2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Matchup
2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Matchup
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco will showcase a pair of
schools that want a victory to finish their years on a positive note.
Both schools will have new head coaches next season. That hunger to
get the victory in this game should make this interesting when Illinois
of the Big Ten Conference takes on UCLA of the Pac-12.
These two programs have played 11 times, with UCLA holding a 6-5
advantage and a four-game win streak in the series. These two last met
in Champaign in 2004, with the Bruins notching a 35-17 victory. The last
Illinois victory came at home in 1964, 26-7.
Our current Hunger Bowl odds show a line of Illinois -2.5 and a over/under of 47 points.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini have been hurting for wins recently. After
beginning the season 6-0, Illinois promptly went the opposite way,
dropping each of the last six contests, culminating in a 27-7 defeat at
Minnesota, which led to the firing of Ron Zook and led to the hiring of
Tim Beckman from Toledo. Illinois is 1-3 away from home, dropping their
last three road contests.
The Illini rate a respectable 21st in the country in scoring defense
(20 points per game), giving up 292 yards per contest (159 passing, 133
with the run) while recording 36 sacks and forcing 20 turnovers two of
which were taken back for scores (Tavon Wilson, fumble; Trulon Henry,
pick).
Jonathan Brown paces the defense with 102 stops (24 more than any
other player), adding six sacks, an interception, forced fumble and two
recoveries, while Whitney Mercilus has 14.5 sacks and nine forced
fumbles to go with 52 tackles and a fumble recovery. Henry and Terry
Hawthorne each have two picks and Wilson and Ian Thomas have two fumble
recoveries.
On offense, Illinois ranks just 91st nationally in points scored (23
ppg) while compiling 358 yards per game (187 passing, 171 on the
ground). Jason Ford and Nathan Scheelhaase pace the offense with a
combined 1,114 rushing yards and 13 TDs on 3.4 yards per tote.
Scheelhaase completes 64 % of his throws for 1,971 yards and 12
scores with seven interceptions. The offensive line has given up 35
sacks. A.J. Jenkins is the top receiver with 84 receptions (59 more than
anyone else) for 1,196 yards and seven TDs.
UCLA
UCLA won the Pac-12 South and played in the inaugural Pac-12
Championship Game, but Rick Neuheisel was fired and the school just
announced the hiring of former NFL head coach Jim Mora. UCLA has lost
three of its last four contests and were outscored in their two most
recent games, 99-31, by USC (50-0) and Oregon (49-31). The Bruins were
1-6 away from home, but 5-3 in the state of California.
UCLA ranks 85th nationally in points (24 ppg) while gaining 389 yards
per game (198 through the air, 191 rushing). Johnathan Franklin and
Derrick Coleman lead the offense from the backfield, combining for 1,673
rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt.
Kevin Prince connects on 57 % of his throws for 1,627 yards and 10
scores with seven interceptions. The offensive line has given up 24
sacks. Nelson Rosario paces the receivers with 61 grabs (27 more than
anyone else) for 1,106 yards and four TDs.
The Bruins defense ranks just 96th nationally in scoring defense (32
ppg) and giving up 424 yards per game (233 through the air, 191 with the
run) while recording 13 sacks and generating 20 turnovers one of which
was returned for a score (Pat Larimore, interception).
Larimore paces the unit with 81 stops, adding a sack, an
interception, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, while Datone Jones
has three sacks. Andrew Abbott has four interceptions and Sheldon Price
has two forced fumbles.
Take a look at the bowl game picks offered by our experts and give yourself a better chance to beat the college bowl spreads thise season.
