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

Dan · Sep 1, 2012, 09:04 PM

__vs__

Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0) vs Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0)

Date: Saturday, September 8th, 2012

Time: 9:30pm CT

TV: ESPN

Series: Arizona State leads 2-1
# 1987: Arizona St 21, Illinois 7 (Champaign)
# 1988: Arizona St 21, Illinois 16 (Tempe)
# 2011: Illinois 17, Arizona St 14 (Champaign)

Illinois 2012 Results
09/01: Illinois 24, Western Michigan 7

Arizona State 2011 Results
08/30: Arizona State 63, Northern Arizona 6

Sun Devil Stadium (71,706)
Tempe, AZ

rrhafley · Sep 1, 2012, 09:07 PM

NS2 at 100% = IL-24 ASU-21
NS2 not 100%= ASU-27 IL-10

TheChiefRises · Sep 1, 2012, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrhafley

NS2 at 100% = IL-24 ASU-21
NS2 not 100%= ASU-27 IL-10

Quite a conflict you have there.
Very worried about this game if Scheel isn't playing.

U of I 89-05-10 · Sep 2, 2012, 12:06 AM

Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous ... But even though the WMU win wasn't perfect, it didn't exactly raise the red flags to me that it apparently did to other fans. Of course, Scheelhaase's healthiness is absolutely essential to a win, but I think if we play like we did in the first half vs. WMU next Saturday, especially after a week of practice, we could easily win, maybe even handily. That's a tall order, but not TOO tall.

Either way, a win or loss has the potential to really write the script for the rest of the season ... I'll go with a 24-20 Illini victory that propels this team into quite an entertaining and successful season.

Juice · Sep 2, 2012, 12:56 AM

Certainly going to be a big test going in to their place. Scheelhaase's health is obviously key in the game. We know the defense will be there, but I think our run blocking has GOT to get better for week 2, or we WILL lose. We have to be able to loosen up the ASU D with a consistant run game. If we can't do that, it will be tough to come out with a W.

stevo99 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous ... But even though the WMU win wasn't perfect, it didn't exactly raise the red flags to me that it apparently did to other fans. Of course, Scheelhaase's healthiness is absolutely essential to a win, but I think if we play like we did in the first half vs. WMU next Saturday, especially after a week of practice, we could easily win, maybe even handily. That's a tall order, but not TOO tall.

Either way, a win or loss has the potential to really write the script for the rest of the season ... I'll go with a 24-20 Illini victory that propels this team into quite an entertaining and successful season.

I agree with the importance of this game. This and PSU are the 2 most important games, IMO.

mdonsbach · Sep 2, 2012, 07:28 AM

I'm afraid I'm going to have to flip last year's score. Hope I'm wrong.

Illini - 14
ASU - 17

AHSIllini32 · Sep 2, 2012, 07:38 AM

At this point, assuming Nate's health:

UI - 24
ASU - 13

scubadunk · Sep 2, 2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo99

I agree with the importance of this game. This and PSU are the 2 most important games, IMO.

A road game against a BCS school is not as important to win as the home game against La Tech or other winnable home games like PSU, IU, PU.

AHSIllini32 · Sep 2, 2012, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadunk

A road game against a BCS school is not as important to win as the home game against La Tech or other winnable home games like PSU, IU, PU.

I would agree in terms of overall record. However, I think most are thinking in terms of what it could show us about the team going forward.

256ILLINI · Sep 2, 2012, 12:57 PM

20-10 ASU

blmillini · Sep 2, 2012, 01:56 PM

The honeymoon is over after this one.

ASU - 35
Illinois - 7

Glad Charleston Southern is next up so we can regain some confidence as we win the next 3.

drumanimal · Sep 2, 2012, 01:58 PM

If Scheelhaase doesn't play we will be (1-1).

quhawks12 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:12 PM

ASU opens in Vegas as a 3 point favorite.

I Hate Lemonier · Sep 2, 2012, 02:15 PM

I expect a game similar to last year which could go either way. I suspect ASU will have alot of trouble with our D, particularly with new starting QB

AHSIllini32 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blmillini

The honeymoon is over after this one.

