Illinois at Maryland, Saturday, October 31st, 11:00am CT, FS1

#3      
PizzaHutParkingLot
Season 10 Finale GIF by Curb Your Enthusiasm
 
#8      
jmwillini
Definitely a classic trap game. Team coming of a bye and having their coach let go, at home.

Can't overlook this team.
 
#10      
blackdog
Ramrod2010 said:
Lame coach speak incoming: Get off the bus running to help Clayton/Boyd
Click to expand...

Not much of a choice and exactly what the plan was today. 24 dropbacks (3 sacks and 2 scambles by Clayton) compared to 34 runs.
 
#11      
OrangeBlue98
Any reasonable chance for six wins and a bowl ride hard on this game. Those extra practices would be so crucial for Clayton’s continued development.
 
#12      
DeonThomas
Here are the remaining games (ranked easiest to most difficult):

1. @ Maryland
2. Nebraska
3. @ Northwestern (they're about to face the gauntlet, so maybe?)
4. @ UCLA (with their back-up QB)
5. Iowa

Clearly, these next two are the easiest to win, on paper. After MD, the combined record of the next 4 opponents is 23-5.

Those final three appear to be pretty much a toss-up.
 
#13      
Dkayak
DeonThomas said:
Here are the remaining games (ranked easiest to most difficult):

1. @ Maryland
2. Nebraska
3. @ Northwestern (they're about to face the gauntlet, so maybe?)
4. @ UCLA (with their back-up QB)
5. Iowa

Clearly, these next two are the easiest to win, on paper. After MD, the combined record of the next 4 opponents is 23-5.

Those final three appear to be pretty much a toss-up.
Click to expand...
Interesting how with the NU exception, this is the order in which they’re played. Maybe we’ll keep getting stronger and rise to the challenges?
 
#15      
Dkayak
DeonThomas said:
Vegas opening line......

Illini -3.5

(FRESHMAN QB NOT TRUSTED BY THE EXPERTS)
Click to expand...
Did any of them actually watch yesterday’s game to see how the QB and entire team played, or were they just gazing at stats?
 
#16      
altgeld88
ChiefGritty said:
Season on the line. And this is a tougher game than it looks, bye week, interim bounce, going on the road, handling the emotion of this week.

Coping with success is very difficult in college sports.
Click to expand...
Not much more to say than this. Maybe + Maryland players just got their coach fired so will probably have at least a bit more fire than they did a week ago before the bye week respite.

We’ll be there, loud and in orange.
 
#17      
lstewart53x3
DeonThomas said:
Here are the remaining games (ranked easiest to most difficult):

1. @ Maryland
2. Nebraska
3. @ Northwestern (they're about to face the gauntlet, so maybe?)
4. @ UCLA (with their back-up QB)
5. Iowa

Clearly, these next two are the easiest to win, on paper. After MD, the combined record of the next 4 opponents is 23-5.

Those final three appear to be pretty much a toss-up.
Click to expand...
I don’t know man I think I’d swap UCLA and Iowa even with UCLA’s back up QB. UCLA is currently #17 in SP+ and Iowa is #23 + UCLA is on the road and Iowa is at home + the back up QB has played pretty decent (beat Wisconsin and Michigan St with 462 yards passing, 1 TD / 1 INT).
 
#19      
OrangeBlue98
I honestly think this game is one of the most important of the Bielema era.

Even before all of the adversity, I thought 7 wins would be the benchmark. Win this game, and I think winning one of the last four to get to six wins and a bowl would be quite an accomplishment. It would be a positive sign of this program’s sustainability and ability to overcome significant adversity.

Have to win this game. It’s really important.
 
Last edited:
#20      
Illini2010-11
DeonThomas said:
Vegas opening line......

Illini -3.5

(FRESHMAN QB NOT TRUSTED BY THE EXPERTS)
Click to expand...
I am seeing -2.5 Illini right now. Maryland has been a hot mess and have a new interim head coach. Maybe Maryland gets a slight bump there, as well as the bye week to prepare.

If the Illini team from yesterday shows up, it should be a double-digit win. We will know in the first 5 minutes if Maryland has completely packed it in.
 
#22      
STLini25
DeonThomas said:
Here are the remaining games (ranked easiest to most difficult):

1. @ Maryland
2. Nebraska
3. @ Northwestern (they're about to face the gauntlet, so maybe?)
4. @ UCLA (with their back-up QB)
5. Iowa

Clearly, these next two are the easiest to win, on paper. After MD, the combined record of the next 4 opponents is 23-5.

Those final three appear to be pretty much a toss-up.
Click to expand...
@UCLA is WAY harder than Iowa at home
 
#25      
Illini2010-11
Ander1345 said:
This will be a close game. Don't panic.
Click to expand...
I sure hope not.

Maryland has lost by an average of 24 points in their 5 power conference games. The closest game was a 7 point loss at home vs a very bad Rutgers team. It is safe to say that this is the worst B1G team the Illini have seen so far.

I assume they may have a mini bounce from the coaching change and bye week, but that is a very bad football team.

I expect Coach B to have the squad ready to pounce on a wounded opponent. I will be disappointed if the Illini do not cover the spread.
 
Back