Illinois
Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl Prediction Game Preview
Illinois vs Mississippi State prediction, sport preview, odds, easy methods to watch. ReliaQuest Bowl, Monday, January 2, 2023
Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl Prediction Recreation Preview
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Illinois vs Mississippi State How To Watch
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023
Recreation Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
How To Watch: ESPN2
Report: Illinois (8-4), Mississippi State (8-4)
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Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl 5 Issues To Know
ReliaQuest Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Occur, Historical past
– It’s the primary sport of 2023, and it’s the primary sport for Mississippi State with out the late head coach Mike Leach. Total this was a strong season underneath Leach with wins in three of the final 4 video games – together with a win over arch-rival Ole Miss – on the way in which to 2023 bowl sport, however in fact the season and this sport will probably be remembered for Leach.
Nothing goes to instantly change underneath new head coach Zach Arnett. The Bulldogs are nonetheless going to throw the ball a bajillion instances, the protection goes to be strong, and the group ought to be capable to deal with the Illinois model.
– Illinois was one of many 2022 season’s greatest surprises. Underneath head coach Bret Bielema, the offense was powerful up entrance, the protection was among the many greatest within the nation, and all of it labored nicely sufficient to destroy Wisconsin – and finish the Paul Chryst period – beat Iowa, and push Michigan to the brink. It was a tough ending kick with losses to Michigan State and Purdue conserving it out of Large Ten Championship, however this season was just the start of a robust new period of Illinois soccer.
Right here’s the issue. It’s lacking a few of its key stars. Chase Brown was pretty much as good as any operating again within the nation, Luke Ford was a terrific tight finish, and the opt-out losses within the secondary towards this passing group is devastating.
– That is the primary bowl sport for Illinois since dropping the 2019 Redbox to Cal. The final bowl win was towards UCLA within the 2011 Kraft Battle Starvation, and this system is a tough 2-4 in bowls since 1999’s blowout win over Virginia within the Micron PC. Bielema has been first rate in bowls – he went 2-1 at Arkansas – however he was simply 2-4 at Wisconsin with two straight Rose Bowl losses earlier than leaving for the Hog gig.
– Mississippi State was terrific in bowls video games for a protracted stretch – going 9-2 in 11 bowls from the 1999 Peach as much as the top of the Dan Mullen period with a win over Louisville within the 2017 TaxSlayer. Underneath Joe Moorhead and Mike Leach, the Bulldogs went 1-3, getting rocked by Texas Tech 34-7 final yr within the Liberty.
– It’s the inaugural ReliaQuest Bowl, however you in all probability understand it higher because the outdated Outback Bowl. It’s been SEC vs Large Ten after Wisconsin beat Duke in 1995 with the SEC going 16-10 and profitable the final two. Final yr’s 24-10 Arkansas win over Penn State was higher than the ultimate rating, and the earlier 5 had been all determined by one rating.
CFN Specialists CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2
Why Illinois Will Win The ReliaQuest Bowl
The protection actually is that good.
It may be lacking just a few very, essential defensive backs – extra on that in a second – however the model and the D ought to nonetheless work. The Illini completed second within the nation in whole protection behind Air Power, it was first in scoring protection permitting simply 12.2 factors per sport, and most significantly on this, it’s No. 1 within the nation in passing effectivity protection.
The protection allowed fewer than 2,000 yards this season and simply eight touchdowns, and it picked off 22 passes. No, the group didn’t face a slew of high-powered passing groups, however the losses principally got here towards groups that might throw.
There’s one large distinction between what Indiana, Michigan State, and Purdue did of their three wins and what Mississippi State does – downfield passes.
The Bulldogs will throw it 50 instances, however there’s no dashing yards, and there’s nothing occurring in the case of the deep photographs. The passing sport averages underneath ten yards per completion – the third-lowest in faculty soccer – that means the Illini will enable quick passes, after which should make the deal with. They will try this.
Nonetheless …
Prime 100 Bowl Gamers | Rating Bowl Video games So Far
Why Mississippi State Will Win The ReliaQuest Bowl
CB Devon Witherspoon and S Sydney Brown. These are two NFL beginning defensive backs Illinois gained’t have round, and it’s going to matter.
The Illini protection will maintain its personal. Mississippi State can have a tough time shifting the chains, it’ll should cope with a ton of third down moments, and Illinois is pretty much as good as anybody within the nation at developing with third down stops. However the brand new elements within the Illinois secondary will harm simply sufficient to permit Will Rogers and firm to maintain issues shifting.
