Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl, What’s Going To Happen
Mississippi State has a run defense, the team is great at coming up with third down stops, and unlike Illinois, it’s not getting hit with key opt-outs and transfers.
There are a few, but for the most part the Bulldogs should be okay with what’s coming back.
The storyline will be about Mississippi State’s passing game and the memory of Mike Leach, but in the game it’ll be about whether or not Illinois can run.
The Illini has to run, and it needs to control the tempo and the clock. They’re 7-1 when running for 155 yards or more, and 1-3 when they don’t. They’ll run for over 155 yards, even without Chase Brown.
Mississippi State doesn’t win low scoring games. It’s 8-0 when scoring more than 20 points and 0-4 when scoring fewer. Illinois is 8-0 when allowing fewer than 19 points and 0-4 when allowing that many or more.
Illinois will slow this down to a dead stop, and the Mississippi State passing style will play into what Bielema’s team needs.
Illinois vs Mississippi State ReliaQuest Bowl, Prediction, Line
CFN Prediction: Illinois 20, Mississippi State 19
Line: Mississippi State -1.5, o/u: 46
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
ReliaQuest Bowl Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
CFN Experts Picks: Jan 2 Bowls
ReliaQuest Bowl History
Jan. 1, 2022 Arkansas 24, Penn State 10
Jan. 2, 2021 Ole Miss 26, Indiana 20
Jan. 1, 2020 Minnesota 31, Auburn 24
Jan. 1, 2019 Iowa 27, Mississippi State 22
Jan. 1, 2018 South Carolina 26, Michigan 19
Jan. 2, 2017 Florida 30, Iowa 3
Jan. 1, 2016 Tennessee 45 Northwestern 6
Jan. 1, 2015 Wisconsin 34 Auburn 31
Jan. 1, 2014 LSU 21 Iowa 14
Jan. 1, 2013 South Carolina 33 Michigan 28
Jan. 2, 2012 Michigan State 33 Georgia 30 (3 OT)
Jan. 1, 2011 Florida 37 Penn State 24
Jan. 1, 2010 Auburn 38 Northwestern 35 (OT)
Jan. 1, 2009 Iowa 31 South Carolina 10
Jan. 1, 2008 Tennessee 21 Wisconsin 17
Jan. 1, 2007 Penn State 20 Tennessee 10
Jan. 2, 2006 Florida 31 Iowa 24
Jan. 1, 2005 Georgia 24 Wisconsin 21
Jan. 1, 2004 Iowa 37 Florida 17
Jan. 1, 2003 Michigan 38 Florida 30
Jan. 1, 2002 South Carolina 31 Ohio State 28
Jan. 1, 2001 South Carolina 24 Ohio State 7
Jan. 1, 2000 Georgia 28 Purdue 25
Jan. 1, 1999 Penn State 26 Kentucky 14
Jan. 1, 1998 Georgia 33 Wisconsin 6
Jan. 1, 1997 Alabama 17 Michigan 14
Jan. 1, 1996 Penn State 43 Auburn 14
Jan. 2, 1995 Wisconsin 34 Duke 20
Jan. 1, 1994 Michigan 42 N.C. State 7
Jan. 1, 1993 Tennessee 38 Boston College 23
Jan. 1, 1992 Syracuse 24 Ohio State 7
Jan. 1, 1991 Clemson 30 Illinois 0
Jan. 1, 1990 Auburn 31 Ohio State 14
Jan. 2, 1989 Syracuse 23 LSU 10
Jan. 2, 1988 Michigan 28 Alabama 24
Dec. 23, 1986 Boston College 27 Georgia 24
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