Pregame: Illinois at Arizona State, Saturday, September 8th, 9:30pm CT, ESPN

[AzIlliniFan]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

Meh. He's short a few bears in fighter jets.

Say what? Who has a video with bears flying fighter jets?

Edit: Isn't Google great! You must be talking about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9cYc...eature=related

I'd give the ASU spot the nod over that one though.

[blmillini]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Well yeah when you just look at negatives (or make some up, our injured secodary didn't seem to have much trouble in Week 1 against a much better QB than we are going to face this week) it's easy to come up with a blowout win for ASU.

They have a ton of issues as well and lost much more than we did. Also, we don't even know if Nate will miss the game so I don't think you can cite that as a reason for us losing. Motivation won't play into it much either with an entirely new staff and a ton of new starters for ASU.

Not sure what was made up.

While our secondary did perform pretty well, deficiencies in the WMU passing game were far more related to receivers that couldn't catch a ball than our secondary or what we did to their QB. So, while the QB may not be as good, I suspect their receivers will be far better and faster. WMU could have easily put up a couple TD's just by hanging on to the ball and our lack of offense would have been more problematic in that case.

I forgot to also mention that we didn't take enough advantage of the turnovers. Wouldn't expect to get that many very often.

It is true that I don't know that Nate will be missing. However, I don't think Nate will be able to do enough to make a difference anyway, unless we suddenly get better run blocking and receivers start getting open.

Last, I do think motivation will play a part whether their coaches and major contributors from last year are involved or not. The motivation may not be as intense but will undoubtedly be used.

The fact they put so many points on the board last week scares me. Although, it is encouraging they had more yards rushing than passing because I think we will stop the run. In the end it is offensive deficiency that will kill us. If we can turn that around substantially, then we will be okay. If not, we will be in trouble.

[256ILLINI]

Originally Posted by Dan

Something's gotta give!

Our defensive numbers vs WMU hold more weight than their numbers against a division 2 team.

We're going to need a special teams or defensive td to win, but it's definitely a winnable game. Every game except for the OSU game is this year is winnable

[Juice]

Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

Our defensive numbers vs WMU hold more weight than their numbers against a division 2 team.

We're going to need a special teams or defensive td to win, but it's definitely a winnable game. Every game except for the OSU game is this year is winnable

I was gonna say every game is winnable but the Michigan game in the big house

[blmillini]

Originally Posted by Juice

I was gonna say every game is winnable but the Michigan game in the big house

I think they are all winnable but Michigan, OSU and Wisconsin are all going to be very tough. Personally, I would throw ASU into that mix as well but that game is so early and both teams have undergone so many changes that it is really hard to tell.

[256ILLINI]

Originally Posted by Juice

I was gonna say every game is winnable but the Michigan game in the big house

Here's how I feel about OSU and Michigan in terms of where their QB's stand: I'm scared of Braxton Miller in Meyer's spread offense. I laugh at Denard when he throws a pass.

Michigan still has a team mainly comprised of players recruited to run Richrod's spread/3-3-5 defense. So they're smaller than we are at a lot of positions. I think we're considerably more talented than Michigan on the DLine, too.

[I Hate Lemonier]

Originally Posted by blmillini

I think they are all winnable but Michigan, OSU and Wisconsin are all going to be very tough. Personally, I would throw ASU into that mix as well but that game is so early and both teams have undergone so many changes that it is really hard to tell.

ASU lost more starters than any other team in the PAC 10 and start a new QB to go along with a new coach. They look to have a strong running back corps but everywhere else is up in the air heading into the season. They will be significantly stronger and faster than W. Michigan but time will tell if they have a better team. They are certainly capable of beating us at their place but this is a very winnable game for us. We have a significant edge in experience and I would say talent wise both sides are pretty even.

[Dan]

Anyone else concerned about the circadian disadvantage for Illinois vs ASU?

Game time: 9:30pm CT / 7:30pm PT.

Illinois will have to play the entire 2nd half of this game during circadian shutdown. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils will enjoy the second boost of circadian energy throughout most of the game.

Did anyone see the Minnesota UNLV game? Thursday night, 10pm CT kickoff, Las Vegas. Just a wretched game, the Gophers were lucky to escape with a W in overtime.

Solution: Starting tonight, all Illinois players must stay up until at least 2am CT, and wake up no earlier than 10am CT. (Make up any missed classes during Charleston Southern week.)

Hold all football practices this week at 9:00pm CT.

Unfortunately, Illinois is practicing at 6:45am PT Tuesday and Wednesday.

So on Tuesday & Wednesday, Illinois will hold morning football practice when most (all?) of the Sun Devils are still sleeping. Not sure how that helps Illinois for a west coast night game.

I'm worried!

