A lot of experts seem to be picking Neb because their stats are so much better than ours, but I don't think they've placed enough weight on the opponents both teams have faced. We both played an unranked FCS team. The huskers also played # 129 ranked UTEP and #70 ranked Colorado (per Teamrankings.com). We played #108 CMU and #32 KS. Our stats would look a lot better if we hadn't played anyone in the top 69. It's our passing game vs their running game. Take the Illini and the points.
Pregame: Illinois at Nebraska, Friday, September 20th, 7:00pm CT, FOX
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ptgrd23
- orange county CA
This game will be like Illini Basketball Madison Square Garden game vs. Florida Atlantic. We blow them out then realize this years football team could be very special.
www.espn.com
Illinois 98-89 Florida Atlantic (Dec 5, 2023) Final Score - ESPN
Game summary of the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Florida Atlantic Owls NCAAM game, final score 98-89, from December 5, 2023 on ESPN.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I think our secondary will get at least 2 turnovers against a frosh QB1 .....Now he is a talented frosh but we have elite defenders and I hope our DC will try to rattle him with some opportune blitz's that will result in overthrows and TO's for the Illini..........
Our running game needs to have better production this game.....Seems to me that Feagin is a tad b it slower hitting the creases compared to last year........Laughery needs to come into this game with confidence and Valentine is that jitterbug that can burst a long one at any time......McCray had some good runs last game and I hope he continues to stay healthy.....
luke needs to be accurate as bryant and Franklin will catch the ball if Luke leads them accurately.......
finally , we have 2 great kickers so don't overlook that aspect if we get within 55-60 yards...........
JMHO............
Our running game needs to have better production this game.....Seems to me that Feagin is a tad b it slower hitting the creases compared to last year........Laughery needs to come into this game with confidence and Valentine is that jitterbug that can burst a long one at any time......McCray had some good runs last game and I hope he continues to stay healthy.....
luke needs to be accurate as bryant and Franklin will catch the ball if Luke leads them accurately.......
finally , we have 2 great kickers so don't overlook that aspect if we get within 55-60 yards...........
JMHO............
splitter
- and not Nebraska
If we can actually wear them down that way I’m all for it. Win pretty or win ugly I don’t think many of us here should care. Just win baby.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
I'd be interested to see the comparison of the defense of the teams Nebraska's faced so far this year to ours. I think we're their first real defensive test and that makes it a ripe opportunity to rattle a freshman quarterback's cage. He's a 5-star so I don't think it'll totally put him off his game, but if we can put the crowd back on their heels, we might have more of a chance to sneak out with a W.
Feagin, Laughery, McCray, and Valentine are four backs who should be able to run 2 back sets effectively.
Perhaps we have some RPO possibilities from 2 back sets.
Luke should be able to throw effectively on some first downs.
Luke running (out of bounds or sliding) should be effective.
This should be the game Lunney calls an almost perfect offense (he's called enough imperfect ones, we are really overdue).
Our defense is more than good enough.
There is certainly reason for optimism.
Perhaps we have some RPO possibilities from 2 back sets.
Luke should be able to throw effectively on some first downs.
Luke running (out of bounds or sliding) should be effective.
This should be the game Lunney calls an almost perfect offense (he's called enough imperfect ones, we are really overdue).
Our defense is more than good enough.
There is certainly reason for optimism.
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
There's certainly a few ways this game could go, but my biggest worry would be Nebraska jumps ahead early, the crowd starts really getting into it, and their o-line dominates us so badly in run protection that Nebraska never needs to put the ball in Raiola's hands to test the secondary. I do think there's a universe though where we score on our first drive, our defense strings enough consecutive good plays each drive that the game turns into a slog through most of the first half with a 1 possession game at halftime, we force Nebraska to be a bit too impatient in the 2nd half and have a big interception and then Luke seals this one up with a long drive filled with backbreaking 3rd down completions after we take back the lead leaving Nebraska befuddled and bewildered at what just happened.
That said, gut feel is Nebraska's oline and dline are just going to be way too much for us and that their obliterate us in the run game on both sides of the ball allowing them to limit the number of plays our safeties and nickels are able to get involved in, as well as forcing Luke into obvious passing downs where they can pin their ears back and straight pass rush. And this being our first road game of the season in a primetime game doesn't make me feel any better
As such, I've got:
Nebraska: 31
Illinois: 13
That said, this is probably good news for 2 reasons. First, my picks have been a disaster this year (2-1 Straight up, 0-3 ATS) and second, my gut feel is that if we get worked this game, we're going to show up in Happy Valley and push them to their limits. In any case, I've got fairly low expectations for this one, but looking forward to being dead wrong. Let's keep this magical start going and get the upset!
That said, gut feel is Nebraska's oline and dline are just going to be way too much for us and that their obliterate us in the run game on both sides of the ball allowing them to limit the number of plays our safeties and nickels are able to get involved in, as well as forcing Luke into obvious passing downs where they can pin their ears back and straight pass rush. And this being our first road game of the season in a primetime game doesn't make me feel any better
As such, I've got:
Nebraska: 31
Illinois: 13
That said, this is probably good news for 2 reasons. First, my picks have been a disaster this year (2-1 Straight up, 0-3 ATS) and second, my gut feel is that if we get worked this game, we're going to show up in Happy Valley and push them to their limits. In any case, I've got fairly low expectations for this one, but looking forward to being dead wrong. Let's keep this magical start going and get the upset!
