LDN - Sports

Can Illini run with the Bulls?

[September 13, 2017] The Sports Xchange

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Fighting Illini of Illinois admitted they were insulted before last week's game because they were 6½-point underdogs against Conference USA opponent Western Kentucky.

Illinois went out and whipped the Hilltoppers on both sides of the line to earn a 20-7 win.

On Friday night, when Illinois visits No. 22 South Florida in Tampa, they will be underdogs by more than two touchdowns. There is no need for it to be insulted by this line.

The Bulls are deeper, more experienced and boast more playmakers.

This is also the first road game for the Illinois, which has only nine seniors and 25 upperclassmen on the roster.

It's unrealistic to expect them to play like a seasoned team in this game, but there's no question they gained confidence and a touch of swagger from last week's outcome.

"One of our goals for our season was to start 3-0, and now we have a chance to do that," Illinois coach Lovie Smith said. "We're in a pretty good position, exactly where we wanted to be. It was good getting that win."

If the Illini are to pull off what would be a major upset, they could do a lot worse than replicating the formula that worked so well against Western Kentucky.

Illinois ran the ball and stopped the run, allowing only six yards on the ground while getting 111 yards from freshman running back Mike Epstein.

Special teams play was solid.

Chase McLaughlin kicked two field goals and punter Blake Hayes compensated for a lack of distance by preventing the Hilltoppers from breaking any big returns.

The passing game could have been better, and nine penalties for 95 yards runs counter to Smith's philosophy of few flags, but the final result was nothing about which to quibble.

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This was the kind of feel-good win the program hasn't had many of since coach Ron Zook was canned following the 2011 season. There will be rough patches this year, but there is at least a reference point, and for Illinois, that's a real starting point.

"One of the things we've talked about is being consistently good throughout, and we need to be able to show that more often," Smith said.

--QB Chayce Crouch again impressed few with his passing skills, hitting 14 of 25 throws for only 107 yards against a Western Kentucky team which allowed more than 300 yards to an FCS foe in its opener. Crouch will have to make more throws this week against South Florida, which figures to be tougher to run against than the Hilltoppers. Averaging less than eight yards per completion won't cut it.

--RB Mike Epstein has needed less than two full games to become this team's focal point offensively. Epstein showed all the attributes a good back needs against Western Kentucky, going for 111 yards on 21 carries. He ran with patience when it was needed, displayed burst when required and constantly ran north-to-south.

--DE Bobby Roundtree offered the kind of pass rush that will really help the Illini's version of the Tampa 2 thrive, sacking the quarterback twice and forcing a fumble in the win over Western Kentucky. At 6-5 and 245 pounds, the freshman from Largo, Fla., was a reason why the Hilltoppers' highly-touted passing game never managed any traction. Corraling South Florida QB Quinton Flowers might be a tougher task.

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