The Illinois Fighting Illini are on the cusp of a possible bowl bid in 2024 if ESPN's matchup predictor is any indication. The Illini are picked to win five of their 12 games ahead of the 2024 college football season — with at least four of those nearly virtual coin flips, according to the data pulled from ESPN's Football Power Index.

The Illini schedule is ranked the 42nd most difficult, according to College Football Network, and 14th among 18 teams in the Big Ten. Matchup predictor considers Illinois' three toughest games to be on the road at Big Ten newcomer Oregon and in Happy Valley against Penn State. Not far behind is a difficult home game against reigning national champion Michigan.

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Here is a look at Illinois' 2024 season schedule with predictions from ESPN’s matchup predictor.

Week 1 vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers

• Date/time: 8 p.m. Aug. 29, BTN

• Predicted winner: Illinois

• Illinois win probability: 97.8%

• Illinois record: 1-0

Week 2 vs. Kansas Jayhawks

• Date/time: 6 p.m. Sept. 7, FS1

• Predicted winner: Kansas

• Illinois win probability: 31.2%

• Illinois record: 1-1

Week 3 vs. Central Michigan Chippewas

• Date/time: 11 a.m. Sept. 14, Peacock

• Predicted winner: Illinois

• Illinois win probability: 79.1%

• Illinois record: 2-1

Week 4 at Nebraska Cornhuskers

• Date/time: 7 p.m. Sept. 20, FOX

• Predicted winner: Nebraska

• Illinois win probability: ESPN has no percentage for this game, but Nebraska is ranked 41st in the FPI and Illinois is 62nd.

• Illinois record: 2-2

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Week 5 at Penn State Nittany Lions

• Date/time: TBD, Sept. 28, TBD

• Predicted winner: Penn State

• Illinois win probability: 8.3%

• Illinois record: 2-3

Week 7 vs. Purdue Boilermakers

• Date/time: TBD, Sept. 12, TBD

• Predicted winner: Illinois

• Illinois win probability: 58.0%

• Illinois record: 3-3

Week 8 vs. Michigan Wolverines

• Date/time: TBD, Oct. 19, TBD

• Predicted winner: Michigan

• Illinois win probability: 20.4%

• Illinois record: 3-4

Week 9 at Oregon Ducks

• Date/time: TBD, Oct. 26, TBD

• Predicted winner: Oregon

• Illinois win probability: 4.5%

• Illinois record: 3-5

Week 10 vs. Minnesota Gophers

• Date/time: TBD, Nov. 2, TBD

• Predicted winner: Illinois

• Illinois win probability: 54.9%

• Illinois record: 4-5

Week 12 vs. Michigan State Spartans

• Date/time: TBD, Nov. 16, TBD

• Predicted winner: Illinois

• Illinois win probability: 60.4%

• Illinois record: 5-5

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Week 13 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• Date/time: TBD, Nov. 23, TBD

• Predicted winner: Rutgers

• Illinois win probability: 33.0%

• Illinois record: 5-6

Week 14 at Northwestern Wildcats (at Wrigley Field, Chicago)

• Date/time: TBD, Nov. 30, TBD

• Predicted winner: Northwestern

• Illinois win probability: 44.2%

• Illinois record: 5-7

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football: ESPN matchup predictor picks games on Illini 2024 schedule