With BOTH X and CLARKE out, we could be in for a long night. I have never picked against us and I won't. There is no receipt here. We just need someone to step us in a big way. They have 3, count them 3 great receivers.
Pregame: Illinois at Indiana, Saturday, September 20th, 6:30pm CT, NBC
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Most people, including most here, don't view us as a top 10 team, mostly because we've played like a borderline top 25 team so far. Indiana is really good, the game is at their place and they're fans will be all juiced. It's going to take a top 10 team to go in and win. The 6.5 spread tells the story of what people think.
I wish it were, I love Grok, but that is what it spat out for this game, with albeit a poor prompt.
Probably because of their high octane offense and our lack of shut down cornerbacks. BOTH of which are out. This sucks! I would so love the Illini winning this game. We have SUFFERED ENOUGH!
Winner!
If we can't generate pressure without blitzing, we're going to get hammered. Our front four has been less than stellar to start the year. Jacas is going to get doubled and chipped. Others are going to have to step up.
I don't know about that
I wish we were ranked #1 in the country. I want to see a performance of a top 10 team. If we go in and win this game, the confidence of our fanbase and how people view us around the country will totally flip.
Which people? It depends on who you ask. The betters and the coaches are are at odds. Coaches see us as a top 10 team and IU a top 20 team.
Lets call it what it is. Opinions are most definitely driven by the names on the front of the jersey. ND is ranked being 0-2. We're not a household name in football. In basketball, we are. We need to win a game, like this, to be taken seriously amongst other fan bases and Vegas(not that it matters).
the national
- the Front Range
Here is ChatGPT’s take:
Matchup Overview
Predicted Game Flow
Prediction
I lean Indiana to win, something like Indiana 31, Illinois 21. It should be a competitive game, but Indiana’s home crowd + Illinois’ defensive personnel losses tilt things toward the Hoosiers.
(I disagree with this prediction)
Matchup Overview- Spread: Indiana -6.5
- Total: 52.5
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington
Predicted Game Flow- 1st Half: Competitive — Illinois pounds the run, keeps it close (14–10 Indiana).
- 2nd Half: Indiana’s passing game starts picking apart the Illini secondary. Illinois’ offense stalls when forced into passing downs.
- Final: Indiana 31, Illinois 21.
Prediction
I lean Indiana to win, something like Indiana 31, Illinois 21. It should be a competitive game, but Indiana’s home crowd + Illinois’ defensive personnel losses tilt things toward the Hoosiers.
(I disagree with this prediction)
I think people are getting a little too hung up on our first half performances. Don't get me wrong. We've done our fair share of sleep walking to start games and that could come back to bite us.
But, body blows are a thing in football. There are things you do in the first half that might not pay dividends until the 3rd or 4th quarter. Just because we started slow doesn't mean the things we did in the first half didn't contribute to us pulling away in the second half. You poke. You probe. You learn. Then in the second half you put it together and capitalize.
That said, let's just go ahead and break their spirits from the start. This team needs a good coming out party and a Saturday night in September is as good a time as any.
But, body blows are a thing in football. There are things you do in the first half that might not pay dividends until the 3rd or 4th quarter. Just because we started slow doesn't mean the things we did in the first half didn't contribute to us pulling away in the second half. You poke. You probe. You learn. Then in the second half you put it together and capitalize.
That said, let's just go ahead and break their spirits from the start. This team needs a good coming out party and a Saturday night in September is as good a time as any.
When they’re wearing all red? Do you want Luke to throw 3 INT’s?
There's a difference between mediocre first half performances against other B1G schools as compared to directionals. That's what is causing people to have some hesitation.
I don't think either of these teams is really that much of a known quantity which is why there are such wildly different predictions.
There are aspects to our team that are not living up to our preseason expectations. If they finally do, I think we can win handily. If not, I think victory is going to rely on some big game changing plays (pick 6, long Valentine run, etc.)
AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
Hey it works both ways. Maybe Mendoza is more colorblind than Luke? Might actually be a good strategy if you happened to know the opposing QB was colorblind lol
Indiana 38
Illinois 21
Don't like it. And If I'm wrong, I'll come back and own it.
I like what I've seen in the second half of the last three games, but if we start out tomorrow the same way we have in the rest of the games this season, we'll be down 21 points before we know it. And everyone needs to quit playing revisionist history. Illinois has looked less than impressive to down right bad in probably 7 of the 12 quarters they've played this year. At least, based on our expectations.
I'm hopeful of the idea of "holding back" and "keeping it vanilla" whatever else, but I'm not sensing it.
We lose this game; it's finally a real wake up call (no BS excuses any more); and we win at least 7 of the next 8 games to close out the regular season.
Illinois 21
Don't like it. And If I'm wrong, I'll come back and own it.
I like what I've seen in the second half of the last three games, but if we start out tomorrow the same way we have in the rest of the games this season, we'll be down 21 points before we know it. And everyone needs to quit playing revisionist history. Illinois has looked less than impressive to down right bad in probably 7 of the 12 quarters they've played this year. At least, based on our expectations.
I'm hopeful of the idea of "holding back" and "keeping it vanilla" whatever else, but I'm not sensing it.
We lose this game; it's finally a real wake up call (no BS excuses any more); and we win at least 7 of the next 8 games to close out the regular season.
Damnit, Wyatt! Can't be getting me all riled up with Ray Liota monolog right before bed.
Jk...pork butt is on the smoker and I have hours to go before I sleep.
Also, lol, my post matches up pretty well with that. Good catch.
It applies, Freddie!!
Illinois 34
Hoosiers 17
Hoosiers 17
Great timing - I needed that.
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