Best Case/Worst Case: Illinois

KBLEE · Aug 13, 2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

The Illini cruise through the nonconference schedule, waxing another first-year coach at a major program by winning handily at Arizona State. They beat Penn State by two touchdowns in the Big Ten opener, after which several Nittany Lions players are seen talking to Illinois assistants about a possible 2013 transfer. Illinois loses at Wisconsin the following week but pulls a stunner in Ann Arbor by catching Michigan looking ahead to the Michigan State game. It loses at Ohio State on Nov. 3, but ends the season with a four-touchdown win at Northwestern as Rahm Emanuel presents Beckman a key to the city. Since Wisconsin finishes with three losses, the Illini clinch the title in the probation-saddled Leaders Division. Hungry Illinois fans flock to Indianapolis, where their team knocks off Michigan a second time to advance to the Rose Bowl. Just like that, it's a football school again.

Thacher_H_Guild · Aug 13, 2012, 02:25 PM

That sounds great as long as you don't read the worst case part.

Botb9 · Aug 13, 2012, 03:00 PM

Worst case only 4-8? I think we all know it can get worse.

LubbockIlliniFan · Aug 13, 2012, 03:08 PM

realistically we will end up in the middle of these two, but we can always hope

Sure Shot · Aug 13, 2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botb9

Worst case only 4-8? I think we all know it can get worse.

I'd be shocked if it got worse than that, just because of the schedule. There's no way we lose to WMU AND La Tech AND Indiana AND Minnesota, or whatever it would take to make that happen.

I'm wavering picking between 5-7 and 6-6, so I don't think we'll be outstanding, just because of the new system and the lack of depth. But barring a rash of injuries, I think our downside is limited.

DrewD007 · Aug 13, 2012, 03:45 PM

I think it's possible to go 1-3 in non-conference (only beating Charleston Southern) and then 1-7 or 2-6 in the B1G. We only beat Western Michigan by 3 last year, Louisiana Tech is no slouch and Minnesota has beaten us the past two years. I think we'll win all those games though, but wouldn't be shocked if we were to lose them either.

Sure Shot · Aug 13, 2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewD007

I think it's possible to go 1-3 in non-conference (only beating Charleston Southern) and then 1-7 or 2-6 in the B1G. We only beat Western Michigan by 3 last year, Louisiana Tech is no slouch and Minnesota has beaten us the past two years. I think we'll win all those games though, but wouldn't be shocked if we were to lose them either.

Playing WMU at home on Week one, first game with a new coach, is a lot different than week 3, coming of a viciously fought, Saturday night win, when WMU had already started rounding into form. That might have been the 2nd worst game we played all year, including all the losses.

The dirty little secret is that week one is terrible football. Talent has the advantage, because no one is sharp yet.

GilThorpe · Aug 13, 2012, 04:17 PM

knowing that it is always tough with a new coach and new scheme, I still think we have addition by subtraction, and the loss of the old regime is good enough for us to win three games more and may be lose one we would have won with RZ. Net is 2 more wins. we go 8-4.

BananaShampoo · Aug 13, 2012, 05:46 PM

I know everyone keeps talking about "learning a new system" as a reason we may not hit the 7 or 8 wins many are aspiring to this season, but let us not forget that just two short years ago we were going into a season where you had a new defensive coordinator in Koenning and a new offensive coordinator in Petrino. That season, even in the first game, you saw a different and much more hard nosed team than what you saw before, despite them learning new schemes on both sides of the ball. Why is it that far fetched that there could be little drop-off, or even an improvement in play with the new coaching styles and playbooks? Granted, defense will be tougher to improve upon simply because our defense was second to none last year, but offensively and ESPECIALLY on special teams there is a ton of room to improve.

quhawks12 · Aug 14, 2012, 06:35 AM

Don't read worst case...don't read worst case...don't read worst case

IlliniRunIn07 · Aug 14, 2012, 06:59 AM

I could tolerate worst case until they had to mention the kitties winning the B1G. Gotta give it to ESPN though. That is absolutely THE worst case scenario.

RHITIllini · Aug 14, 2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

They beat Penn State by two touchdowns in the Big Ten opener, after which several Nittany Lions players are seen talking to Illinois assistants about a possible 2013 transfer.

#TEAMVULTURE

Oskee Mayer · Aug 14, 2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

I could tolerate worst case until they had to mention the kitties winning the B1G. Gotta give it to ESPN though. That is absolutely THE worst case scenario.

Absolute worst case would be NCAA overturning PSU sanctions and THEY win the B1G.

Calvin · Aug 14, 2012, 09:43 AM

Loved some of the comments.... How about this:

Best Case: Illini DOMINATE the conference, roll over the SEC in the national championship game and go on to defeat the new york giant's in an exhibition match. During the game on the sidelines a bottle falls from the stands knocking one of the players in the head and causes him to become a savant who discovers a cure for cancer and wins the Nobel peace prize.

Worst Case: The Illini lose every game for the entire season (including a scrimmage with a highschool squad) The team bus rolls off the edge of a mountain crushing an orphanage, 3 day cares and 2 middle schools. One of the children killed in the horrific bus accident would have grown up to discover faster than light travel and open up relations with alien species.
===

Also love the comment that the worst case for PSU is they go 12-0 and can't play for the BIG or National title.

uiba99 · Aug 14, 2012, 11:08 AM

I spend every summer planning my trip to Pasadena in my head and usually spend most of the winter wondering about how we can actually get back to a decent bowl game so this best case/worst case is pretty accurate when it comes to how I process my thoughts.