The Circadian Advantage: How Sleep Patterns Benefit Certain NFL Teams

Around six in the evening, the body gets another shot of energy that keeps us going until about ten at night. After that, our body temperature starts to fall rapidly, and we get sleepy if we don't turn to coffee or another form of caffeine..

Without knowing it, athletes on teams from the East Coast are playing at a disadvantage. Because of the circadian rhythm, which they can't control, their bodies are past their natural performance peaks before the first quarter ends. By the fourth quarter, the team from the East Coast will be competing close to its equivalent of midnight. Their bodies will be subtly preparing for sleep by taking steps such as lowering the body temperature, slowing the reaction time, and increasing the amount of melatonin in their bloodstream. Athletes on the team from the West Coast, meanwhile, are still competing in the prime time of their circadian cycle.

http://deadspin.com/5934440/the-circ...tain-nfl-teams

[Thacher_H_Guild]

Originally Posted by Dan

Anyone else concerned about the circadian disadvantage for Illinois vs ASU?

Thanks for giving me another thing to be worried about.

In a more global worry, I don't have the exact numbers, but the Illinois against PAC teams on the road over the past, say, 45 years is dismal. The overall record against PAC teams is dismal. Until proven otherwise, I think Illinois football is not to be trusted on the road in the West. (Also applies to places like Fresno State.)

[Sure Shot]

Originally Posted by Dan

Anyone else concerned about the circadian disadvantage for Illinois vs ASU?

Game time: 9:30pm CT / 7:30pm PT.

Illinois will have to play the entire 2nd half of this game during circadian shutdown. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils will enjoy the second boost of circadian energy throughout most of the game.

Did anyone see the Minnesota UNLV game? Thursday night, 10pm CT kickoff, Las Vegas. Just a wretched game, the Gophers were lucky to escape with a W in overtime.

Solution: Starting tonight, all Illinois players must stay up until at least 2am CT, and wake up no earlier than 10am CT. (Make up any missed classes during Charleston Southern week.)

Hold all football practices this week at 9:00pm CT.

Unfortunately, Illinois is practicing at 6:45am PT Tuesday and Wednesday.

So on Tuesday & Wednesday, Illinois will hold morning football practice when most (all?) of the Sun Devils are still sleeping. Not sure how that helps Illinois for a west coast night game.

I'm worried!

I'm 100% with you. I am a big believer in the power of proper sleep patterns as it pertains to physical and mental performance.

Also, who has class before 10AM in undergrad? What is this, amateur hour?

[Juice]

Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

Here's how I feel about OSU and Michigan in terms of where their QB's stand: I'm scared of Braxton Miller in Meyer's spread offense. I laugh at Denard when he throws a pass.

Michigan still has a team mainly comprised of players recruited to run Richrod's spread/3-3-5 defense. So they're smaller than we are at a lot of positions. I think we're considerably more talented than Michigan on the DLine, too.

Your reasoning for your opinions are understandable. Braxton miller looked scary good in game 1 while like you said Denard couldnt throw the ball in the ocean from the sand. I also have never really thought about the scheme changes. Agree totally that not only our DLine but our defense as a whole has the edge in talent and especially experience... I just still feel it will be hard for our D to contain Denard, no matter how good we are defensively

[Gaddabout]

ASU fan here. Glad to be back, and I salute the Illini for a great game last year. I've paid attention to your program dating back to the Mike White years, and was at the '82 Liberty Bowl for Bear Bryant's last game. I know that didn't end well for Illinois, but it was a monumental experience to be there for everyone, I think. Loved Mike White throwing the ball around when no one else in the Big 10 knew what a forward pass was.

I've been an ASU fan since 1975. I usually have a pretty good idea what to expect from the team heading into the season, being a naturally pragmatic person. But this is the first year I really don't know. Some things:

- It almost doesn't matter how many players ASU returned, because the scheme changes have been dramatic. Brock Osweiller's departure to the NFL ensured ASU would make the immediate full transition to that faux-veer-so-called-spread-option that everyone in the world runs now. It's a legitimate option, not the fake option ASU ran the past three years, and all the QBs are very mobile.

- Taylor Kelly is very, very similar to Nate Scheelhaase. Scheelhaase is a little taller, Taylor is a little thicker, but they're both legitimate dual-threat QBs who have RB quickness. Kelly's only knock is his deep ball. Throwing into the wind would worry me a little bit. But his accuracy -- on the run! -- really surprised me, and he made almost every perfect read.

- The offensive line is in the best shape I've seen an ASU o-line in since the mid-80s. They're slim and much quicker, and they really get off the ball. They're not supermen, but they look very well coached, also something unique to this program after a decade of WTFs.