If we lose, hopefully within 1 possession. We can win by a lot, would be fine with that.
Neb defense is stout. Hoping the offense has balance where Illini do not abandon the run, a la Tony Peterson vs iowa(was it Iowa?). Put stress on the defense and don’t run vanilla plays. Go for it. Lunney/ BB I’m interested in play calls.
Defense I’m interested in how they play run/ balance with pass def.im hoping Pass def is strong enough where wr cannot get open therefore LBs and Bailey can support run game. But raiola may be too good to do this. Disguise def and mix up playcalling.
Can’t be predictable on both sides. Think I’m most interest in how OC and DC call game. Put pressure and stress on both sides, make them think.
Neb defense is stout. Hoping the offense has balance where Illini do not abandon the run, a la Tony Peterson vs iowa(was it Iowa?). Put stress on the defense and don’t run vanilla plays. Go for it. Lunney/ BB I’m interested in play calls.
Defense I’m interested in how they play run/ balance with pass def.im hoping Pass def is strong enough where wr cannot get open therefore LBs and Bailey can support run game. But raiola may be too good to do this. Disguise def and mix up playcalling.
Can’t be predictable on both sides. Think I’m most interest in how OC and DC call game. Put pressure and stress on both sides, make them think.
Maybe ILLINI can use a WIng-T formation with two backs behind and SE and the wingback which would employ a two back offense.
So you don't think a 50% increase in numbers would be terribly different? I hope you're not in logistics. And no offense to Illinois whatsoever, but if you think the game day logistics are anything there like they are in Lincoln, you're mistaken. I've been to both - its not the same.
You may not have arrived until 5, but the on campus tailgating spots in Lincoln opened with lines at 8 am, and were full at noon today.
As far as it crossing anyone's mind to cancel classes, without doing any research at all, I know Maryland, Florida State and Central Florida have all done so for weeknight games.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
is there anyone ( a real living breathing person ) still working at ESPN ?
I think it’s all AI now .
I think the first road game gets us, but not in demoralizing fashion. I'll say we cover the spread, Nebraska 28 Illinois 23.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
great piece on Pat Bryant. need to scroll down past Univ TX paragraphs
....Earlier this month, he and two teammates pooled their NIL earnings to donate backpacks and school supplies to local children. Bryant's desire to give back stems in part from his father, Patrick, the athletic director of the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville....
www.espn.com
....Earlier this month, he and two teammates pooled their NIL earnings to donate backpacks and school supplies to local children. Bryant's desire to give back stems in part from his father, Patrick, the athletic director of the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville....
GameDay Kickoff: Stacked QB rooms, big conference matchups and more ahead of Week 4
Our college experts give insight on players, sound and storylines ahead of Week 4.
lol “but give me Illinois”
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
All I say is that someone who played for Hamilton High in Chandler, AZ will win, I guarantee it....
Nebraska folks have clear and long-standing priorities:
1. God.
2. Family (which for many includes #3 below -- blood related or not)
3. The Big Red
4. EVERYTHING ELSE
God bless 'em. NIce folks to have as friends.
I’m confident our secondary can hold strong and rattle Raiola, and I have faith in our receivers and Luke. Our OL, DL, rushing attack, and run defense scare me….
I’ll hold off on a prediction, and I don’t like thinking of this as a ‘prove it’ game, but I don’t feel like we’ve seen enough ability to run or stop the run to be successful in this one.
Prove me wrong guys!! I-L-L
I’ll hold off on a prediction, and I don’t like thinking of this as a ‘prove it’ game, but I don’t feel like we’ve seen enough ability to run or stop the run to be successful in this one.
Prove me wrong guys!! I-L-L
One of the things that Nebraska seems to like to do is a lot of throws close to the line of scrimmage and short to medium passes across the middle of the field and I do think that really plays to the strengths we've shown thus far this season if they stick with that type of attack. Patterson has done a great job on screens and both Cox and Brooks have provided very tight coverage on those short to medium passes when they've been in the game. And for our CBs and NBs in general, the weaknesses I've seen have come more from the 8-20yd routes outside the hashes where we lose coverage. Middle of the field throws is where Miles and Xavier start lurking and Bailey start getting involved in both laying the lumber and assisting in the run game.
As such, if I were to guess, I think we'd try defending with the idea of that Nebraska gameplan in mind where we might creep Bailey up to help as much as he can in the run game, lock down the short passes and screen and dare Rhule to call longer developing pass plays and routes for Raiola where he'll be more susceptible to throwing into disguised coverage. It's certainly possible we'll get burned if we sell out too much for the run, but if it's between that or consistently giving up 7yds a carry, I think we'll need to risk Dylan beating us as I don't see Nebraska going the route of the Kansas OC in inexplicable going away from a working run game.
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