, Minn, and NW left on the schedule, the Illini may be approaching this as a "must-win" game. Penn State needs to bring the energy they had for the Indiana game... and the fans do, too.
This one has 2013 written all over it.
PENN STATE - 24
illinois - 20
