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

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#53      
Illiini
GIFs. I'm going to have to help my daughter move...and I don't get BTN anyway, but I need something beyond checking scores as often as I can. GIFs, please. I'm being a good dad.
 
#54      
BZuppke
I don't think they score much on us. This D will look good this year in most games.
 
#57      
SampsonRelpenk
It doesn't seem like much has been made about the fact that Dunlap and Corbin have not practiced yet and will not play Saturday. Those are two important pieces. Any word on what their injuries are?
 
#59      
james81
Whether it's PR or the Illinois coaches believe what they say, they have built up the expectations that we have an improved team, that the freshmen have excelled, that Couch is going to surprise people with his passing, and that the team is going to play with a chip on its shoulder. At the same time, they claim there is a lot of room for growth and improvement, and they expect to see that game by game. If coaching is the intangible factor in elevating performance, these coaches have me expecting a solid win over Ball State, not a cliff hanger. I don't know if they've intended to raise expectations, but they have--clearly the players feel that way.
 
#60      
BZuppke
Well it's always a balance between pumping up your players and fans (marketing) and realizing what you're working with. That being said, I think there is too much negativity. I think we will be better than the dominant expectation of 4 wins or less. People pretty much are making predictions on the bare minimum. I would hope we could scrounge up 3 wins with this schedule which includes Rutgers, Ball State, Western Kentucky, Purdue and Indiana. I also think we beat Ball State solidly. I also go on to predict that if we do something like upset Nebraska, people here will start penciling in the Minnesota, Iowa and NW games as sure wins. There is no middle it seems.
 
#61      
Dan
[YOUTUBE]vNRJyo0F0us[/YOUTUBE]
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#62      
CARPET
Illinois is favored by 6.5 points vs Ball State.

I took a hard second look at this game and every thing I see is Illinois by 10 easy. What is it I am missing?

My Orange Green money is on Illinois to cover.
 
#64      
HR217
CARPET said:
Illinois is favored by 6.5 points vs Ball State.

I took a hard second look at this game and every thing I see is Illinois by 10 easy. What is it I am missing?

My Orange Green money is on Illinois to cover.
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We are basically an unknown. Basically a new QB, new Dline, new linebackers stepping in, the return of Dudek, but how good is he going to be? and a whole lotta freshmen. We are just unknown and have very little experience and are VERY young. So, we could end up pretty solid actually but we could also be pretty bad due to all of these factors.
 
#65      
BZuppke
A factor to also consider is this is Lovie's second year and a lot of players' second year with the same coaches. That would be on the plus side for us.
 
#66      
KRSAS
I'm predicting Illinois 42 Ball State 17. This game will be close early on but the Illini clamp down and pull away in the game. This game kind of reminds me of the 2006 Illini/EIU game home opener. Around 42,500 for the game, supposed to be nice on Saturday.
 
#67      
Dan
[YOUTUBE]0l_GYu-5LjM[/YOUTUBE]
 
#68      
Illiini
KRSAS said:
I'm predicting Illinois 42 Ball State 17. This game will be close early on but the Illini clamp down and pull away in the game. This game kind of reminds me of the 2006 Illini/EIU game home opener. Around 42,500 for the game, supposed to be nice on Saturday.
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We'll see how the freshmen ahve been taught, and how well respond and work with the older players. If I were a betting man, I'd say the Illini cover. It's only one touchdown, folks.
 
#69      
TheGMan
I think they also cover, but it such an unknown. I think the safer bet is to take the under with the line at 55.
 
#70      
Cubman23
I am sure this is the wrong thread to ask, but here it goes anyway. Going to my first football game this weekend and need to know where to park.
 
#71      
Fighter of the Nightman
ChiefIllini said:
I cant really take stock in any game played a decade ago in terms of performance this year.

That is an interesting tidbit considering that was the last year we were remotely relevant in football, maybe a close win will bring similar prosperity :)
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Sadly, we were very relevant in 2008, too; that was a colossal collapse of a season.
 
#74      
IlliniMed
I personally love the blue on white. It looks sleek AF
 
#75      
Fighter of the Nightman
While I think white looks the coolest, I'm starting to prefer the classic. With all of this logo consolidation and War Chant discontinuation, we need a rock solid identify. Maybe ole Timmy B was right that we should prioritize orange, as we are the only conference school with that color. I like 'em!
 
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