Excerpt from my free game prediction available on winnersandwhiners.com:

The Illini should be on upset alert, but I don't think they'll get the message! The Rockets are explosive, featuring a dual-threat quarterback with a chip on his shoulder to prove he belonged in the Power-5. He's not the only one on the Toledo roster that feels that way, either.

UT has several defensive players, including its leading tackler, Dallas Gant, who started their careers at Big Ten or other Power-5 schools. Some of these players were highly-rated recruits, even more so than some Illinois players. There's no denying that Toledo can keep this game close, but it will take some help from U of I for the visitors to pull off the upset.

I'm not sold on QB Luke Altmyer as the future face of the Illini program, and I feel confident he will look exposed at times by the experienced Rockets secondary. On the other side of the ball, Illinois could look vulnerable, too. It lost some very important players from last year's unit, along with 17 of the team's interceptions. Toledo won't fear Illinois like some MAC teams do when they travel to Big Ten country.

I don't want the points — give me the Rockets straight-up. They'll be drinking champagne in Champaign on Saturday!