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2008 Illinois College Football Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

Illinois is coming off a great season in which it beat Ohio State on the road and played in the Rose Bowl. The question now is if Ron Zook’s boys can prove that last year was no fluke. Find out where Jimmy Boyd sees the Illini finishing with the college football predictions in his 2008 Illinois Fighting Illini season preview.

Offense

The Juice was loose in the open field often enough last season in Illinois’ zone-spread offense. I’m, of course, referring to QB Juice Williams. He really starred in that win against the Buckeyes throwing for four touchdown passes. He’ll be playing under more pressure this season with the departure of running back Rashard Mendenhall to the NFL. Illinois will no doubt have to be able to pass the ball better in 2008. If they had been able to pass it the way they did against Ohio State all season, they could have run the table. Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley is confident that Williams will be a better pocket passer this year. Illinois has an excellent offensive line and that will make life fairly easy for Williams and Mendenhall’s replacement. The top candidates to replace Mendenhall are Daniel Dufrene and Mikel LeShoure. Dufrene was the top backup last season. Star receiver Arrelious Benn and tight end Jeff Cumberland are great air options that should keep the defense honest. The spread-option should be a tough offense to stop once again on Saturday’s.

Defense

Coach Zook’s background is on the defensive side of the ball and it has showed. Defensive end Will Davis should be even more effective this season after bulking up 20 pounds. Tackles Josh Brent and D’Angelo McCray are two of the more athletic down linemen you’ll see. They make plays and don’t just take up space. Linebacker Rodney Pittman was voted the team’s most improved player in the spring and we’re expecting big things from him. He and outside linebacker Martez Wilson both have great range. Star corner Vontae Davis is a future first rounder and will be able to lock up the top receiver on any team. Travon Bellamy and Donsay Hardeman will join him in the secondary.

Special Teams

The kicking games needs to be better n 2008. Punter Anthony Santella was very inconsistent last season. He looked fine in the spring, but it’s a whole different ball of wax booting it on Saturday’s. Derek Dimke is the favorite to take over the kicking duties. Arrelious Benn is a great return man, but he might not take too many this season to try to limit his chronic shoulder injuries. Kyle Hudson could fill in. He’s not am open-field blazer like Benn, but he has good hands and is smart with the football.

Prediction – 3rd in Big Ten

Zook has built himself a contender in a relatively short period of time. Games at Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin will be tough, but they get Ohio State at home this time around. With a few newcomers stepping up, I think Illinois should be able to put together another nine win season.

Make sure you read all of Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 Big Ten Conference predictions to see how he has one of the best conference in the country playing out. Try Jimmy Boyd’s college football picks on for size this season and you’ll never hunt for another service ever again. Jimmy’s consistent winning over the college football lines keeps his clients coming back.

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