Bowl/Playoff Projections - Illinois #21 in CFB Playoff Rankings

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#1      
After Bama and Clemson lose, the CFP is effectively down to 5 teams right?

tOSU
UGA
TENN
MICH
TCU

Obviously other teams can always get back in the conversation if there are some crazy upsets.

The only dark horse I could see throw a wrench into things is Ole Miss, but they have a tough schedule left and will probably pick up a loss or 2.
 
#3      

redwingillini11

North Aurora
My prediction after yesterday:

We finish strong and win the West and get to 9-4. What is our reward? 10-2 and #4 in the SEC Alabama in the Citrus Bowl…
 
#4      
After Bama and Clemson lose, the CFP is effectively down to 5 teams right?

tOSU
UGA
TENN
MICH
TCU

Obviously other teams can always get back in the conversation if there are some crazy upsets.

The only dark horse I could see throw a wrench into things is Ole Miss, but they have a tough schedule left and will probably pick up a loss or 2.
Add Oregon, USC to the list. I don't see either Clemson or UNC getting in, even with one loss, unless everyone else ends up with 2 losses
 
#5      
My prediction after yesterday:

We finish strong and win the West and get to 9-4. What is our reward? 10-2 and #4 in the SEC Alabama in the Citrus Bowl…
I think the playoff will be Michigan, Georgia, Clemson, and TCU. I see OSU in the Rose and Penn State in the Citrus.
 
#6      

InDaAZ

Eugene, Oregon
Add Oregon, USC to the list. I don't see either Clemson or UNC getting in, even with one loss, unless everyone else ends up with 2 losses
Don’t forget UCLA - if any of those 3 Pac-12 teams win out, a strong case could be made to insert that team. Especially if our boys rock the world by beating one of scUM / Bucknuts…
 
#9      
Latest ESPN.com bowl projections:

-Schlabach: Citrus vs. Alabama
-Bonagura: Reliaquest vs. Florida
Awkward Kenan Thompson GIF by Saturday Night Live
 
#10      
Latest ESPN.com bowl projections:

-Schlabach: Citrus vs. Alabama
-Bonagura: Reliaquest vs. Florida
If you told me at the start of the season that we'd be projected to be in a bowl game against Bama, I wouldn't have believed you. As disappointing as yesterday was, this season has been an absolute success (so far)
 
#14      
Clemson will not get in. I for one don't want to play a peed off Bama. Rather play Florida and have a chance to win.
If it is Alabama, it'd be uncharted waters for them. I could see many of their NFL caliber guys sitting this one out. Not to mention the mind set of the team having had such a disappointing season. Could be a very different team on the field, vs. the regular season. Granted, their 2 deep is full of 4 and 5*'s, but there could be enough missing to make a noticeable difference.
 
#16      
Clemson will not get in. I for one don't want to play a peed off Bama. Rather play Florida and have a chance to win.

It's an interesting debate. Interested what everyone thinks. Would you rather....

A) Get a more favorable matchup and hopefully win the bowl game, but also not have as many eyes on it? (somebody like UNC, Utah, K State)

B) Face a powerhouse, probably be heavy underdogs, but have a chance to upset someone big in a higher profile game (Bama, LSU, Clemson, USC, etc)

I lean towards option B. We have nothing to lose, If we get smoked, oh well we were expected to lose anyway. I guess, IMO, the positive media coverage and exposure of getting matched up in a big game greatly outweighs in negativity that would come from losing by 30. And you never know, we might just pull off the upset.
 
#17      
If it is Alabama, it'd be uncharted waters for them. I could see many of their NFL caliber guys sitting this one out. Not to mention the mind set of the team having had such a disappointing season. Could be a very different team on the field, vs. the regular season. Granted, their 2 deep is full of 4 and 5*'s, but there could be enough missing to make a noticeable difference.
Good point, but there's always a possibility some of our NFL bound guys sit out as well, which may impact us as much, if not more. What would we look like without Netwon, Spoon, and either of the Browns, for example? This is also why I don't put too much stock in bowl game outcomes anymore.
 
