Pregame: Illinois vs Ball State, Saturday, September 2nd, 11:00am CT, BTN

Status
Not open for further replies.
#4      

IllinoisFanAtFSU

I
IllinoisFanAtFSU
Spread seems about right. Prediction susceptible to change depending on health, but I think we will win roughly 28-17. We will turn the ball over and commit dumb penalties, but I think our defense will create some turnovers as well.
 
#5      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Don't know much about the matchup, so does anyone have any guesses on the type of crowd we can pull for the home opener? Here were our last ten:

2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (2:30 pm)
2015: 36,693 vs. Kent State (2:00 pm)
2014: 36,234 vs. Youngstown State (11:00 am)
2013: 42,175 vs. Southern Illinois (11:00 am)
2012: 43,441 vs. Western Michigan (11:00 am)
2011: 45,154 vs. Arkansas State (2:30 pm)
2010: 52,217 vs. Southern Illinois (11:30 am)
2009: 62,347 vs. Illinois State (6:00 pm)
2008: 60,131 vs. Eastern Illinois (11:00 am)
2007: 48,301 vs. Western Illinois (6:00 pm)

Good news is we won 'em all. :D I'm going to guess a gentleman's 42,000. :eek:
 
#6      

Poe's Law

P
Poe's Law
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Don't know much about the matchup, so does anyone have any guesses on the type of crowd we can pull for the home opener? Here were our last ten:

2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (2:30 pm)
2015: 36,693 vs. Kent State (2:00 pm)
2014: 36,234 vs. Youngstown State (11:00 am)
2013: 42,175 vs. Southern Illinois (11:00 am)
2012: 43,441 vs. Western Michigan (11:00 am)
2011: 45,154 vs. Arkansas State (2:30 pm)
2010: 52,217 vs. Southern Illinois (11:30 am)
2009: 62,347 vs. Illinois State (6:00 pm)
2008: 60,131 vs. Eastern Illinois (11:00 am)
2007: 48,301 vs. Western Illinois (6:00 pm)

Good news is we won 'em all. :D I'm going to guess a gentleman's 42,000. :eek:
Click to expand...

I'll take the over at 44k... I'm anticipating some promotions to be announced soon.
 
#7      

james81

J
North Carolina
james81
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Don't know much about the matchup, so does anyone have any guesses on the type of crowd we can pull for the home opener? Here were our last ten:

2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (2:30 pm)
2015: 36,693 vs. Kent State (2:00 pm)
2014: 36,234 vs. Youngstown State (11:00 am)
2013: 42,175 vs. Southern Illinois (11:00 am)
2012: 43,441 vs. Western Michigan (11:00 am)
2011: 45,154 vs. Arkansas State (2:30 pm)
2010: 52,217 vs. Southern Illinois (11:30 am)
2009: 62,347 vs. Illinois State (6:00 pm)
2008: 60,131 vs. Eastern Illinois (11:00 am)
2007: 48,301 vs. Western Illinois (6:00 pm)

Good news is we won 'em all. :D I'm going to guess a gentleman's 42,000. :eek:
Click to expand...

The enthusiasm meter has dropped from last year, but it's a new season and Dudek is back. Ball State is close enough to attract a few thousand fans. I'm going with 45,000. We win by 17.
 
#8      

illinichick

I
Ann Arbor, MI
illinichick
I'll be attending this game - the first in many years - and am bringing friends and want to show them a good time tailgating. This includes my new British brother-in-law who has never tailgated for American football - lots of responsibility to make sure he's impressed!

Should I get a parking pass in advance, or go to one of the first-come first-serve lots on game day? I'm not super picky about location, but want to be in an area with lots of activity. Would love to do Grange Grove, but will be driving in early on Saturday and doubt we'd get a spot.

Any advice welcome!
 
#9      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
illinichick said:
I'll be attending this game - the first in many years - and am bringing friends and want to show them a good time tailgating. This includes my new British brother-in-law who has never tailgated for American football - lots of responsibility to make sure he's impressed!

