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For their first Big Ten game of the season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have a legitimate shot of proving to the rest of the conference that they are no fluke and they are there to stay atop the league. Bo Pelini is looking to finally break his spell of four-loss seasons as he has had one in every year he has been the head coach of the Huskers.
Tim Beckman is one of the coaches in the nation that is sure to be on the hot seat this season and he better have his team ready to put up a fight in week five against Nebraska or he will be out of a job faster than you can say ‘Illinois Fighting Illini.’ With a 3-1 record this season, Beckman is just one win away from trying his total from 2013 and proving doubters wrong.
It seems to be a trend that Big Ten teams like to pound the ball. Nebraska ranks seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game behind the strong attack of senior running back and All-Big Ten second-teamer Ameer Abdullah. The Alabama native has been a force this season, racking up 625 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry while catching five passes for 108 yards and two scores including a game-winner against McNeese State. In his first year as a full-time starter, quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. has been fairly impressive. The sophomore has passed for 886 yards and nine touchdowns while also standing second on the team in rushing, racking up 354 yards and two touchdowns on 8.9 yards per carry. Jordan Westerkamp has been the new quarterback’s top target along with All-Big Ten receiver Kenny Bell. Both have 14 catches while Westerkamp has 285 yards and three scores, Bell has 284 yards and one touchdown.
Illinois has a new quarterback under center this season as well. The Fighting Illini had relied upon Nathan Scheelhaase for the past few years before he graduated last spring, leaving the duties as team leader up to Oklahoma State-transfer Wes Lunt. The talented first-year starter has passed for 1,237 yards and 11 touchdowns with just three interceptions for the Illini as he is putting Scheelhaase’s passing game to shame thus far. If it weren’t for the production from the receivers, Lunt wouldn’t have the numbers that he has now and Geronimo Allison leads the way for the team, catching 16 passes for 300 yards and two scores. Mike Dudek, however, leads the team in receptions and touchdown catches, snatching 19 passes for 249 yards and three endzone trips. Four more Illini receivers have caught more than 10 passes for over 100 yards. The run game hasn’t been nearly as impressive, though, as it ranks 113th in the nation in yards per game. Josh Ferguson leads the sluggish attack with 316 yards and three scores on an impressive 6.3 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Fighting Illini have failed to put it all together this season. Illinois’ defense has been the reason for the close calls against lesser opponents this season as it ranks 103rd nationally in points allowed per game and 95th in total yards allowed per game. Nebraska, on the other hand, has been much-improved, ranking 34th in points allowed per game and 32nd in total yards allowed per contest. Many believed the defense was the weakness of this team, but it has been anything but this season. It will need to shut down the Illini offense in week five in order to keep the boisterous home fans happy in Lincoln, Neb.
Illinois will travel to Nebraska to take on the Huskies at 9 p.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 27. The game will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network.
PREDICTION: Illinois 24, Nebraska 42
Want to see the Cornhuskers take on the Illini in week five? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
