Hunger Bowl 2011: Bold Predictions for UCLA vs Illinois

In a game of fired coaches, the Illinois Fighting Illini and the UCLA Bruins will battle for the right to be claimed the 2011 Hunger Bowl champions.

Neither of these teams have lived up to their lofty expectations, and this game can serve as a consolation prize for the winner. Illinois jumped out to a 6-0 start and visited the Top 25 before losing their last six of the season, finishing .500.

The Bruins had an on-and-off season that featured big wins, such as their one-point triumph over Arizona State, and terrible losses, like their 50-0 loss to USC. This team had no business in the Pac-12 Championship, but they played in it anyway and were thrashed by Oregon, embarrassed in front of the nation again.

With both of these teams reeling, one will emerge victorious and snap the pedestrian play that has plagued the Bruins and Fighting Illini this season.

Both Teams Will Break 30 Points

Neither of these teams have poor offenses. Both of them are capable of putting points on the board and neither of them lack playmakers.

UCLA has a balanced offensive attack that features running back Johnathan Franklin while Illinois' offense is built primarily around receiver standout AJ Jenkins. 

Both teams will look to push the ball and with explosive playmakers in a big time game, you can expect to see some impressive numbers.

Yards won't be a scarcity in this game as you'll see a number of big plays and a whole lot of points on the board.

Kevin Prince Will Throw for No More Than 150 Yards

Despite all of those points on the board, UCLA will struggle to move the ball through the air.

Kevin Prince was never a lock to throw for 200 yards, much less 150 in Pac-12 regular-season play. Things won't change here.

You'll see Prince hover around the 150-yard mark, but he won't exceed it by any large number. However talented Nelson Rosario is as a receiver however balanced this team is with Johnathan Franklin in the backfield, Prince will struggle to get any sort of passing rhythm going.

Despite this subpar passing performance, Prince will make plenty of plays on the ground and extend several plays with his feet. He has great mobility and enough in-game savvy to have an all-around productive game.

Nathan Scheelhaase Will Run for over 100 and Throw for over 200

Nathan Scheelhaase was one of the most polarizing dual threats in the Big Ten this season, despite Illinois not winning any games.

He's got a strong arm and powerful legs that make him a more mobile and faster version of Kevin Prince. However good Nelson Rosario is, he's no AJ Jenkins, and Scheelhaase will get Jenkins involved early and often as he finds his rhythm and maintains it throughout the game.

His deadly passing results will allow him to eventually break out of the pocket and scramble for some nice yardage. He'll be using his feet quite a bit, but those opportunities will be thanks to the success his arm has given him.

He hasn't played amazing as of late, but look for him to garner some confidence for the offseason with a strong Hunger Bowl outing.

UCLA's Defense Will Stop Illinois' Jason Ford

Scheelhaase might rush for over 100 yards, but Jason Ford will be lucky to run for 50.

Ford hasn't been that much of an imposing force recently, and his luck won't get any better as he faces UCLA in the Hunger Bowl. 

UCLA is well rounded defensively, so Ford's overall impact should be minimal. He might nab a few receptions, but the clamps will be down on him as he struggles to break free. Illinois' offensive line hasn't done the best job blocking for him lately, and that isn't going to change against UCLA's front four.

Look for UCLA to have the clear advantage in the ground game.

Johnathan Franklin Will Run for over 200 Yards

The reason their advantage will be so clear is because of Johnathan Franklin, the star running back at UCLA. He's fast, quick and can make you miss, clearly evidenced by his 947 rushing yards on the season so far.

He'll look to top 1,000 for the season against Illinois as they go without linebacker Trulon Henry, who will miss the Hunger Bowl after being shot just above his right wrist. While he certainly wasn't an all-world defender, his absence will be noticed, and it should allow for Franklin to run even more wild than usual.

Illinois will have their hands full as Franklin will be scampering down the sidelines more than once, giving the Fighting Illini all they can handle.

AJ Jenkins Will Go for over 200 Yards

AJ Jenkins is the most talented player in this game.

He's caught the ball 59 more times than anyone on his team and just over 20 more times than Nelson Rosario, UCLA's top wideout. He's a big time playmaker who has hauled in 84 catches on the season for a hair shy of 1,200 yards.

With Tony Dye out again, UCLA will be missing a link in their secondary, and Jenkins will adeptly exploit it. It's no secret that Scheelhaase will find him more than a few times.

There isn't terribly much to say here. Jenkins will dominate as always.

Illinois Will Snap Their 6-Game Losing Streak

Thanks to Jenkins and Scheelhaase, the Fighting Illini will snap their six-game losing streak and finish the season with a winning record. 

They've played several teams close such as Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin, but they haven't been able to squeak out victories. UCLA has been rocked by USC, Oregon, Arizona and Texas.

Illinois has generally been competitive while UCLA, on several occasions has been blown out. With Illinois reeling, this should be a good game to watch: lots of offense and two teams fighting for pride on national television.

Despite the advantage UCLA has on the ground, Illinois is just better suited to win the game and will do so by a touchdown or less.