Pregame: Illinois at Washington, Saturday, October 25th, 2:30pm CT, BTN

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#78      
I live about 20 minutes north of Husky stadium off the I-5, and the weather has turned kinda cold here rather rapidly, so I'm hoping for a early start as I will try to attend the game and take my grand-daughter so she can have this wonderful experience... Looking forward to an exciting game...
 
#79      
For those of you contemplating a 10-2 season and a CFP, slot, how about we just focus on going 1-0 next week to got to 6-2? ;)
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If the Huskies beat Michigan this weekend...Top 25

A Top-25 road win...Maybe USC beats ND? All of a sudden you are #17 instead of unranked with a favorable schedule moving forward.

However, Washington game is make or break. Hope we get one of Valentine or Feagin back at the minimum.
 
#80      
Three weeks ago, it is crazy to think that the UCLA @ IU game could be very intriguing to networks.

Earlier I would have thought Michigan vs Michigan State as prime B1G Noon kickoff, but the UCLA @ IU and NW @ Nebraska are becoming realistic options.

Not sure media pecking order, but Illini @ Washington might be the only ranked matchup on the B1G schedule (if everything falls in place). Feels like another NBC prime time opportunity in the making.
 
#81      
Not sure media pecking order, but Illini @ Washington might be the only ranked matchup on the B1G schedule (if everything falls in place). Feels like another NBC prime time opportunity in the making.
I'm sure NBC heard the TV's changing channels when IU beat Illinois a few weeks ago. They may be a little gun shy to go in on the U of I again.

I'm guessing 2:30 on CBS.
 
#82      
I live about 20 minutes north of Husky stadium off the I-5, and the weather has turned kinda cold here rather rapidly, so I'm hoping for a early start as I will try to attend the game and take my grand-daughter so she can have this wonderful experience... Looking forward to an exciting game...
I just bought some tickets under one of the overhangs because I am expecting a leaky sky.
 
#83      
In the talk regarding game times, something to consider...

Game 2 of the World Series is the same day. Fox did have the Rutgers/USC game air after Game 1 of the World Series last year. I wouldn't put it out of realm of possibility that Illini/Washington game airs after that game. Especially if the Mariners are playing in the World Series as well.

Definitely the driving factor, as three teams (Washington, UCLA and Wisconsin) are in markets with three of the remaining MLB teams, and Fox will be broadcasting all World Series games - time says TBD, but a 7pm CT start is almost a given. I think they are hoping one of the LCS wraps up before Sunday to give them more flexibility. If the Mariners are still alive on Sunday afternoon (good chance of that after they won last night), they'll probably put us at 2:30pm CT. If the Dodgers/Brewers series is still undecided after 5 games, that would push Wisconsin/Oregon to 2:30pm as well, and UCLA/Indiana would likely go to 11am.

For the Series itself, no chance of Game 2 being in Seattle, as they have the worst record of the remaining teams and will be on the road if they make it to the WS.
 
#86      
My dad and I are flying out and staying near campus. Any food or touristy suggestions would be appreciated!
For hyperlocal options: The University Ave has tons of international options, especially for lunch. There is a large fancyish outdoor mall just N of the stadium called University Village with some good options, including Din Tai Fung (famous dumplings, everything is good), Ma'Ono fried chicken sandwiches, Mr West fast casual, and a newish popular bagel place Hey Bagel. Just up the road to the E there is also State Burgers and another newish bagel place Backyard Bagel. It's all expensive but those are solid spots. Near campus there is also an awesome natural history museum (Burke) which was recently done, and that has a pretty solid lunch place inside too.
 
#87      
Only if you ignore margin of victory.

Maybe that OSU margin of victory will look pretty good at the end of the season, but I hardly think it’s a slam dunk we’d get in over a two loss SEC team that has two close loses. I don’t have to work hard to imagine us at 10-2 looking up at a 3 loss ‘Bama team. And that will certainly be the talk track on ESPN the week leading up to selection and kick off of our the first round of games.
All SEC teams that are 10-2 will get in. The BT will get 4 teams. Likely only 4 BT teams will be 10-2 or better. If it’s more than 4 teams it’s likely a team that we beat.
 
#91      
People, the protocol of the selection committee is published right here.

For otherwise comparable teams (read: teams with similar records), the committee will distinguish teams by considering:
  • Strength of schedule,
  • Head-to-head competition,
  • Comparative outcomes of common opponents (without incenting margin of victory), and,
  • Other relevant factors such as unavailability of key players and coaches that may have affected a team’s performance during the season or likely will affect its postseason performance.
Let's state the obvious: to even be in the conversation, the Illini need to win out. But if they go 10-2, with wins over USC and Washington, they are going to be in a very good position vis-a-vis other B1G teams that are potentially 10-2. Illini's SOS will be pretty high. They'll have direct wins against some of the other teams possibly in contention for a fourth B1G bid, and will have beaten teams that other contenders fell to.

If one presumes that OSU and IU get the top two spots, with one or zero losses, the Illini probably would be compared to the following:
  • Oregon - if they run their table, they're in. But if they lose to almost any one of their remaining opponents to finish 10-2 (@Rutgers, Wisky, @Iowa, Minny, USC, @Washington), as wacky as this sounds, the Illini probably would top them in SOS and possibly "comparative outcomes of common opponents."
  • USC - likely will pick up at least one loss @ND, @Oregon or @Nebraska to fall to 10-2; Illini would top them in SOS and head-to-head
  • Michigan - decent chance they pick up a third loss @Washington or vs OSU. If they don't SOS will be pretty close to Illinois, there is no head-to-head, but the Illini will have that win against USC, to which Michigan lost. Still, too close for comfort; I'd rather they take a third loss.
  • Washington - still have to play Illini and Oregon; assuming they ONLY lose to Illinois, and go 10-2, Illini still would top them in SOS and head-to-head
  • Nebraska - these guys actually might have the easiest road to 11-1, but if they stumble against USC, @PSU, Iowa or any others, the Illini would surely top them in SOS, and probably in the common opponent factor.
Again, this becomes interesting only if the Illini BEAT THE HUSKIES.
 