Sure, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue had been in a position to stretch the sphere a bit, however none of them had been Tennessee when it got here to winging it round. Illinois misplaced 4 video games this yr, going 0-3 when giving up 208 yards or extra, and the fourth loss got here to Michigan State, who accomplished 66% of its passes – the very best completion day by anybody towards Illinois.
Mississippi State was under 208 passing yards simply as soon as – it threw for 203 towards Kentucky – and was solely under 60% thrice. It’s 8-1 when it hits 60% or extra of its throws.
There’s that, and …
ReliaQuest Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Occur, Historical past
NEXT: What’s Going To Occur, Illinois vs Mississippi State Prediction, ReliaQuest Bowl Historical past
Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl, What’s Going To Occur
Mississippi State has a run protection, the group is nice at developing with third down stops, and in contrast to Illinois, it’s not getting hit with key opt-outs and transfers.
There are just a few, however for essentially the most half the Bulldogs needs to be okay with what’s coming again.
The storyline will probably be about Mississippi State’s passing sport and the reminiscence of Mike Leach, however within the sport it’ll be about whether or not or not Illinois can run.
The Illini has to run, and it wants to manage the tempo and the clock. They’re 7-1 when operating for 155 yards or extra, and 1-3 after they don’t. They’ll run for over 155 yards, even with out Chase Brown.
Mississippi State doesn’t win low scoring video games. It’s 8-0 when scoring greater than 20 factors and 0-4 when scoring fewer. Illinois is 8-0 when permitting fewer than 19 factors and 0-4 when permitting that many or extra.
Illinois will sluggish this right down to a useless cease, and the Mississippi State passing model will play into what Bielema’s group wants.
Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl, Prediction, Line
CFN Prediction: Illinois 20, Mississippi State 19
Line: Mississippi State -1.5, o/u: 46
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
ReliaQuest Bowl Should See Score (out of 5): 4
CFN Specialists CFP NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2
ReliaQuest Bowl Historical past
Jan. 1, 2022 Arkansas 24, Penn State 10
Jan. 2, 2021 Ole Miss 26, Indiana 20
Jan. 1, 2020 Minnesota 31, Auburn 24
Jan. 1, 2019 Iowa 27, Mississippi State 22
Jan. 1, 2018 South Carolina 26, Michigan 19
Jan. 2, 2017 Florida 30, Iowa 3
Jan. 1, 2016 Tennessee 45 Northwestern 6
Jan. 1, 2015 Wisconsin 34 Auburn 31
Jan. 1, 2014 LSU 21 Iowa 14
Jan. 1, 2013 South Carolina 33 Michigan 28
Jan. 2, 2012 Michigan State 33 Georgia 30 (3 OT)
Jan. 1, 2011 Florida 37 Penn State 24
Jan. 1, 2010 Auburn 38 Northwestern 35 (OT)
Jan. 1, 2009 Iowa 31 South Carolina 10
Jan. 1, 2008 Tennessee 21 Wisconsin 17
Jan. 1, 2007 Penn State 20 Tennessee 10
Jan. 2, 2006 Florida 31 Iowa 24
Jan. 1, 2005 Georgia 24 Wisconsin 21
Jan. 1, 2004 Iowa 37 Florida 17
Jan. 1, 2003 Michigan 38 Florida 30
Jan. 1, 2002 South Carolina 31 Ohio State 28
Jan. 1, 2001 South Carolina 24 Ohio State 7
Jan. 1, 2000 Georgia 28 Purdue 25
Jan. 1, 1999 Penn State 26 Kentucky 14
Jan. 1, 1998 Georgia 33 Wisconsin 6
Jan. 1, 1997 Alabama 17 Michigan 14
Jan. 1, 1996 Penn State 43 Auburn 14
Jan. 2, 1995 Wisconsin 34 Duke 20
Jan. 1, 1994 Michigan 42 N.C. State 7
Jan. 1, 1993 Tennessee 38 Boston Faculty 23
Jan. 1, 1992 Syracuse 24 Ohio State 7
Jan. 1, 1991 Clemson 30 Illinois 0
Jan. 1, 1990 Auburn 31 Ohio State 14
Jan. 2, 1989 Syracuse 23 LSU 10
Jan. 2, 1988 Michigan 28 Alabama 24
Dec. 23, 1986 Boston Faculty 27 Georgia 24
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Story initially appeared on Faculty Soccer Information