3 ways Illinois can beat South Florida on Saturday at Soldier Field

[Brad]

3 ways Illinois can beat South Florida on Saturday at Soldier Field

By Shannon RyanContact Reporter

Chicago Tribune

TV/ radio: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field; BTN, WBMX-FM-HD2 104.3.

Line: South Florida by 10.

 

Records: South Florida 2-0; Illinois 2-0.

1. Defense needs to be up to the task.

This might be one of the defense’s hardest assignments of the season. The USF offense racked up 47 points and 680 yards in last year’s meeting in Tampa, Fla., a 24-point Illini loss that sent the season into a downward spiral. The Bulls totaled 515 and 426 yards in victories over Elon (34-14) and Georgia Tech (49-38), and quarterback Blake Barnett — a former five-star recruit who originally signed with Alabama before transferring to Arizona State and then USF — is averaging 314.5 yards of total offense with five touchdown passes and one interception. The Illini defense has shown a knack for takeaways with five in two games. It could use some Saturday.

2. Avoid falling behind.

Illinois trailed Western Illinois 7-0 after the first quarter and Kent State 17-3 at halftime. The Illini came back to win both games, scoring a combined 31 third-quarter points and shutting out both opponents in the fourth quarter, but they can’t afford a slow start against the Bulls. Getting the crowd involved early could help; Illinois is winless in three previous games at Soldier Field, losing to Northwestern 24-14 in 2015, to Washington 34-24 in 2013 and to Washington State 10-9 in 1994.

3. Establish a strong running game.

Illinois scored more points in each of the first two games than in any game last season. But the Illini, who also like a quick pace, probably don’t want to get into a track meet with USF’s zippy offense. The rushing attack, which ranks 27th nationally with 258.5 yards per game, has been balanced among Reggie Corbin, Mike Epstein, Ra’Von Bonner and quarterback AJ Bush Jr. Epstein is averaging 8.6 yards on his 16 carries. Maybe this is the game he takes on a bigger workload. The passing game, meanwhile, is full of questions. Freshman M.J. Rivers II filled in nicely for the injured Bush last week, and it’s uncertain who will play Saturday. The Illini might get receiver Ricky Smalling back from an injury, but Mike Dudek and Edwin Carter are out for the season.

Shannon Ryan’s pick: The Illini are still too short-handed with injuries and possible lingering suspensions. They’ll struggle to contain the Bulls. South Florida 42, Illinois 21.

sryan@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @sryantribune

[Brad]

Who's got the edge — Illinois or South Florida?

 

Sat, 09/15/2018 - 7:00am | Scott Richey

 

OFFENSE

Illinois and South Florida both run variations on the spread offense. Variations that couldn't be much different. The Illini are run first — from the quarterback down — with more than 60 percent of their total offense coming on the ground. AJ Bush Jr.'s hamstring injury creates some uncertainty about that production. South Florida's passing game is responsible for a similar percentage of the Bulls' production, as they've relied more on the arm of their own transfer quarterback. Former Alabama and Arizona State signal-caller Blake Barnett has completed 69 percent of his passes for 507 yards and five touchdowns through two games.

Advantage: South Florida

DEFENSE

South Florida's total defense ranking is skewed by giving up 602 yards to Georgia Tech — a game the Bulls ultimately won. They handled business better in Week 1 against Elon by giving up just 234 yards to the Phoenix. Illinois ranks just four spots higher than South Florida at No. 91 nationally after giving up an average of 407.5 yards per game to Kent State and Western Illinois. That included 453 yards to a more explosive Kent State team with Woody Barrett at quarterback, but still a team that finished 2017 ranked 129th (of 130 teams) in total offense and 361 yards to an FCS team last week in the Leathernecks.

Advantage: South Florida

SPECIAL TEAMS

Blocked punts are rare. Scoring on them is rarer. So Illinois can't always count on the Dawson DeGroot/Stanley Green combo that put points on the board against Western Illinois. Special teams is more about field position, and the Illini will regularly win that battle with Blake Hayes at punter. That's what gives them an edge. Otherwise it's a push. The Bulls have a viable weapon in freshman kick returner Terrence Horne, who returned consecutive kickoffs for 98-yard touchdowns last week against Georgia Tech. Illinois' counter? Chase McLaughlin. The redshirt senior kicker has 11 touchbacks on 13 kickoffs through two games.

