0 Shares Print As we draw closer to the college football season, we’ve decided to take a closer look at the schedule of each Big Ten team. Namely, we’re looking at each team’s most critical three- or four-game stretch, why it’s important and what the most likely outcome is. We’ll look at two different schedules every day, with the series culminating next Tuesday. First up: Illinois. Key stretch: Ohio State on Nov. 14, at Minnesota on Nov. 21, vs. Northwestern (Soldier Field) on Nov. 28 Breakdown: Last season, Illinois’ goal was a bowl game — and Tim Beckman’s crew didn’t clinch until a surprise 2-1 run in the final three games. The Illini could find themselves in a similar situation this year, making those final three games all the more important. Even though the Ohio State matchup can almost be chalked up as an automatic loss — the Buckeyes have won the last eight meetings — the other two games are winnable. Two of Illinois’ three conference wins last season came against Minnesota and Northwestern, so it’s proven it can beat these teams. Illinois should also receive a further boost because key wideout Mike Dudek, who’s currently recovering from a torn ACL, should return in time for this stretch. (He’s set to return sometime in October.) The problem here is that both games are away from Memorial Stadium, and only two of Beckman’s 12 wins at Illinois have come away from home. So, if Illinois wants to clinch consecutive bowl berths for just the second time in 22 years, it has to buck some of its recent trends. Prediction: 1-2. Even the most optimistic Illinois fan isn’t counting on an upset vs. …
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