Illinois โFaces Road Test at Duke, Needs Clockโฃ Controlโฃ for Victory
DURHAM, N.C. – The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6,for anโ 11 a.m. โฃCT matchup against the Duke Blue Devils โขin Week 2โฃ of the collage football season. Coming off a dominant Week 1,โ Illinois (1-0) aims to secure a key early-season road win against a Dukeโข team (1-0) riding high on a recentโ home-field advantage.The game will โair on ESPN.
Illinois’ success hinges on managing the game effectively โand avoiding aโ shootout,โ according to a scouting report. โThe illini, returning 18 starters from last year’s 10-win โCitrus Bowl championship squad, includingโข quarterback Luke Altmyer, must leverage their experience and a balanced offensive attack โto control the โคclock.Duke’s transfer quarterback, Darian Mensah, presents an early challenge. Mensah threw for 389 yards inโ his Blueโค Devils debut โagainst Elon. Illinois will need to adjust defensively andโ capitalize on potential turnovers โคor special teams โplays to secure the victory.
Key โto Victory for Illinois: The Illini need toโข establish a โconsistent running gameโค and utilize โshort passes โtoโฃ keep Duke’s offense off the field. Theirโค experienced โฃoffensive line and Altmyer’s โฃability to orchestrate game-winning drives – he has โfive careerโค game-winningโ drives, including โฃthree last season – will be crucial.
Duke boasts a potent passing attack led by Mensah and aโ strong home record, going 17-3โฃ at Wallace Wadeโฃ Stadium since the start ofโ the 2022 season. Illinois’ defense must contain Mensah โขand his receiving corps, featuringโฃ transfers Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma) and Cooper Barkate (Harvard), alongside โreturnee Que’Sean Brown.
Score Prediction: โขIllinois 27, Duke 24.