Nebraska visits Illinois for the Illini’s Big Ten opener Friday night. Here are The Champaign Room staff’s predictions.
Stephen Cohn: Illinois 24, Nebraska 10
Illinois’ freshmen will have to continue to play at a high level to allow the touchdown-underdog Illini to pull off a two-score win over Nebraska. Cornhusker QB Tanner Lee will likely provide opportunities for the Illini secondary to swat some balls and pick off a few passes, but it will be the offense’s freshmen tasked with making QB Chayce Crouch’s job easier and manageable. Tight end Louis Dorsey hauled in three catches in Illinois’ 47-23 loss to South Florida last time out, and he should become a main target in Garrick McGee’s offensive system.