Arkansas St. @ Illinois preview

THE STORY: When Illinois opens the season at home against Sun Belt foe Arkansas State, both teams will be relying heavily on dual-threat quarterbacks to run their high-octane offenses. Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase and Arkansas State's Ryan Aplin each combined for over 2,600 yards of total offense last season. Expect a high-scoring affair thanks to offenses that combined to average 62.5 points per game last season and defenses that will have a difficult time stopping teams this season.

TV: Big Ten Network. Line: Illinois – 20.5


ABOUT ILLINOIS (2010: 7-7, 4-4 Big 10): The Fighting Illini won their first bowl game since 1999 last season and bring back their breakout quarterback. While Scheelhaase was key to the nation's 11th ranked rushing attack last season and ran for nearly 900 yards, the team will be without record-setting RB Mikel Leshoure, now with the Detroit Lions. Senior Jason Ford, a big, bruising back, takes over as the starter. The defense improved drastically from an abysmal 2009 season, but has been hit hard by NFL defections. Leading tackler Martez Wilson and defensive lineman Cory Liuget, both of whom left school early for the NFL, anchored a unit that finished in the top 50 nationally in points allowed and yards against. Defensive-minded head coach Ron Zook will need his new starters to improve quickly to help cool his seemingly annual hot seat.

ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE (2010: 4-8, 4-4 Sun Belt): First-year coach Hugh Freeze injected life into the Red Wolves last season as offensive coordinator with a more up-tempo, pass-happy style that has helped Aplin thrive. Scoring should not be a problem for the Red Wolves, but the points will not matter if the defense does not improve substantially. The defense ranked 102nd in yards allowed last season and gave up 30.8 points per game. If Freeze can spread the magic he used on the offense last season to the defense this year, the Red Wolves will be much better.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arkansas State is 3-2 in its past five season openers, while Illinois is only 1-4, losing its past four.

2. In their two previous games, Illinois has outscored Arkansas State 100-10.

3. Coach Ron Zook on starting running back Jason Ford, “He knows it's his time, his turn...He is a powerful runner. He runs hard. Guys don't like to tackle him.”

PREDICTION: Illinois 36, Arkansas State 23 – The Red Wolves keep it interesting, but ultimately their defense can not contain Scheelhaase and Co.