Advantage: Illinois

COACHING

Charlie Strong fizzled at Texas before taking control at South Florida last season. Given Tom Herman's early struggles, the Longhorns' gig might just be a no-win type of job these days, and Strong did inherit a talented team in Tampa in 2017. When it comes to college football careers, Strong has the edge on Illinois' Lovie Smith. All four of Strong's Louisville teams made bowl games. So did his first in Austin. Closing in on four decades in college football, adapting and adjusting as the game changed, is an advantage for Strong, who has a 65-39 career record. Smith's stands at just 7-19 in his third season back in college after a 20-year stint in the NFL.

Advantage: South Florida

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[Brad]

Bulletin board material: Who stops the Illini in Chicago? Da Bulls.

 

Sat, 09/15/2018 - 7:00am | The News-Gazette

 

Bob Asmussen, Football beat writer

You can get away with losing five players to suspensions against Kent State and Western Illinois. But Illinois needs a full roster to beat the Bulls. Thanks to the run game and defense, the Illini hang close before USF puts the game away with a late TD. Maybe the Illini will start 3-0 in 2019 against Akron, UConn and Eastern Michigan.

Prediction: South Florida 24, Illinois 14

Scott Richey, Football beat writer

Last year's game in Tampa turned out to be the beginning of the end for Illinois. The 24-point loss to the Bulls was the first of what was eventually 10 straight to end the season. The Illini are underdogs again in Chicago. What they can't afford is another loss like last year's that could start a similar skid through the Big Ten.

Prediction: South Florida 40, Illinois 27

Matt Daniels, Sports editor

If the game is in Champaign, maybe this one goes to the Illini. Then again, maybe not. South Florida has talented athletes all over the field and a gifted quarterback in Blake Barnett. Unless Brian Urlacher, Matt Forte and Devin Hester are in an Illinois uniform today, Lovie Smith's return to Soldier Field doesn't end on a positive note.

Prediction: South Florida 35, Illinois 21

Colin Likas, Prep sports coordinator

A quarterback who is averaging 254 passing yards and 61 ground yards per contest doesn't sound like one the Illinois defense is prepared to stop, based on the first two weeks. Blake Barnett should give the Illini fits in the first half before the two teams take in the Chicago scenery the rest of the way. Guessing that's not why this game is at Soldier Field.

Prediction: South Florida 31, Illinois 14

Joe Vozzelli, Sports copy editor

A win in Lovie Smith's return to Soldier Field? Forget about it. South Florida quarterback Blake Barnett will ensure that. In the first two games, Illinois had the clear talent advantage (against the likes of Kent State and Western Illinois) and both opponents still made the Illini work hard to avoid an upset. The Bulls are the more talented side in this one.

Prediction: South Florida 30, Illinois 16

Jordan J. Wilson, Sports copy editor

If you'd asked me before the season if Illinois could beat South Florida, I would have said probably not. So why have faith now with an abundance of injured and suspended Illini players and two half-baked wins over weaker foes? Because they have enough talent in the right spots, and all of them know its their first best chance to change the narrative.

Prediction: Illinois 24, South Florida 21

Mike Colgan, Sports staffer

If the college football season is a banquet, the Illini jumped straight to dessert and started the year with two cupcakes. Now that Lovie Smith and the Illini are moving to the meatier portion of the schedule, the going will be tougher than a $2 steak. Charlie Strong and his South Florida Bulls will put this game out of reach in the first half.

Prediction: South Florida 55, Illinois 10

 

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There are not many people in Chicago that think the Fighting Illini have a chance....found one guy...

[Triple B]

****, all that crap makes me nervous as hell  

[Brad]

Big-Game Hunting: Illini take another crack at USF in Soldier Field rematch

BySteve Greenberg

 

@SLGreenberg | email

 

How was Bobby Roundtree supposed to feel? He was one of 10 true freshmen — five on each side of the ball — who started for Illinois in a hopeless 47-23 defeat last September at South Florida. He was dehydrated on the field and required an IV at halftime.

As the Bulls’ offense rolled up massive totals of 680 yards and 38 first downs, Roundtree, a defensive end from the Tampa area, tried not to think of the 40 or so family members and friends in the stands at Raymond James Stadium.

‘‘It was tough,’’ he said. ‘‘That was my third college game. I was burned out, tired.’’

The Illini entered that game with a 2-0 record and ended the season — coach Lovie Smith’s second at the helm — at 2-10. As we get ready for the USF at Illinois rematch Saturday at Soldier Field (2:30 p.m., BTN, 104.3-FM), with both teams again at 2-0, the question hangs in the air: Is this another hopeless scenario for the Illini?

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