2013 Record: 4-8

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 4.5*

2014 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

Given its location and recruiting base, it doesn't make sense that Illinois is as pathetic at football as it is. But the Illini have gone just 44-77 over the last 10 years and just 6-18 in Tim Beckman's first two seasons. Beckman strikes me as a guy that is in way over his head and I don't expect much progress in the crucial third year of his tenure.

Illinois has six starters back on offense, including four along the offensive line. The key for the Illini will be Oklahoma State transfer quarterback Wes Lundt. If he can kick the offense into gear then Illinois could be feisty this season. The defense, which finished No. 110 in the nation overall and No. 104 in points allowed, has eight starters back but a lot of work to do.

Illinois has the toughest road schedule in the Big Ten, with road games at Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Northwestern. They also have a game at Washington in the nonconference portion of their slate. They won't win any of those games.

But the Illini host weak sisters Youngstown State, Western Kentucky, Texas State and Purdue. They could, and should, win all four of those contests. That leaves home games against Minnesota, Iowa and Penn State to determine if Illinois will beat this year's Las Vegas season win total.

I think Illinois will do it. I would go against public perception with this rotten group and I would play Illinois 'over'.

2014 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Sat, Aug 30th, 2014 Youngstown St TBA Memorial Stadium

Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 Western KY TBA Memorial Stadium

Sat, Sep 13th, 2014 at Washington 04:00 PM Husky Stadium

Sat, Sep 20th, 2014 Texas State TBA Memorial Stadium

Sat, Sep 27th, 2014 at Nebraska 09:00 PM Memorial Stadium

Sat, Oct 4th, 2014 Purdue TBA Memorial Stadium

Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 at Wisconsin TBA Camp Randall Stadium

Sat, Oct 25th, 2014 Minnesota 12:00 PM Memorial Stadium

Sat, Nov 1st, 2014 at Ohio State 08:00 PM Ohio Stadium

Sat, Nov 15th, 2014 Iowa TBA Memorial Stadium

Sat, Nov 22nd, 2014 Penn State TBA Memorial Stadium

Sat, Nov 29th, 2014 at Northwestern TBA Ryan Field

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from Raphael Esparza. Esparza was a Las Vegas sportsbook manager for 13 years at some of the largest books on The Strip. He is a proven oddsmaker and this is his projected total.

Robert Ferringo was the top football handicapper in the country last year, earning nearly $8,000 in total football profit in 2013-14 and posting one of the best seasons in America. He hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58) and was amazing down the stretch, closing with 11 of 14 winning NFL weeks and 12 of 15 overall winning football weeks. Robert has posted 3 of 4 winning football seasons, 6 of 7 winning NFL seasons, 30 of 44 winning football months, and 6 of 7 winning NFL preseasons. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System posted another winning season (now 2-for-2) and is 83-58 over the last two years (58.9 percent).

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