What’s funny is we’re justifiably frustrated over that loss. We all know we should have won. If we keep trending up, and winning the games we should, that loss could be what keeps us out of a New Years bowl type game. But imagine how we would have reacted if anybody told us before the season we would be one loss out of a New Years bowl game.
Not only would we take it in a heartbeat, we wouldn’t believe the person telling us.
If we
literally keep winning the games we should, we will be playing in a New Year's bowl; even with that loss. I'm going to consider the games we
should win as games we are
favorites to win.
Oct. 8 - We are favorites to win tomorrow. It may be an ugly game, but by definition, we will win. That will make us 5-1 (2-1).
Oct. 15 - Winning tomorrow, regardless of whether it's close or a blowout, will make us the favorites to win against Minnesota on the 15th. And we will. We will be 6-1 (3-1) and go bowling.
Oct. 29 - We will have two weeks off before heading to Nebraska. Going to Nebraska is always a tough road game, and Nebraska does have two 'easy' teams between now and playing us, but losing any of those two games will guarantee they will not be favorites to win. Even winning both probably does not put them as favorites, even with the home game. Illinois will win this game easily. Now 7-1 (4-1), Illinois will not just be talking about a bowl game, but the conversation will be centered on making a run at the B1G Championship game and a spot in the Playoffs.
Nov. 5 - When Michigan State comes to town on November 5, they will have just finished a stretch of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and then AT Michigan. At best, they win one of those game, and in reality probably lose all three. Illinois won't just be favorites, they will likely be double digit favorites. Illinois will come through, beat the spread, and win by 20+ points. Illinois will be 8-1 (5-1) at this point. If we haven't been making national news by this point, we surely will be now.
Nov. 12 - Purdue's schedule doesn't appear to be any tougher than Illinois' from this point until they meet us on November 12. They also aren't as good of a team as we are, so it doesn't mean they will have the same outcomes. Illinois will have home field, momentum, and even more importantly, confidence. We'll be favorites, and we will win. Illinois will have 9 wins for the first time since 2007.
Nov. 19 - A 9-1 Illinois team will travel to a 10-0 Michigan team. Illinois will be underdogs, and since I'm basing this off of being favorites or not, Illinois, by rule, will lose. Not a bad loss, but a loss none-the-less.
Nov. 26 - Northwestern will travel to Illinois, and we will be another double digit favorite to win the game. Again, Illinois won't disappoint, especially since it knows it needs to wow the bowl selection people. This game ends up 55-10 before starters are pulled half-way through the 3rd quarter (maybe even earlier). Illinois wins the B1G West with a 10-2 (7-2) record and gets the chance to take on Ohio State in the championship.
Dec. 3 - Illinois loses the Championship Game.
Illinois will finish the season 10-3 with a 7-2 B1G record.
The following New Year's Bowls (I'm saying any bowl from Dec 31 to Jan 2) have B1G tie-ins:
Rose Bowl (B1G vs, Pac-12)
Citrus Bowl (Big vs. SEC)
Tampa Bay (Big vs. SEC)
There's no way a 10-3 B1G team gets overlooked for at least one of those slots by through the selection process. Not to mention that the CFP may end up having two B1G teams (if the only loss to either Michigan or Ohio State is the other team).
So, if we
literally keep winning the games we should, we will be playing in a New Year's bowl; even with that loss.
Just keep winning.