- The running backs are absolutely ridiculously loaded. Cam Marshall was a consensus all-conference back going into the season, but I'm not even sure he's the 3rd best RB on the team right now. True freshman DJ Foster is so quick and explosive, and slippery down field. Marion Grice, who I was led to believe was the most coveted JC back in the country this past year, looked for real. He looked comfortable between the tackles and beyond them. All the backs can catch and run. Foster had over 100 yards total offense on 12 touches.

- The defense is where I really throw up my hands and give up trying to figure out where they're at. I thought they would show a lot of weakness against NAU. I expected them to be really bad, because you're talking about 35 to 40 kids recruited for a traditional 4-3 now all of a sudden playing in an esoteric 30 defense. At times they'll show 3-4, at times they'll show 3-3-5, and on occasion they'll even flash a 40 base/nickel. The blitz packages are right out of the NFL playbooks (more about disguising blitzers and confusing the line rather than sending big numbers), and, to my surprise, the players more or less were always where they were supposed to be.

It remains to be seen if ASU can play stout run defense in this set. A lot of that will hing on NG Mike Pennell, a JC transfer originally committed to Arkansas. He's an SEC type of 0-technique nose guard. If he can own the A-gap, this defense has a lot of speed everywhere to make a lot of plays.

That's what I've seen from this time, and I reiterate, no one really knows what to expect of ASU against Illinois. ASU has never really thumped NAU like they did Thursday night. ASU hasn't thumped anyone like that in about over a decade, when Andrew Walter was re-writing the school record book and Terrell Suggs was a crazy defensive end. Most fans went into the game expected to be frustrated by ASU's traditional inability to put their foot on NAU's throat, and this game was over before the first quarter had ended. They actually let up off the throttle midway through the second.

So ... no idea. It will be as new and interesting to us as it will be for you. Here's to another great game!

[256ILLINI]

Originally Posted by Juice

Your reasoning for your opinions are understandable. Braxton miller looked scary good in game 1 while like you said Denard couldnt throw the ball in the ocean from the sand. I also have never really thought about the scheme changes. Agree totally that not only our DLine but our defense as a whole has the edge in talent and especially experience... I just still feel it will be hard for our D to contain Denard, no matter how good we are defensively

Well, we can thank Alabama for proving a perfect blueprint. Thankfully our defense isn't drastically different than their 3-4 defense

Aaaand Michigan just lost their best defensive player, Countess, for the year

[U of I 89-05-10]

Originally Posted by illinicb

I'm not a gambler, but I think home field is worth three in theory, so yes it would appear to be a toss up in gambling terms.

The line is only supposed to be set to get equal money, but it is often pretty close to the outcome. Early season games though are sometimes tough to predict because of coaching/personnel changes.

Cb, I have taken issue with a lot of stuff you've said you've said before (especially the negative/realistic stuff), but you often post good stuff!

[Lake Camelot]

Il 23
ASU 20

Same thing I said foe the WMU game.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by Dan

Anyone else concerned about the circadian disadvantage for Illinois vs ASU?

Perhaps this explains the Big Ten's problems at the Rose Bowl over the years?

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

Cb, I have taken issue with a lot of stuff you've said you've said before (especially the negative/realistic stuff)...

Well, I'm a fan not a cheerleader.

[IlliniKat91]

Originally Posted by illinicb

Perhaps this explains the Big Ten's problems at the Rose Bowl over the years?

Don't they get out there a week early or something like that? They should be over a 2 hour time difference if they're out there a week early. I will say though, it's nice to hear that Beckman has them practicing late at night for at least some of this week. Hopefully that will help us out come Saturday night.

Prediction:
Illinois 24
ASU 20

[Kramer116]

Originally Posted by Gaddabout

ASU fan here. Glad to be back, and I salute the Illini for a great game last year. I've paid attention to your program dating back to the Mike White years, and was at the '82 Liberty Bowl for Bear Bryant's last game. I know that didn't end well for Illinois, but it was a monumental experience to be there for everyone, I think. Loved Mike White throwing the ball around when no one else in the Big 10 knew what a forward pass was.

I've been an ASU fan since 1975. I usually have a pretty good idea what to expect from the team heading into the season, being a naturally pragmatic person. But this is the first year I really don't know. Some things:

- It almost doesn't matter how many players ASU returned, because the scheme changes have been dramatic. Brock Osweiller's departure to the NFL ensured ASU would make the immediate full transition to that faux-veer-so-called-spread-option that everyone in the world runs now. It's a legitimate option, not the fake option ASU ran the past three years, and all the QBs are very mobile.

