2014 Record: 6-7
2015 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 3.5*
2015 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'
I was one of the only football handicappers in the country that was buying Illinois stock last year, easily predicting that the Illini would sail over their season win total. They didn't disappoint, winning six games and making it into a bowl game. They have a load of starters back. But a more difficult schedule should keep them from coming close to that number of wins this year.
But all they have to do is get to four. Can they do it?
Illinois has seven starters back on each side of the ball, including junior transfer Wes Lunt. He was a revelation last season and provided a steady hand at the helm. His top running back and four top receivers are back, and we'll see if Illinois can break into the top half of the national rankings in total offense.
Defense is another matter. They were No. 109 in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense. Unless those seven returning starters improve by leaps and bounds this team will still be a pushover.
Illinois should get off to a decent start, with three winnable nonconference home games. The problem is that Illinois' two most winnable league games are both on the road, at Iowa and at Purdue. I don't see them stealing any Big Ten home games. So they will have win at Chapel Hill over UNC or in Chicago against Northwestern to get that fourth win.
I think they can do it. I swam against the tide with this group last year and will do so again this season. Play Illinois 'over'.
2015 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME (ET) |
Location |
Result |
|
Fri, Sep 4th, 2015 |
KentState |
09:00 PM |
Memorial Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Sep 12th, 2015 |
WesternIll |
TBA |
Memorial Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Sep 19th, 2015 |
at NorthCarolina |
12:00 PM |
Kenan Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Sep 26th, 2015 |
MiddleTennessee |
TBA |
Memorial Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Oct 3rd, 2015 |
Nebraska |
TBA |
Memorial Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Oct 10th, 2015 |
at Iowa |
12:00 PM |
Kinnick Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Oct 24th, 2015 |
Wisconsin |
03:30 PM |
Memorial Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Oct 31st, 2015 |
at PennState |
TBA |
Beaver Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Nov 7th, 2015 |
at Purdue |
12:00 PM |
Ross-Ade Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Nov 14th, 2015 |
OhioState |
TBA |
Memorial Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Nov 21st, 2015 |
at Minnesota |
TBA |
TCF Bank Stadium |
|
|
Sat, Nov 28th, 2015 |
Northwestern |
TBA |
Memorial Stadium |
|
All Times EST
*Season Win Total Odds from 5Dimes Sportsbook.
Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past two years, earning nearly $13,000 in total football profit with back-to-back winning seasons. Robert has tallied over $20,000 in football profit the last four years and in 2013 he hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58). Robert has produced an incredible 12 of 16 winning football months. Going back further he has churned out 35 of 51 winning football months, four of five winning overall seasons, seven of eight winning preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 600 football picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted two of three winning seasons and is 101-71 over the last two years (58.7 percent).
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