Week 6 Illinois Opponent Preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-4)

Rutgers is having a blackout game, at noon. And to be fair, the jerseys are fire.

BLACK IS THE NEW SCARLET🔥🔥

Here’s your first look at our new @adidasFballUS BLACKOUT uniforms!

Check them out on Saturday 10.6.18 vs. Illinois. #TheHunt #TheBirthplace #TeamAdidas pic.twitter.com/QJBRk4P2fY

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) September 27, 2018

But lets be clear, Champaign is well prepared for the blackout at noon. We don’t need a special promo to do that.

Rutgers Offense

Artur Sitowski was so bad in Rutger’s last outing, Giovanni Rescigno got a chance at QB. Rutgers ranks 126th (out of 129) in points scored, 104th in rushing offense, 120th in passing offense, 127th in scrimmage plays longer than 20 yards, 114th in 3rd down conversions and 106th in fumbles lost. It’s safe to say that the Rutgers offense isn’t very good. Rutgers is averaging 4.20 yards a play, a great number but not a number you want to have. Rutgers has had less than 300 yards of offense 4 times in 5 games and a 150 or less rushing yards in 4 games and 205 yards or less all 5 games in this season. This isn’t a high powered offense. If Illinois can hold them to under 300 yards, this game is winnable. Illinois can’t stop the QB run, but we don’t have to worry about that since Rutgers has a combined -29 yards from quarterbacks on 17 attempts.

Rutgers Defense

Rutgers is 106th in points allowed, 109th in rushing defense, 76th in passing defense and 76th in plays longer than 10 yards allowed. Rutgers also is 112nd in sacks with 6, 82nd in Tackles for loss, 109th in 3rd down conversions allowed and is 122nd in the turnover margin. The Scarlet Knight defense is allowing more than 6.29 yards a play and over 430 yards a game. Illinois should be able to move the ball at ease, especially after that Penn State.

Bottom Line

It has been 23 months since Illinois has won its last Big 10 game. The last one was against Michigan State in 2016 when the Illini won in Champaign 31-27. This team in hungry. This team is good. This is the perfect chance against a stumbling team. But this is Illinois and I can’t discount the inevitable messup.