- Taylor Kelly is very, very similar to Nate Scheelhaase. Scheelhaase is a little taller, Taylor is a little thicker, but they're both legitimate dual-threat QBs who have RB quickness. Kelly's only knock is his deep ball. Throwing into the wind would worry me a little bit. But his accuracy -- on the run! -- really surprised me, and he made almost every perfect read.

- The offensive line is in the best shape I've seen an ASU o-line in since the mid-80s. They're slim and much quicker, and they really get off the ball. They're not supermen, but they look very well coached, also something unique to this program after a decade of WTFs.

- The running backs are absolutely ridiculously loaded. Cam Marshall was a consensus all-conference back going into the season, but I'm not even sure he's the 3rd best RB on the team right now. True freshman DJ Foster is so quick and explosive, and slippery down field. Marion Grice, who I was led to believe was the most coveted JC back in the country this past year, looked for real. He looked comfortable between the tackles and beyond them. All the backs can catch and run. Foster had over 100 yards total offense on 12 touches.

- The defense is where I really throw up my hands and give up trying to figure out where they're at. I thought they would show a lot of weakness against NAU. I expected them to be really bad, because you're talking about 35 to 40 kids recruited for a traditional 4-3 now all of a sudden playing in an esoteric 30 defense. At times they'll show 3-4, at times they'll show 3-3-5, and on occasion they'll even flash a 40 base/nickel. The blitz packages are right out of the NFL playbooks (more about disguising blitzers and confusing the line rather than sending big numbers), and, to my surprise, the players more or less were always where they were supposed to be.

It remains to be seen if ASU can play stout run defense in this set. A lot of that will hing on NG Mike Pennell, a JC transfer originally committed to Arkansas. He's an SEC type of 0-technique nose guard. If he can own the A-gap, this defense has a lot of speed everywhere to make a lot of plays.

That's what I've seen from this time, and I reiterate, no one really knows what to expect of ASU against Illinois. ASU has never really thumped NAU like they did Thursday night. ASU hasn't thumped anyone like that in about over a decade, when Andrew Walter was re-writing the school record book and Terrell Suggs was a crazy defensive end. Most fans went into the game expected to be frustrated by ASU's traditional inability to put their foot on NAU's throat, and this game was over before the first quarter had ended. They actually let up off the throttle midway through the second.

So ... no idea. It will be as new and interesting to us as it will be for you. Here's to another great game!

Thanks for the update, should be an intersting game.

I have no idea what to expect fron our offense. Will be a really fun matchup between your run offense and our run defense, team strength vs team strength. That will be the deciding factor IMO, as well as special teams as I feel this will be really close.

[plogli]

I don't think anybody on this site is worried about ASU winning this football game with their running game. Not going to happen to this defense.

Game will come down to Illini O-Line, can they generate a push from the line of scrimmage? Nate or no Nate, no Illini QB is going to sit in the pocket and pick this defense apart. Have to win at the point of attack to be successful. Coach Butkus better have the boys fired up. Maybe show them that stupid video about fearing the fork.

[Juice]

Originally Posted by plogli

I don't think anybody on this site is worried about ASU winning this football game with their running game. Not going to happen to this defense.

Game will come down to Illini O-Line, can they generate a push from the line of scrimmage? Nate or no Nate, no Illini QB is going to sit in the pocket and pick this defense apart. Have to win at the point of attack to be successful. Coach Butkus better have the boys fired up. Maybe show them that stupid video about fearing the fork.

Agree. Our o line has to win the battle up front

[stevo99]

Originally Posted by Dan

Illinois now a 3-pt favorite over Arizona State.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...8-12/time/2230

WOW!!

There are money limits at sports books a week out from gametime and the line still moved this much in a day??

The wise guys loved us +3.

[Illini2016]

I agree with Gaddabout. This is a tough one to predict. Both teams seem to be a bit unpredictable, and it being this early in the year makes it even more difficult.

It seems like another must-win game for the Illini. There is a big difference between 1-1 and 2-0. These early season games are huge to set the mood and carry momentum forward for the rest of the season. Not as must-win as the WMU game, but a must-win in my eyes nonetheless.

Fighting Illini 17
Arizona State 14

[BigStan97]

My 2 cents:

21- ILL
14- ASU

I feel like our defense again does a great job and contains them

only think we have to do is score more then 17 points and i feel like we are gonna win

[Sure Shot]

Originally Posted by stevo99

WOW!!

There are money limits at sports books a week out from gametime and the line still moved this much in a day??

The wise guys loved us +3.

This line is moving all over the place. It's gone from Arizona State -6 to Illinois -3 back to Arizona State -1 all in a couple days. Nobody has any clue, I'm surprised the books are being so responsive to all the action.

I think a weird, wildly fluctuating line that settles in the vicinity of even is about fair really. Who the heck knows what's going to happen in this game? There are so many variables with two new coaches involved.