#18      
It's an interesting debate. Interested what everyone thinks. Would you rather....

A) Get a more favorable matchup and hopefully win the bowl game, but also not have as many eyes on it? (somebody like UNC, Utah, K State)

B) Face a powerhouse, probably be heavy underdogs, but have a chance to upset someone big in a higher profile game (Bama, LSU, Clemson, USC, etc)

I lean towards option B. We have nothing to lose, If we get smoked, oh well we were expected to lose anyway. I guess, IMO, the positive media coverage and exposure of getting matched up in a big game greatly outweighs in negativity that would come from losing by 30. And you never know, we might just pull off the upset.
I lean toward A. But a lot depends on the results of Michigan and hopefully OSU. If we lose big to those two another big loss in a bowl game would make the season look more like an opportunistic run through a weak west. Capping off the year with a bowl win would increase the legitimacy of the season.

If I was recruiting to the program, I'd want A.
 
#19      

OnlyOrange

Belleville, IL
After Bama and Clemson lose, the CFP is effectively down to 5 teams right?

tOSU
UGA
TENN
MICH
TCU

Obviously other teams can always get back in the conversation if there are some crazy upsets.

The only dark horse I could see throw a wrench into things is Ole Miss, but they have a tough schedule left and will probably pick up a loss or 2.
One caveat I'll throw in: I think if LSU wins out, they're in. Yes, 2 losses, but winning the best conference in the country and beating Bama & UGA (in the SECCG) IMO gives them a spot.
 
#20      

redwingillini11

North Aurora
Jan. 2ReliaQuest team logo
Illinois
vs.
team logo
Florida
Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC12 p.m.Tampa, Fla.

Latest ESPN.com bowl projections:

-Schlabach: Citrus vs. Alabama
-Bonagura: Reliaquest vs. Florida

Citrus-Bowl-75th-Anniversary-Logo-157w-140h.png

Citrus Bowl​

Monday, Jan. 2

Orlando, FL

ill.png

Illinois

mis.png

Ole Miss

-4

Music City Bowl

Projected matchup
: Illinois vs. Kentucky

Citrus Bowl
Illinois vs. Alabama

Vrbo Citrus Bowl​

Monday, January 2, 2023
1:00, ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Last Year: Kentucky 20, Iowa 17
Bowl Ties: Big Ten vs SEC
Bowl Projection: Illinois vs Ole Miss

Jan. 2Citrus BowlIllinois vs. Alabama

Music City Bowl: Illinois vs. Kentucky

Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2)​

Tie-In: Big Ten vs. SEC

Projection: Illinois vs. Ole Miss
 
#22      

redwingillini11

North Aurora
I don't want to play LSU or Alabama in the a bowl game. We're simply not ready for that level of competition yet.
As soon as I saw Bama might lose to LSU and take themselves out of the playoff picture, I knew we are destined to play them in the Citrus Bowl.

It would still be a remarkable achievement for a great season to go there and play them, but man I don't want to draw a team with basically 100% 4 & 5 stars. The 2020 Citrus Bowl would be a good reference for how that would go for us.
 
#23      
It's an interesting debate. Interested what everyone thinks. Would you rather....

A) Get a more favorable matchup and hopefully win the bowl game, but also not have as many eyes on it? (somebody like UNC, Utah, K State)

B) Face a powerhouse, probably be heavy underdogs, but have a chance to upset someone big in a higher profile game (Bama, LSU, Clemson, USC, etc)

I lean towards option B. We have nothing to lose, If we get smoked, oh well we were expected to lose anyway. I guess, IMO, the positive media coverage and exposure of getting matched up in a big game greatly outweighs in negativity that would come from losing by 30. And you never know, we might just pull off the upset.
Understand both sides, but A for me please. Cap off this great season with a 30 point loss? Hear the 'same old Illinois' talk everywhere? Pass.
 
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