Hmm...gotta go check airfare to LA now.

asuato · Aug 15, 2012, 01:06 AM

Just from what Ive been reading and watching UI should be better than predicted. The new coaching staff seems to really be working overtime to put a great product on the field.

BWBW · Aug 15, 2012, 04:33 AM

Best case for me is a Florida Bowl. Same timezone, fly south, maybe stay one night, watch the team in action.

IntenselyOrange · Aug 15, 2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure Shot

Playing WMU at home on Week one, first game with a new coach, is a lot different than week 3, coming of a viciously fought, Saturday night win, when WMU had already started rounding into form. That might have been the 2nd worst game we played all year, including all the losses.

The dirty little secret is that week one is terrible football. Talent has the advantage, because no one is sharp yet.

I completely agree regarding talent and the first couple weeks. Don't favorites cover at an extreme rate at the start of the season?

Aug 13, 2012, 03:00 PM	#3
Botb9 Realist Posts: 3,148	Worst case only 4-8? I think we all know it can get worse. __________________ Hype is a self-serving beast that feeds on the hopes and dreams of fans.

Aug 13, 2012, 03:08 PM	#4
LubbockIlliniFan Future Illini class of 2028! Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 985	realistically we will end up in the middle of these two, but we can always hope __________________ Bleeding Orange and Blue in Lubbock

Aug 13, 2012, 03:45 PM	#6
DrewD007 Location: Swansea, IL Posts: 3,528	I think it's possible to go 1-3 in non-conference (only beating Charleston Southern) and then 1-7 or 2-6 in the B1G. We only beat Western Michigan by 3 last year, Louisiana Tech is no slouch and Minnesota has beaten us the past two years. I think we'll win all those games though, but wouldn't be shocked if we were to lose them either. __________________ Follow me! http://www.twitter.com/illinidrew11

Aug 13, 2012, 05:46 PM	#9
BananaShampoo Captain 'Paign Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 8,564	I know everyone keeps talking about "learning a new system" as a reason we may not hit the 7 or 8 wins many are aspiring to this season, but let us not forget that just two short years ago we were going into a season where you had a new defensive coordinator in Koenning and a new offensive coordinator in Petrino. That season, even in the first game, you saw a different and much more hard nosed team than what you saw before, despite them learning new schemes on both sides of the ball. Why is it that far fetched that there could be little drop-off, or even an improvement in play with the new coaching styles and playbooks? Granted, defense will be tougher to improve upon simply because our defense was second to none last year, but offensively and ESPECIALLY on special teams there is a ton of room to improve. __________________ C-U/UIUC Historian and Lover of all Things Illini

Aug 14, 2012, 11:08 AM	#15
uiba99 Tiny Illini Location: The basement of the Alamo Posts: 1,658	I spend every summer planning my trip to Pasadena in my head and usually spend most of the winter wondering about how we can actually get back to a decent bowl game so this best case/worst case is pretty accurate when it comes to how I process my thoughts. Hmm...gotta go check airfare to LA now. __________________ "The danger is all around us now. Hatred is rising, yet all sides feel more virtuous. We’re asleep to the threat. We can have the most sophisticated Constitution, a brilliant system of checks and balances and a Bill of Rights to safeguard against the tyranny of the majority — yet none of it can stand against the power of hatred." Fr. John I. Jenkins, President, University of Notre Dame

Aug 13, 2012, 02:25 PM	#2
Thacher_H_Guild Location: Champaign Posts: 2,269	That sounds great as long as you don't read the worst case part.

Aug 13, 2012, 04:17 PM	#8
GilThorpe Location: Hinsdale Posts: 855	knowing that it is always tough with a new coach and new scheme, I still think we have addition by subtraction, and the loss of the old regime is good enough for us to win three games more and may be lose one we would have won with RZ. Net is 2 more wins. we go 8-4.

Aug 14, 2012, 06:35 AM	#10
quhawks12 Location: Hamilton County, IN Posts: 3,355	Don't read worst case...don't read worst case...don't read worst case

Aug 14, 2012, 06:59 AM	#11
IlliniRunIn07 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,787	I could tolerate worst case until they had to mention the kitties winning the B1G. Gotta give it to ESPN though. That is absolutely THE worst case scenario.

Aug 14, 2012, 09:43 AM	#14
Calvin Posts: 1,606	Loved some of the comments.... How about this: Best Case: Illini DOMINATE the conference, roll over the SEC in the national championship game and go on to defeat the new york giant's in an exhibition match. During the game on the sidelines a bottle falls from the stands knocking one of the players in the head and causes him to become a savant who discovers a cure for cancer and wins the Nobel peace prize. Worst Case: The Illini lose every game for the entire season (including a scrimmage with a highschool squad) The team bus rolls off the edge of a mountain crushing an orphanage, 3 day cares and 2 middle schools. One of the children killed in the horrific bus accident would have grown up to discover faster than light travel and open up relations with alien species. === Also love the comment that the worst case for PSU is they go 12-0 and can't play for the BIG or National title.

Aug 15, 2012, 01:06 AM	#16
asuato Location: Bono, Arkansas Posts: 244	Just from what Ive been reading and watching UI should be better than predicted. The new coaching staff seems to really be working overtime to put a great product on the field.

Aug 15, 2012, 04:33 AM	#17
BWBW Location: Tyngsborough, MA Posts: 541	Best case for me is a Florida Bowl. Same timezone, fly south, maybe stay one night, watch the team in action.