Pregame: Illinois vs Western Michigan, Saturday, September 1st, 11:00am CT, ESPNU

Dan · Aug 21, 2012, 07:37 PM

__vs__

Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0) vs Western Michigan Broncos (0-0)

Date: Saturday, September 1st, 2012

Time: 11:00am CT

TV: ESPNU

Online: http://watchespn.com

Series: Illinois leads 3-1
# 1947: Illinois 60, WMU 14 (Champaign)
# 2004: Illinois 30, WMU 27 (Champaign)
# 2008: WMU 23, Illinois 17 (Detroit)
# 2011: Illinois 23, WMU 20 (Champaign)

Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL (60,670) Seating chart Buy tickets

mdonsbach · Aug 21, 2012, 07:38 PM

OMG it is here!!!!

New Era Illini 27- Broncos to be Bucked 21

Dan · Aug 21, 2012, 07:38 PM

Illinois 27, Broncos 17

FeelYourPaign · Aug 21, 2012, 07:38 PM

Pretty picture

AHSIllini32 · Aug 21, 2012, 07:41 PM

YES!!!!!!!! Been waiting for what's felt like 8 1/2 years as opposed to 8 1/2 months for this!

I'll go 27-14.

USNIlliniFan · Aug 21, 2012, 07:55 PM

This is a MAC team Beckman knows well. Of course, the reverse could be said for WMU, as they have faced Beckman, but I think the talent edge goes to Illinois. 34-14 Illinois win.

KJKobs · Aug 21, 2012, 07:58 PM

Ugh, the Detroit Debacle (or Guenther's Folly)... One of the worst road trips I've ever been on - thankfully my friends and I had the vices of Windsor, Canada to numb the pain.

But alas, a New Era is upon us!

#cantwait

NS2toAJ8 · Aug 21, 2012, 08:00 PM

35-21 Illinois!

Groundhogday · Aug 21, 2012, 08:01 PM

I excited to see the team under a new coaching regime. I'm guessing that with the tempo change and a new set of coaches this will be higher scoring that it would have been under the previous staff.

35-24 Illinois

mattcoldagelli · Aug 21, 2012, 08:05 PM

Woot!

Clemens · Aug 21, 2012, 08:11 PM

24-14 good guys win

U of I 89-05-10 · Aug 21, 2012, 08:17 PM

Two bold predictions that are probably overly optimistic, but what the hell:

1) A lucky late rush in ticket sales this week swells the crowd above 55,000, giving it a pretty full look from TV.

2) We come out fired up, catch all the breaks and pound Western Michigan into the ground, 35-13. The exciting win builds the buzz around campus, and after a win at ASU and a few more blowouts in the non-coference schedule, we proceed to sell out the home Big Ten football schedule (even though it's not that exciting).

IlliniKat91 · Aug 21, 2012, 08:18 PM

Illini whoop WMU 34-14 as a birthday gift for me.

(Never again will I promise to go to the North Coast Music Fest if the Illini are playing at home that weekend.)

RyanK · Aug 21, 2012, 08:41 PM

24-17 Illini.

Few predictions:
1) Nate has 250+ yards of total offense
2) Defense comes up with 2 turnovers
3) We return a kickoff past the 35-

Kramer116 · Aug 21, 2012, 08:49 PM

ILL - 33

WM - 16

DY & JF both with 100+ total yards from scrimmage.

Defense with 3 turnovers.

Our special teams don't look special.

D. Jackson verbals during his official visit.

FredrickFremont · Aug 21, 2012, 09:25 PM

My pick (hope) to click is the OL. I think (pray) they'll come out of camp the way they were supposed to last year (looking to maul people), thanks to a Butkus nasty streak.

Defense gives us one very short field to work with.

Playmakers get the ball in places they should, and we score a lot.

ILL 41-20 WMU

Islander29 · Aug 21, 2012, 09:29 PM

I think this game will set the tone for the season. Either the Fighting Illini win in a blow out 55-10 and the SI prediction holds true, or the Zook jinx continues and the Illini go down 27-13 and struggle for the rest of the season 4-8.

IllinEye · Aug 21, 2012, 09:36 PM

Boy I sure hope we don't come out flat in this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4qzPbcFiA

DrewD007 · Aug 21, 2012, 09:39 PM

I'm going to copy Dan's prediction...

- 27
Western Mich - 17

NS2toAJ8 · Aug 21, 2012, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kramer116

ILL - 33

WM - 16

DY & JF both with 100+ total yards from scrimmage.

Defense with 3 turnovers.

Our special teams don't look special.

D. Jackson verbals during his official visit.

I might be having a complete brain cramp but who is D Jackson?

256ILLINI · Aug 22, 2012, 01:21 AM

Does anybody know of any stars on WMU we should be worried about?

I know their QB Carder is supposed to be real good, but other than him I know nothing of their team.

KBLEE · Aug 22, 2012, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

1) A lucky late rush in ticket sales this week swells the crowd above 55,000, giving it a pretty full look from TV.

It's on ESPNU, so it's not like many people will be watching anyway.

AHSIllini32 · Aug 22, 2012, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanK

24-17 Illini.

Few predictions:
1) Nate has 250+ yards of total offense
2) Defense comes up with 2 turnovers
3) We return a kickoff past the 35-

I think if that happens...well specifically #'s 1 and 2...that we'll win by more than 7.