ASU - 35
Illinois - 7

Glad Charleston Southern is next up so we can regain some confidence as we win the next 3.

How in the world do you come up with this?

AHSIllini32 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quhawks12

ASU opens in Vegas as a 3 point favorite.

Which basically means it's a tossup right?

I Hate Lemonier · Sep 2, 2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Which basically means it's a tossup right?

Yep that 3 point is for the home field.

illinicb · Sep 2, 2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Which basically means it's a tossup right?

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.

Kramer116 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:27 PM

No idea how ASU looked week 1, but I did see they won big.

But still quite a few preseason publications picked them to finish like 4-8 this season. I don't think they are supposed to be very good.

AHSIllini32 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:28 PM

That's what I thought and it makes sense. Considering both teams are coming in with coaching changes and are relatively unknown in terms of how their teams are going to be this year. Although the big benefit for us is that we aren't replacing our QB (well at least as long as Nate's ankle is alright).

PBLPanther · Sep 2, 2012, 02:30 PM

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I think it will be low scoring. If our defense can generate some points we can win. If not, it will be a struggle.

The offense didn't really cost us any points yesterday, but that could change. Our O-Line is bad. I mean...really, really bad. If it doesn't improve quickly we won't win many games.

I hope they were holding back on the play calling yesterday, because outside of the toss to Lankford we took no shots down the field. There wasn't much time to do that anyway with the blocking being poor, but it didn't help that WMU could cheat up and put 9 or 10 in the box.

AHSIllini32 · Sep 2, 2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBLPanther

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I think it will be low scoring. If our defense can generate some points we can win. If not, it will be a struggle.

The offense didn't really cost us any points yesterday, but that could change. Our O-Line is bad. I mean...really, really bad. If it doesn't improve quickly we won't win many games.

I hope they were holding back on the play calling yesterday, because outside of the toss to Lankford we took no shots down the field. There wasn't much time to do that anyway with the blocking being poor, but it didn't help that WMU could cheat up and put 9 or 10 in the box.

The OL wasn't great but you're being WAY too harsh on them too. Once we got ultra-conservative it didn't help how the OL looked. They need to improve of course but they weren't horrible.

blmillini · Sep 2, 2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

How in the world do you come up with this?

No offense whatsoever after the first 6 minutes of the last game against a very poor defense, no runninig game, no passing game, injured secondary, injured QB, less pressure on the QB than last year, hostile environment, motivation from last years game and I was at last years game where the only reason we won was because Ericson actually did a worse job coaching than Zook. It isn't that I don't think we will get better. We will be fine but I think it is a tall order next week. How we then respond is more important.

trevdv · Sep 2, 2012, 02:53 PM

I think we struggle a tad bit if Nate plays, and we struggle a lot if he doesn't. The one upside to this injury happening when it did is that O'Toole has the whole week to get his stuff together. If Scheelhaase had gone down in, say, the first quarter of the ASU game, everything would be discombobulated. At least Reily and Miles have time. That being said, ASU will win because Nathan will go out there anyways and be at 85%, and our offense will struggle:

ASU - 16 (3 FGs, 1 TD)

- 10

Sep 2, 2012, 07:28 AM	#7
mdonsbach Location: Bethalto, IL Posts: 1,260	I'm afraid I'm going to have to flip last year's score. Hope I'm wrong. Illini - 14 ASU - 17 __________________ Twitter

Sep 1, 2012, 09:04 PM	#1
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 25,908	__vs__ Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0) vs Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0) Date: Saturday, September 8th, 2012 Time: 9:30pm CT TV: ESPN Series: Arizona State leads 2-1 # 1987: Arizona St 21, Illinois 7 (Champaign) # 1988: Arizona St 21, Illinois 16 (Tempe) # 2011: Illinois 17, Arizona St 14 (Champaign) Illinois 2012 Results 09/01: Illinois 24, Western Michigan 7 Arizona State 2011 Results 08/30: Arizona State 63, Northern Arizona 6 Sun Devil Stadium (71,706) Tempe, AZ

