Pregame: Illinois at Indiana, Saturday, September 20th, 6:30pm CT, NBC

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#201      
Pikeillinifan
Curbelo Fanboy said:
This one won't be easy, but if we play mistake free ball, we will at the least be right there in the 4th quarter & more likely just win the game. There are so few examples of Bret not having his team in the game in his IL tenure. VA in year 1 & OR last year are the ones that really stick out. Even at Penn State last year, we were clearly inferior talent wise but yet at the start of the 4th quarter still sat right there with a solid chance to win.

If you are gonna beat IL you are gonna have to beat em, they won't just gift wrap it for you with dumb mistakes.
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This really is it. We're not a team built to run and gun and put up 70 points; Bret's teams never are. We're built to play sound football, wear teams out, and ideally bury them later in the game.

The challenge here will be to avoid Indy coming out and getting 2-3 quick scores if we sputter on offense. I think we will be in great shape if we can get to halftime with a close game. It will be a tough hill to climb if we are down by 14-21 points at halftime because of a slow start. Hopefully, the Duke game got us ready, but if we start like we did against Duke and Indy doesn't make the same mistakes, it'll be tough to overcome.
 
#207      
altgeld88
HailtotheChief said:
Just looked on ESPN ap and the line there has now shifted to -3.5 and Illinois moneyline of +160.
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I know nothing about betting but IIRC the home team usually starts at a baseline of -3. Yes? Am I correct, then, in inferring that the bettors are close to considering this a toss-up?

Not that it matters. I will be there screaming myself hoarse (as I did two weeks ago) on behalf of The Forces of Righteousness, EC IL Branch.
 
#208      
Fighter of the Nightman
LvilleILL1 said:
When did this fanbase become so feeble? We have what it takes to beat IU. Based on what I am reading on here we are playing the 85 Bears, it's crazy.
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Unfortunately, the opposite is the problem - we became feeble decades ago, and way too many of our fans have like a psychological attachment to expecting the worst! Being overconfident is annoying for sure, but man ... our fans should have a bit more swagger at this point!
 
#209      
rdk573
LvilleILL1 said:
When did this fanbase become so feeble? We have what it takes to beat IU. Based on what I am reading on here we are playing the 85 Bears, it's crazy.
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You have to admit though we have not looked anywhere near like the #9 ranked team in the country, and our offensive line play (supposedly our strong point this year) has been for the most part been abysmal..

Vegas knows what they were doing when they made us 4 point underdogs...

Only thing I'm sure of is to bet the over...This game will be a shootout..
 
#211      
illini0440
rdk573 said:
You have to admit though we have not looked anywhere near like the #9 ranked team in the country, and our offensive line play (supposedly our strong point this year) has been for the most part been abysmal..

Vegas knows what they were doing when they made us 4 point underdogs...

Only thing I'm sure of is to bet the over...This game will be a shootout..
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Lot of money in on Illinois early
 
#213      
Illini2010-11
illini0440 said:
Lot of money in on Illinois early
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As there should be. There is plenty of value for taking Illinois where the line started. If you assume that the teams are equal on neutral site, then you would expect the line to be around Illini +2.5 to +3.0. Unlike some doom and gloomers that have shown up on this thread (someone seriously thinks we are going to lose by 42 points!), I can't see the Illini as a worse team than Indiana. Therefore, until the line comes back to +2.5 Illinois, then expect plenty to continue to put money on Illinois.

I put this game in more of the coin flip territory, and possibly lean IU because of the game played in Bloomington. However, if this game were in Champaign, the pendulum would swing heavily the Illini way. One thing is certain: we will know a lot about these two teams on Saturday night. I think having a true road game under the belt is super beneficial for the Illini.
 
#214      
Illiniam1984
Illini2010-11 said:
As there should be. There is plenty of value for taking Illinois where the line started. If you assume that the teams are equal on neutral site, then you would expect the line to be around Illini +2.5 to +3.0. Unlike some doom and gloomers that have shown up on this thread (someone seriously thinks we are going to lose by 42 points!), I can't see the Illini as a worse team than Indiana. Therefore, until the line comes back to +2.5 Illinois, then expect plenty to continue to put money on Illinois.

I put this game in more of the coin flip territory, and possibly lean IU because of the game played in Bloomington. However, if this game were in Champaign, the pendulum would swing heavily the Illini way. One thing is certain: we will know a lot about these two teams on Saturday night. I think having a true road game under the belt is super beneficial for the Illini.
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We’ve been through it before but in tougher environments. Nebraska, Penn State and Oregon last year….
 
#215      
Illini2010-11
rdk573 said:
You have to admit though we have not looked anywhere near like the #9 ranked team in the country, and our offensive line play (supposedly our strong point this year) has been for the most part been abysmal..

Vegas knows what they were doing when they made us 4 point underdogs...

Only thing I'm sure of is to bet the over...This game will be a shootout..
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I do not think Vegas has any idea what to do with Illinois related to the spread. Illinois covered the spread by double digits in each of the last two games, and the first game was only a slight cover because the line was insanely large.

Add into the fact that IU completely destroyed their spreads as well, I think there is massive uncertainly in the spread. I think the spread will eventually settle where it should...around +2.5 Illinois (meaning the teams are evenly matched with IU getting the home field advantage).
 
#216      
dbjm
ChiTown said:
Probably fanbase not used to success….always looking for the bottom to fall off.
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We should enjoy the damn ride! Just last year, the same perpetually miserable folks proclaimed Illinois would never sniff a playoff birth. Then, the same savants, in game threads, criticized the Illini for not beating Oregon & Pedo State, on the road.

For heavens sake, we’re finally led by an excellent A.D & head coach. The university is no longer actively sabotaging our programs. We’re positively mentioned nationally, however grudgingly, by most CF analysts.

Stop pissing in our collective Cheerios & try smiling, once in awhile
 
#221      
rjeffreys
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#222      
Chuck Nuggets
Indiana 34
Illinois 28

Prove me wrong, boys! Squeeze that last second TD in to win 35-34!
 
#224      
IlliniInCAN
DeonThomas said:
If you're taking the -4.5 points, you're expecting the Illini to cover. Did you mean IU 34 UI 31?
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Illinois is the underdog here, if I took them I’d be taking the +4.5, not the -4.5. So the prediction score showed that it would be IU by more than the -4.5 and by quite a bit, unfortunately.

Luckily I’m wrong all the time, so hopefully I’m off here too. 😂 I-L-L
 
#225      
fuddrules
Toews said:
Duke is a lot better than ODU and it was on the road lol anyone who thinks those are similar games aren't living in the real world
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Due to coaching, Duke is not a better team. They may have more talent, maybe, but they aren't better - and that's coming from the real world. You do have the home/road part correct.
 
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