RyanK · Aug 22, 2012, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

I think if that happens...well specifically #'s 1 and 2...that we'll win by more than 7.

Maybe I should add a number 4..

4) Offense turns the ball over twice

AHSIllini32 · Aug 22, 2012, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanK

Maybe I should add a number 4..

4) Offense turns the ball over twice

Ah...makes sense now:laugh:

Aug 21, 2012, 07:38 PM	#2
mdonsbach Location: Bethalto, IL Posts: 1,292	OMG it is here!!!! New Era Illini 27- Broncos to be Bucked 21 __________________ Twitter Last edited by mdonsbach; Aug 21, 2012 at 07:44 PM.

Aug 21, 2012, 07:58 PM	#7
KJKobs Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 879	Ugh, the Detroit Debacle (or Guenther's Folly)... One of the worst road trips I've ever been on - thankfully my friends and I had the vices of Windsor, Canada to numb the pain. But alas, a New Era is upon us! #cantwait __________________ Twitter: @KJKobs

Aug 21, 2012, 08:01 PM	#9
Groundhogday Posts: 18,200	I excited to see the team under a new coaching regime. I'm guessing that with the tempo change and a new set of coaches this will be higher scoring that it would have been under the previous staff. 35-24 Illinois __________________ ONLY ORANGE!

Aug 21, 2012, 08:05 PM	#10
mattcoldagelli Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,477	Woot! __________________ Twitter Blog #JoeTales

Aug 21, 2012, 09:39 PM	#19
DrewD007 Location: Swansea, IL Posts: 3,564	I'm going to copy Dan's prediction... - 27 Western Mich - 17 __________________ Follow me! http://www.twitter.com/illinidrew11

Aug 21, 2012, 07:37 PM	#1
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 26,029	__vs__ Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0) vs Western Michigan Broncos (0-0) Date: Saturday, September 1st, 2012 Time: 11:00am CT TV: ESPNU Online: http://watchespn.com Series: Illinois leads 3-1 # 1947: Illinois 60, WMU 14 (Champaign) # 2004: Illinois 30, WMU 27 (Champaign) # 2008: WMU 23, Illinois 17 (Detroit) # 2011: Illinois 23, WMU 20 (Champaign) Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL (60,670) Seating chart Buy tickets

Aug 21, 2012, 07:38 PM	#4
FeelYourPaign Location: Barrington, IL Posts: 2,350	Pretty picture

Aug 21, 2012, 07:41 PM	#5
AHSIllini32 Posts: 7,072	YES!!!!!!!! Been waiting for what's felt like 8 1/2 years as opposed to 8 1/2 months for this! I'll go 27-14.

Aug 21, 2012, 07:55 PM	#6
USNIlliniFan Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 318	This is a MAC team Beckman knows well. Of course, the reverse could be said for WMU, as they have faced Beckman, but I think the talent edge goes to Illinois. 34-14 Illinois win.

Aug 21, 2012, 08:11 PM	#11
Clemens Posts: 501	24-14 good guys win

Aug 21, 2012, 08:17 PM	#12
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 962	Two bold predictions that are probably overly optimistic, but what the hell: 1) A lucky late rush in ticket sales this week swells the crowd above 55,000, giving it a pretty full look from TV. 2) We come out fired up, catch all the breaks and pound Western Michigan into the ground, 35-13. The exciting win builds the buzz around campus, and after a win at ASU and a few more blowouts in the non-coference schedule, we proceed to sell out the home Big Ten football schedule (even though it's not that exciting).

Aug 21, 2012, 08:18 PM	#13
IlliniKat91 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,002	Illini whoop WMU 34-14 as a birthday gift for me. (Never again will I promise to go to the North Coast Music Fest if the Illini are playing at home that weekend.)

Aug 21, 2012, 08:41 PM	#14
RyanK Posts: 2,715	24-17 Illini. Few predictions: 1) Nate has 250+ yards of total offense 2) Defense comes up with 2 turnovers 3) We return a kickoff past the 35-

Aug 21, 2012, 08:49 PM	#15
Kramer116 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,676	ILL - 33 WM - 16 DY & JF both with 100+ total yards from scrimmage. Defense with 3 turnovers. Our special teams don't look special. D. Jackson verbals during his official visit.

Aug 21, 2012, 09:25 PM	#16
FredrickFremont Location: Bangers Posts: 893	My pick (hope) to click is the OL. I think (pray) they'll come out of camp the way they were supposed to last year (looking to maul people), thanks to a Butkus nasty streak. Defense gives us one very short field to work with. Playmakers get the ball in places they should, and we score a lot. ILL 41-20 WMU

Aug 21, 2012, 09:29 PM	#17
Islander29 Posts: 79	I think this game will set the tone for the season. Either the Fighting Illini win in a blow out 55-10 and the SI prediction holds true, or the Zook jinx continues and the Illini go down 27-13 and struggle for the rest of the season 4-8.

Aug 21, 2012, 09:36 PM	#18
IllinEye Location: Iowa City, IA Posts: 118	Boy I sure hope we don't come out flat in this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4qzPbcFiA

Aug 22, 2012, 01:21 AM	#21
256ILLINI Banned Posts: 453	Does anybody know of any stars on WMU we should be worried about? I know their QB Carder is supposed to be real good, but other than him I know nothing of their team.