Sep 1, 2012, 09:07 PM	#2
rrhafley Olympic Illini Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 318	NS2 at 100% = IL-24 ASU-21 NS2 not 100%= ASU-27 IL-10

Sep 2, 2012, 12:06 AM	#4
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 955	Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous ... But even though the WMU win wasn't perfect, it didn't exactly raise the red flags to me that it apparently did to other fans. Of course, Scheelhaase's healthiness is absolutely essential to a win, but I think if we play like we did in the first half vs. WMU next Saturday, especially after a week of practice, we could easily win, maybe even handily. That's a tall order, but not TOO tall. Either way, a win or loss has the potential to really write the script for the rest of the season ... I'll go with a 24-20 Illini victory that propels this team into quite an entertaining and successful season.

Sep 2, 2012, 12:56 AM	#5
Juice Posts: 1,542	Certainly going to be a big test going in to their place. Scheelhaase's health is obviously key in the game. We know the defense will be there, but I think our run blocking has GOT to get better for week 2, or we WILL lose. We have to be able to loosen up the ASU D with a consistant run game. If we can't do that, it will be tough to come out with a W.

Sep 2, 2012, 07:38 AM	#8
AHSIllini32 Posts: 6,999	At this point, assuming Nate's health: UI - 24 ASU - 13

Sep 2, 2012, 12:57 PM	#11
256ILLINI Banned Posts: 453	20-10 ASU

Sep 2, 2012, 01:56 PM	#12
blmillini Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 2,008	The honeymoon is over after this one. ASU - 35 Illinois - 7 Glad Charleston Southern is next up so we can regain some confidence as we win the next 3.

Sep 2, 2012, 01:58 PM	#13
drumanimal Location: Urbana, IL Posts: 430	If Scheelhaase doesn't play we will be (1-1).

Sep 2, 2012, 02:12 PM	#14
quhawks12 Location: Hamilton County, IN Posts: 3,363	ASU opens in Vegas as a 3 point favorite.

Sep 2, 2012, 02:15 PM	#15
I Hate Lemonier Posts: 2,403	I expect a game similar to last year which could go either way. I suspect ASU will have alot of trouble with our D, particularly with new starting QB

Sep 2, 2012, 02:27 PM	#20
Kramer116 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,619	No idea how ASU looked week 1, but I did see they won big. But still quite a few preseason publications picked them to finish like 4-8 this season. I don't think they are supposed to be very good.

Sep 2, 2012, 02:28 PM	#21
AHSIllini32 Posts: 6,999	That's what I thought and it makes sense. Considering both teams are coming in with coaching changes and are relatively unknown in terms of how their teams are going to be this year. Although the big benefit for us is that we aren't replacing our QB (well at least as long as Nate's ankle is alright).

Sep 2, 2012, 02:30 PM	#22
PBLPanther Living in Bosco's Basement Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 86	Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I think it will be low scoring. If our defense can generate some points we can win. If not, it will be a struggle. The offense didn't really cost us any points yesterday, but that could change. Our O-Line is bad. I mean...really, really bad. If it doesn't improve quickly we won't win many games. I hope they were holding back on the play calling yesterday, because outside of the toss to Lankford we took no shots down the field. There wasn't much time to do that anyway with the blocking being poor, but it didn't help that WMU could cheat up and put 9 or 10 in the box.

Sep 2, 2012, 02:53 PM	#25
trevdv Location: Champaign Posts: 2,575	I think we struggle a tad bit if Nate plays, and we struggle a lot if he doesn't. The one upside to this injury happening when it did is that O'Toole has the whole week to get his stuff together. If Scheelhaase had gone down in, say, the first quarter of the ASU game, everything would be discombobulated. At least Reily and Miles have time. That being said, ASU will win because Nathan will go out there anyways and be at 85%, and our offense will struggle: ASU - 16 (3 FGs, 1 TD) - 10