Illinois vs. Northwestern Prediction, Game Preview
Illinois vs. Northwestern prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, November 27
Illinois vs. Northwestern How To Watch
Date: Saturday, November 27
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
How To Watch: Big Ten Network
Record: Illinois (4-7), Northwestern (3-8)
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Illinois vs Northwestern Game Preview
Why Northwestern Will Win
The Northwestern offense has a whole lot of problems, but that’s okay – Illinois doesn’t really score.
The Illini got 23 in the loss to Iowa last week, and that was a stretch. This is a grinding team that wants to keep the score around 17-14, and that fits the Wildcats just fine.
Northwestern will be slow and go, and as long as it can stay conservative and not force anything with the passing game, this will be close in the fourth quarter. The game will never get away from the offense.
But, really …
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Why Illinois Will Win
Northwestern just doesn’t score. At all.
It hasn’t pushed past 14 points in any of the last five games and isn’t going to get into the 20s unless something crazy happens.
Illinois isn’t going to do anything wacky, mainly because it’s not able to. Run, run, and run some more on a Wildcat defensive front that allowed 260 yards or more in three of four games before getting a Purdue team that threw for a bazillion yards.
Keep it conservative, own the ground game, win the turnover battle. Illinois can do that, and …
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What’s Going To Happen
There’s still a distant outside chance that Illinois can go bowling at 5-7 if a whole lot of bowl slots are open and the games need someone based on the Academic Progress Rate. For now, just beating Northwestern would be a big deal for the program.
Don’t expect any fireworks. The game will go by in a snap as both teams keep the clock moving, but Illinois will be +2 in turnover margin and get just a little more going with its ground game.
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Illinois vs Northwestern Prediction, Lines
Illinois 23, Northwestern 16
Line: Illinois -6.5, o/u: 43.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 2.5
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