Mississippi State football vs. Illinois in ReliaQuest Bowl: Scouting report, score prediction

STARKVILLE — In its first matchup towards a Large Ten foe since 2019, a well-known face awaits Mississippi State soccer.

MSU (8-4, 4-4 SEC) is taking up Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Large Ten) within the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2 (11 a.m., ESPN2) in Tampa − the primary matchup between the packages since 1980. Roaming the sidelines for the Illini is former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema.

Bielema spent 5 seasons in Fayetteville teaching the Razorbacks to a 29-34 mark. In that stretch, he was 1-4 towards Mississippi State and Dan Mullen.

After his firing in 2017, Bielema received away from the faculty recreation. He frolicked working with the New England Patriots earlier than returning to the Large Ten final season to educate the Illini.

Yr 2 noticed Illinois bounce from 5 wins to eight wins, and the reward is Bielema’s first profession matchup with Mississippi State coach Mike Leach.

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Mississippi State offense vs. Illinois protection

A troublesome take a look at awaits Mississippi State’s Air Raid offense with the Large Ten’s high protection on the opposing aspect. The Illini enable simply 263.8 whole yards and 165.4 passing yards per contest. Defensive again Sydney Brown is a big purpose why.

Brown, together with Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes and 5 others, is tied for second within the nation with six interceptions. With Brown’s presence, MSU quarterback Will Rogers could also be pressured to look the other approach.

Mississippi State in all probability will enter the bowl recreation thinned at vast receiver with Rara Thomas coming into the switch portal.

Illinois’ rush protection, which ranks second within the Large Ten, doesn’t enable a significantly better possibility for Leach, although Mississippi State’s greatest offensive success this season has come when establishing a working recreation.

If Illinois is ready to comprise working backs Jo’quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson, it might make MSU one-dimensional. That’s not at all times the worst-case state of affairs for an Air Raid offense, however towards a potent move protection, it might create issue.

Story continues

Mississippi State protection vs. Illinois offense

For as robust because the Illinois protection has been, there’s an apparent scapegoat for why the Illini completed the season dropping three of 4 video games. The offense has been inconsistent. Illinois averages 25 factors per recreation, however the determine dips to 19 in losses.

Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito took over because the starter this season after transferring from Syracuse. He’s proven flashes, with three video games of greater than 250 passing yards.

Nonetheless, that’s been met with seven video games of fewer than 200 yards. Luckily for DeVito, he has working again Chase Brown on his aspect.

Brown ranks second within the Large Ten and third within the nation with 137 dashing yards per recreation. He scored 10 touchdowns on the bottom and poses a menace within the passing recreation with almost 9 yards per reception – although he has caught simply 27 passes.

The return of Jaden Crumedy to the defensive position has offered a lift for MSU’s rush protection. If the unit can decelerate Illinois’ working recreation, lacking Forbes could not matter a lot.

Particular groups

Illinois kicker Caleb Griffin has a touchback proportion under 70%. That could possibly be a problem with MSU kickoff return Lideatrick Griffin – who leads the nation with 32.3 yards per kick return – on the opposite aspect.

Illinois punter Hugh Robertson creates some concern as effectively. He averages a Large Ten-worst 39.2 yards per punt. MSU’s Zavion Thomas is second within the SEC with almost 14 yards per punt return.

Prediction

Mississippi State 20, Illinois 10: The Illinois protection is a legit menace to an MSU workforce with out maybe its greatest menace at outdoors receiver. Nonetheless, the Mississippi State protection can have its approach towards an Illinois offense that has been ugly at instances. Large Ten vs. SEC video games present further motivation, and MSU ought to look to symbolize its convention effectively − even in a recreation that received’t be aesthetically pleasing.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat author for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or observe him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This text initially appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State soccer vs. Illinois: Scouting report, prediction