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2008 College Football Predictions Illinois Fighting Illini

by Thomas Jensen on Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Illinois is coming off a great season in which it beat Ohio State on the road and played in the Rose Bowl. Online Sportsbook BetUS.com has the Illinois Fighting Illini +3300 odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship. The question now is if Ron Zook's boys can prove that last year was no fluke. Find out where Expert Football Handicapper Jimmy Boyd sees the Illini finishing in his 2008 Illinois Fighting Illini College Football Predictions and Season Preview for Point-Spreads.com.

Offense – The Juice was loose in the open field often enough last season in Illinois' zone-spread offense. I'm, of course, referring to QB Juice Williams. He really starred in that win against the Buckeyes throwing for four touchdown passes. He'll be playing under more pressure this season with the departure of running back Rashard Mendenhall to the NFL. Illinois will no doubt have to be able to pass the ball better in 2008. If they had been able to pass it the way they did against Ohio State all season, they could have run the table. Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley is confident that Williams will be a better pocket passer this year. Illinois has an excellent offensive line and that will make life fairly easy for Williams and Mendenhall's replacement. The top candidates to replace Mendenhall are Daniel Dufrene and Mikel LeShoure. Dufrene was the top backup last season. Star receiver Arrelious Benn and tight end Jeff Cumberland are great air options that should keep the defense honest. The spread-option should be a tough offense to stop once again on Saturday's.

Defense – Coach Zook's background is on the defensive side of the ball and it has showed. Defensive end Will Davis should be even more effective this season after bulking up 20 pounds. Tackles Josh Brent and D'Angelo McCray are two of the more athletic down linemen you'll see. They make plays and don't just take up space. Linebacker Rodney Pittman was voted the team's most improved player in the spring and we're expecting big things from him. He and outside linebacker Martez Wilson both have great range. Star corner Vontae Davis is a future first rounder and will be able to lock up the top receiver on any team. Travon Bellamy and Donsay Hardeman will join him in the secondary.

Special Teams – The kicking games needs to be better in 2008. Punter Anthony Santella was very inconsistent last season. He looked fine in the spring, but it's a whole different ball of wax booting it on Saturday's. Derek Dimke is the favorite to take over the kicking duties. Arrelious Benn is a great return man, but he might not take too many this season to try to limit his chronic shoulder injuries. Kyle Hudson could fill in. He's not am open-field blazer like Benn, but he has good hands and is smart with the football.

College Football Predictions for the 2008 Illinois Fighting Illini – 3rd in Big Ten

Zook has built himself a contender in a relatively short period of time. Games at Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin will be tough, but they get Ohio State at home this time around. With a few newcomers stepping up, I think Illinois should be able to put together another nine win season.

BetUS.com has posted college football predictions betting odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship:

LSU +1200

Southern Cal +300

California +4500

Ohio State +1000

Wisconsin +3000

Boston College +12500

Florida +600

Kentucky +10000

South Florida +5000

Oklahoma +900

Georgia +900