Should I get a parking pass in advance, or go to one of the first-come first-serve lots on game day? I'm not super picky about location, but want to be in an area with lots of activity. Would love to do Grange Grove, but will be driving in early on Saturday and doubt we'd get a spot.

Any advice welcome!
Click to expand...

I'd just hit up Grange Grove, it was really a game changer for the gameday atmosphere in Champaign.
 
#10      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
EDIT: I highly doubt it will be completely full for this game. The night home game and some of the Big Ten ones, sure, but not an 11:00 am game vs. Ball State. You should be good!
 
#12      

EfremWinters84

E
S. Carolina
EfremWinters84
Without doing any research on Ball State, the optimist in me comes out......

ILL 45
BSU 17

We easily cover the 8 points. 40,378 in attendance
 
#14      

drwillini

D
drwillini
illinichick said:
I'll be attending this game - the first in many years - and am bringing friends and want to show them a good time tailgating. This includes my new British brother-in-law who has never tailgated for American football - lots of responsibility to make sure he's impressed!

Should I get a parking pass in advance, or go to one of the first-come first-serve lots on game day? I'm not super picky about location, but want to be in an area with lots of activity. Would love to do Grange Grove, but will be driving in early on Saturday and doubt we'd get a spot.

Any advice welcome!
Click to expand...

I took a British buddy and his girlfriend (now wife) to the Iowa game back when we were really good. The were the most impressed with the Marching Illini. They had never seen anything like that.
 
#15      

Illiini

Illiini
In the land of the Nittany Lion
Illiini
ChiefIllini said:
Thats an extremely optimistic outlook on their season...

They think there's a chance they go 4-0 non con, with 3-1 and 2-2 being extremely likely as well. They mention both us and Western Kentucky as what they make sound, winnable games.
Click to expand...

Ball State gets rolled.
 
#19      

TownieMatt

T
CU Expat
Chicago
TownieMatt
So much youth on this defense, hard to imagine us not getting gashed for a couple big plays. That being said, Ball State's defense shouldn't be too stingy. They were bad last year and return just four starters (according to this https://athlonsports.com/college-football/ball-state-football-2017-cardinals-preview-and-prediction). I expect us to run all day, with Foster, Corbin, Epstein, Bonner, and Crouch all getting touches. I would be very surprised to see Crouch throw more than 15 times unless we fall behind.
 
#20      

BWBW

BWBW
BWBW
Crouch needs practice throwing. Maybe he should throw 20 times? ;)
 
#21      

South Farms

S
near Ogden & Rt 83
South Farms
who's glad were are not opening in the StL dome against Mizzou for what would be now would be like the 22nd consecutive loss to them
 
#22      

james81

J
North Carolina
james81
Article from the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel:

COLLEGE FB PREVIEW: Ball State Cardinals

Ball State again ranked dead last – by a wide margin – in the Mid-American Conference total defenses a year ago, and that history is a key reason as to why the Cardinals have been selected by the media to finish as the worst team in the league overall in 2017.
Click to expand...
 
#23      

CARPET

C
CARPET
I have looked at this game The Line is Illinois -7.5 at many shops.

Very surprised it is so low. Everything I see Illinois should roll winning this by 21 points.

What am I missing ? Why is the line so low? If the Illini cant' beat Ball State by 21 points we are in for a awful long season
 
#24      

BWBW

BWBW
BWBW
CARPET said:
I have looked at this game The Line is Illinois -7.5 at many shops.

Very surprised it is so low. Everything I see Illinois should roll winning this by 21 points.

What am I missing ? Why is the line so low? If the Illini cant' beat Ball State by 21 points we are in for a awful long season
Click to expand...

No one knows what our team can do. Not even us. This team just needs to prove it on the field. I'm thinking we win 35 to 24.
 
#25      

mdonsbach

M
mdonsbach
When will we know if the game is on the main BTN channel or the alternate? For some stupid reason I scheduled my mom to come in that weekend and I need to record it. :doh:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.