Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema is many things to many people. But the 2022 season was a College Football Betting reminder to everyone. Bielema is a talented and resourceful football coach. Previously, before Bielema arrived, Illinois had not posted a winning season since 2011. And it had only two bowl berths in that span. In his second year on the job, Bielema led the 2022 Fighting Illini to a winning record and bowl berth. Illinois even had a serious look at the Big Ten West Division title. Now the Fighting Illini are attracting attention.
College Football Team Preview 2023 Illinois Fighting Illini
| Odds to Win National Championship: | +25000 |
|---|---|
| Odds to Win Big Ten Championship: | +5000 |
| Over/Under Win Total: | 6.5 |
2023 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule
- Aug 26 OPEN DATE
- Sept 2 Toledo
- Sept 9 at Kansas
- Sept 16 Penn State
- Sept 23 Florida Atlantic
- Sept 30 at Purdue
- Oct 7 Nebraska
- Oct 14 at Maryland
- Oct 21 Wisconsin
- Oct 28 OPEN DATE
- Nov 4 at Minnesota
- Nov 11 Indiana
- Nov 18 at Iowa
- Nov 25 Northwestern
2023 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview
Perhaps even sweeter for Bret Bielema, he won his return game at Wisconsin against a Badger program he once led to three Rose Bowls. Now comes the high expectations that follow such a breakout season. Bielema has a career record of 110-70. But he also has a track record of being unable to handle sportsbook success. Illinois posted its first winning season since 2011 last fall, finishing 8-5 overall and winning five games in Big Ten play. However, exceeding that College Football Betting win total won’t be easy for coach Bret Bielema’s team.
Last year’s strong defense lost its coordinator Ryan Walters to be the head coach at Purdue. That defense is dealing with a lot of turnover in the secondary. Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer was brought in to fill the void left behind by Tommy DeVito at quarterback. But the offense will also miss running back Chase Brown. Correlate if the quarterback play is solid, Illinois has the defense to contend for the school’s first-ever Big Ten West title.
The schedule is manageable. The Illini don’t have to face Michigan or Ohio State from the Big Ten East. Although they face Penn State, it’s at home in the conference opener. Along with facing the Nittany Lions, Illinois has to go to Maryland and gets the break of a home game against Iowa.
In like manner, there’s no complaining about the road slat. Consider the team escapes trips to Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, or Ohio State. Kansas, Purdue, and Maryland will all be battles. And Minnesota and Iowa are make-or-break Big Ten West games. However, the Illinois style of play works well on the road. The schedule has enough winnable road dates to have a big season.
Once upon a time, the Illinois Fighting Illini was a perennial power and a national championship program. The Fighting Illini won the Natty in 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, and 1951. But since those ancient days of glory, Illinois has been a historically mediocre program. Once every 20 years or so, Illinois explodes for a big year. But then they revert to the back of the pack just as fast. Last time Illinois had a landmark season was in 2007. Specifically, then-coach Ron Zook took the program to the Rose Bowl. It was Illinois’ first run for the roses since coach Mike White took them to Pasadena in the 1983 campaign.