Pregame: Illinois at Rutgers, Saturday, October 6th, 11:00am CT, BTN
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These are exactly the characteristics I like in an opposing QB. We should be able to jump routes and get picks if he's staring down receivers. And as BZuppke says above, we should definitely be able to run the ball.
I would love for this to be a dominant win, and for it to give our guys confidence going into the Purdue game. Robert has said a couple of times that the sideline is completely different this year, (i.e. much more confident and engaged). Rutgers is the kind of game where that can really make a difference on the field. 38-17 Illini.
Illinois -1.5 is the opening line. Vegas must not think as highly of the Illini as some of us (shocker there)
Is Indiana good?
I'm having trouble squaring that line with the rest of Rutgers' spreads this year.
Anyway, this basically guarantees we'll be an underdog next week against Purdue.
We should run all over them. I hope Bush is back, i think he gives us the better chance for a victory. Whats the over/under on zone reads called....20??
Illinisteve25
- Champaign
Illini 38 Rutty 21 we dominate by running all over them early they get a late score or 2 to make it look closer...
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Need to win this one. Measuring stick game. Our offense should run wild.
I hope we get the ball first and get 7 on the board. Then I hope we surprise them with stunts/blitzing and get a takeaway on their first possession, perhaps even a defensive touchdown.
Reality may be settling for a field goal on the first drive, getting behind 7-3 when Rutgers executes a well-designed first drive (that may include making a 4th down conversion), thus giving Rutgers the belief it may win the game.
Reality may be settling for a field goal on the first drive, getting behind 7-3 when Rutgers executes a well-designed first drive (that may include making a 4th down conversion), thus giving Rutgers the belief it may win the game.
I also believed the line should be bigger. Could be a case of Vegas thinking Indiana is a quality team or maybe a little recency bias. Looks like we are getting a huge majority of the bets right now though.
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Sounds like Bush will be back
Deleted member 29907
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Vegas riding the Illinis hard. Already -4 now.
Oh good, I felt like a dope for missing the open by that much.
Deleted member 29907
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If you look at the game notes, we've racked up some very nice rankings in some key stats. If we had AJ healthy, we'd be 3-1 right now and in pretty good shape.
Although Trenard is throwing at 100% completion rate and with all those passes going for TDs, so maybe ....
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
We really need this one. Imagine what it would do for the team's confidence to win by two scores or more on the road and go into next week's game with a record of 3-2 (1-1) for a 2:30 Homecoming matchup against a competitive but beatable Purdue team. Baby steps and all, but we need to prove to OURSELVES that we are capable of taking advantage of a weak Big Ten West and getting to six wins (or seriously fighting for it, at least). Beat Purdue, and we are in a (relatively) great position. Looking at our remaining schedule, it is hard not to let a little bit of optimism creep into my mind:
at Rutgers (they're 1-4, we REALLY need this one)
vs. Purdue (lost at home to EMU ... we certainly CAN beat them)
at Wisconsin (probably a loss for sure)
at Maryland (this is probably a tall order on the road, but Temple did it, right?)
vs. Minnesota (this one will be tough, but it's at home and they're beatable)
at Nebraska (they haven't won yet and look awful)
vs. Iowa (I honestly think that if the ship hasn't sunk by then, this is an upset opportunity)
at Northwestern (lost at home to Akron, and we might be playing for our lives ... I have hope here, too)
There is really only one game (at Wisconsin) and POSSIBLY two (vs. Iowa) that should be chalked up as certain losses. A lot of those games could really go either way, but if we can get to 4 wins over these next two weeks and maintain a bit of confidence and momentum going into our trip to Madison, you shoot for the stars that week trying to get the big upset, and then you move on to a string of winnable games, of which you really only need to win two. I think this weekend's game is a HUGE one for the program, and - given that I am an Illini football fan - count me as QUITE nervous.
at Rutgers (they're 1-4, we REALLY need this one)
vs. Purdue (lost at home to EMU ... we certainly CAN beat them)
at Wisconsin (probably a loss for sure)
at Maryland (this is probably a tall order on the road, but Temple did it, right?)
vs. Minnesota (this one will be tough, but it's at home and they're beatable)
at Nebraska (they haven't won yet and look awful)
vs. Iowa (I honestly think that if the ship hasn't sunk by then, this is an upset opportunity)
at Northwestern (lost at home to Akron, and we might be playing for our lives ... I have hope here, too)
There is really only one game (at Wisconsin) and POSSIBLY two (vs. Iowa) that should be chalked up as certain losses. A lot of those games could really go either way, but if we can get to 4 wins over these next two weeks and maintain a bit of confidence and momentum going into our trip to Madison, you shoot for the stars that week trying to get the big upset, and then you move on to a string of winnable games, of which you really only need to win two. I think this weekend's game is a HUGE one for the program, and - given that I am an Illini football fan - count me as QUITE nervous.
My issue is, the USF and PSU games both felt like we were going to lose them the entire time. By that, I mean I felt like everything that could've gone right for us did, and vice versa.
Now, I'm not sure if thats just learned behavior based on past results, or if it's actually the case, but the fact that we had very up and down games vs Kent St and Western makes me believe mostly the latter.
Winning the next two would go a long way to helping me believe this team has a legitimate chance.
Now, I'm not sure if thats just learned behavior based on past results, or if it's actually the case, but the fact that we had very up and down games vs Kent St and Western makes me believe mostly the latter.
Winning the next two would go a long way to helping me believe this team has a legitimate chance.
Purdue is going to shellack us. We won't be able to stop them and don't have a high-powered enough O to outscore them
3-3 after 6 games headed in the right direction
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
There's a third picture on twitter. Between the first and third pics, it looks like the statue is dumping the helmet in the trash.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Possible for a night game, but just soooo hard to Blackout for 11:00.
Ever go through an Unofficial? 6am Kegs and Eggs.
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