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ESPN’s FPI predicts outcome of Illinois’ Homecoming game against Wisconsin
By Nick Schultz
Published:
There’s sure to be plenty of Illinois alumni in attendance for this weekend’s showdown against Wisconsin.
It’s Homecoming in Champaign, and the Badgers are headed to Memorial Stadium to try and spoil the festivities. According to ESPN’s FPI, they have a good chance to do so — even despite their offensive struggles. The FPI gives Wisconsin a 69.8% chance of beating Illinois Saturday afternoon.
Saturday will mark the first time Bret Bielema faces Paul Chryst. The two worked together at Wisconsin from 2006-11 when Bielema was the head coach and Chryst was his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. It’s just one of the many storylines for the big matchup.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz is questionable with a chest injury, but he practiced this week. The Badgers are coming off a rough loss to Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium last week and are 1-3 for the first time since 1990.
Illinois is having a rough go so far this season, although its 2-4 record could be 4-2 if the ball bounces a different way. The future is bright for the Illini, but they’re entering a tough part of their schedule into B1G play.
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.