Matchup Preview: Rutgers at Illinois

Illinois is a 20-point home favorite for the first time since 2010 when they host Rutgers.

Rutgers at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019: 2:30 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 60,670

Records: Illinois 4-4 overall, 2-3 Big Ten, 4-8 in 2018 (2-7 in Big Ten); Rutgers 2-6 overall, 0-5 in Big Ten, 1-11 (0-9 in Big Ten) in 2018.

Line: Illinois by 20.5. Since 2000, Illinois has only been a 20-point home favorite in a Big Ten Conference game only once - a 38-34 loss to Minnesota on Nov. 13, 2010.

Series notes: The all-time series favors Illinois 3-2 after the teams split a non-conference home-and-home contract in 2005 and 2006. Illinois has won two of the three Big Ten Conference games since Rutgers joined the league.

TV: BTN;  Kevin Kugler (PBP), Matt Millen (analyst) and Elise Menaker (sidelines).

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis) and Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius (138) / XM (195) satellite radio & SiriusXM Internet (957), and at FightingIllini.com.

Rutgers running game vs. Illinois run defense

For the first time since the Big Ten opener against Nebraska, Illinois will face an offense that features designed running plays for the quarterback. One of the major philosophical differences since Rutgers fired Chris Ash on September 29 was to play quarterback Johnny Langan, the signal-caller current Rutgers interim head coach Nunzio Campanile had at Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey. Last week, in a win over Liberty, Langan rushed for 118 yards on 21 carries, becoming the first Rutgers quarterback to rush for 100-plus yards since Sam Mudie did it against Lehigh in 1961. Langan also tossed a career-high 192 yards on 15-of-21 passing, finding wide receivers Eddie Lewis and Isaiah Washington for the first two touchdown passes of his career. Illinois will likely have to play its safeties differently and make sure it doesn't break containment in its pass rush to monitor the dual-threat capabilities of Langan. In its six losses, Rutgers averages just 94.33 yards per game on the ground. In its last two wins, Illinois is allowing opponents 3.34 yards-per-attempt. 

Edge: Illinois

Rutgers passing game vs. Illinois pass defense

Nunzio Campanile is proving the answer of fans everywhere of "Well, why don't you just rip up the playbook and try a different scheme other than what you organized in the summer during preseason camp?" The Rutgers interim coach instituted a more run spread attack but because of the talent difference between them and the rest of the Big Ten Conference, they're down early and need to throw. This is a one-dimensional offense (proven by the 1 YARD PASSING they finished with at Indiana) and last week at Purdue you saw what happens when Illinois makes a team play with its less dominated hand - turnovers. 

Edge: Illinois in a significant way

Illinois running game vs. Rutgers run defense

Reggie Corbin said two weeks ago the Illini offense it still needs to be running the football and controlling the time of possession. Last week showed how much help Corbin has in the form of Dre Brown. In its last two games, Illinois has averaged 191.5 yards per game on the ground and Rutgers is 104th among 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools (worst in the Big Ten Conference) in stopping the run. 

Edge: Illinois in a significant way

Illinois passing game vs. Rutgers pass defense

This is the game where Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters can and should work on things as they continue to work in inexperienced receiving options of Casey Washington and Donny Navarro opposite of Josh Imatorbhebhe. Rutgers has allowed 335, 290, 297, 245 and 282 through the air and the Scarlet Knights don't have an individual with more than two sacks. The weather in West Lafayette make it nearly impossible to throw the football but look for Illinois to utilize tight end Daniel Barker as a safety blanket for Peters in the middle of the field.  

Edge: Illinois in a significant way

Special teams

Illinois has a decided edge in this phase once again. The Fighting Illini may have one of the best punters in the nation as Lovie Smith calls him “a weapon” for a defensive coach who loves to play the field position game. Blake Hayes ranks 17th in FBS and third in the Big Ten in punting average (45.0) and has helped the Illini rank 26th in FBS in net punting (40.90 ypp). 12 of Hayes’ punts have been downed within the 10-yard line and six have been downed on the 1- or 2-yard line. Only 15 of his 50 punts have been returned. Illini kicker James McCourt is one of just four players in FBS with at least two 50-plus field goals this season and all seven of his made field goals are from 38 or more yards and three are from 50 or more.  On kickoffs, McCourt  On kickoffs, McCourt ranks 17th in FBS in average (63.86 ypk) and 23rd in touchback percentage (69.7%). Rutgers kicker Junior Justin Davidovicz went 3-for-3 on field goals and made all five extra points last time out for a career-high 14 points. He improved to 13-for-14 in his career on field goals inside 40 yards.

Edge: Illinois

Intangibles

Illinois needs this game to make sure they have a high chance of getting to bowl eligibility this season. Rutgers has that feel of playing out the string while those in the athletics department offices search for its next head coach. 

Edge: Illinois

PREDICTION
With the two-week transformation of the Illinois defense, there doesn't seem to be a category that Rutgers can carry itself to make the game close in the fourth quarter. I'm sure Illinois offensive coordinator Rod Smith would like to see an advancement of his team's passing game. Rutgers is coming off a win, things not said often, and this is the last game this patchwork coaching staff can put on tape to showcase for future employment either with Rutgers or elsewhere. 

Illinois 31, Rutgers 7