#92      
I have a good feeling about this game, call me crazy, but we have a real shot and I think we will pull out a close win.
I feel the same. I felt good going into USC and feel positive about Washington, too. I hope Luke is as confident, we need second half version and not first half version.

Headed out to the game with my family, a win would make the cold rain worthwhile.
 
#93      
I think booting us out of top 25, from 17 was purposely done. They do not want a 10-2 Illini in CFP over SEC, and overrated ACC. Even if we win out moving up to 12 in rankings will be biased. Decent teams left, especially tuff Maryland. Northwestern winning kiitycat type games. Darn good coach. We'll be ready for Huskies and RW arrogant butt! I also love are 2nd bye week in schedule. We need to heal up significantly. Treatment, doctors, rest, massages, take it all boys.
 
#98      
It looks like we'll be a 5 to 6 point underdog to Washington - this will move depending on their game against Michigan of course, but the ESPN matchup predictor for example has them as 66% likely to win. USC was about 72% for reference, so line will likely be something similar to the USC game.

This means we are a decided underdog in this one. We'll likely be decently heavy favorites in our last 4 games so this game really will dictate our season.

with win: 10-2 with an outside shot at the CFP playoffs depending on how others fair, but getting a high profile bowl game if not - season clearly a success
with loss: 9-3 and not sniffing the top 25 again, likely not feeling like the season was a success based on expectations going in

The one thing we have going for us is, this team has been a good bounceback team after a poor performance generally. And the 4 key turnovers/mistakes against OSU clearly was a poor performance. Hopefully that is a indicator of a well played game against Washington, we really haven't had a well played game from start to finish yet this year.
 
#99      
RE: The TV time, I have a break between meetings ... here's my best shot. For starters, here is the Big Ten slate that weekend (with current AP rankings):

Michigan at Michigan State
UCLA at #3 Indiana
Northwestern at #25 Nebraska

Minnesota at Iowa - Confirmed for 11:00 am or 2:30 pm
Wisconsin at #8 Oregon - Confirmed for 2:30 pm or later
Illinois at Washington - Confirmed for 2:30 pm or later
Rutgers at Purdue - Confirmed for 11:00 am on BTN

And here are the Big XII games, which is relevant for FOX's Big Noon Kickoff selection:

Oklahoma State at #7 Texas Tech - Confirmed for 3:00 pm on ESPN2 or ESPNU
Baylor at #24 Cincinnati - Confirmed for 3:00 pm on ESPN2 or ESPNU
Houston at Arizona State - Confirmed for 7:00 pm on ESPN2 or ESPNU
TCU at West Virginia - Confirmed for 5:00 pm on ESPN Plus
#15 BYU at Iowa State - Confirmed for 2:30 pm on FOX
Kansas at Kansas State - Confirmed for 11:00 am on TNT
Colorado at #23 Utah - Confirmed for 9:15 pm on ESPN

So here are my random ramblings!
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1. Unless something gets switched up, it's interesting that all of the Big XII games are scheduled ... so FOX will have its 11:00 am game be a Big Ten game. And given the time zone constraints alluded to above, the PST games are eliminated and these are the options:

--- Michigan at Michigan State
--- UCLA at #3 Indiana
--- Minnesota at Iowa
--- Northwestern at #25 Nebraska

With that in mind and counting this upcoming weekend, FOX has gone to Michigan (x2), Illinois (x2), Ohio State and Northwestern so far in the Big Ten. So it would be their first trip to all four of those locations this season.

2. Notre Dame is on a bye week this weekend, so they are irrelevant to NBC's decisions. NBC can theoretically pick whatever game they want (given their #1/2/3 pick order that week, of course), but you'd think they are EVER so slightly more likely to choose a game on the West Coast? I'm honestly not sure how that works at all with FOX agreeing to not make any West Coast games at 9:00 am local time ... gentleman's agreement or a clause?

3. As others have mentioned, FOX will have Game 2 of the World Series some time in the evening on this Saturday. With the Mariners up 2-0 and heading back to Seattle, and the Dodgers up 1-0 after playing once on the road, I would say the overall odds that Game 2 of the World Series would be in the PST are fairly high. Would NBC accommodate that and not "compete" in either the LA or Seattle media markets with a primetime Big Ten game? Hard to say. I'm not sure physical location matters that much for this stuff, but it's worth noting that the Mariners actually CAN'T host Game 2 at home no matter who they might play in the World Series, as they have the worst regular season record of the teams remaining ... so there is a zero chance that a World Series game is actually taking place in Seattle this Saturday.

3. Regarding "confirmed" first picks or ones that seem super, super obvious to me, this is what we have so far:

--- FOX: W1 Texas/Ohio State, W15 Ohio State/Michigan
--- CBS: W4 Michigan/Nebraska
--- NBC: W5 Oregon/Penn State, W3 Texas A&M/Notre Dame

So if that is accurate, CBS has two first pick weekends left, and NBC has one. It's also clear some weekends that a network had last pick (e.g., NBC with W2 Boston College/MSU or FOX with W3 Oregon/Northwestern), but I don't know if I can go down that rabbit hole, haha ... maybe tomorrow! :ROFLMAO:

4. With all that in mind, here is my total guess FOX's "wish list," as they have the highest odds of having the first pick on any given weekend:

FOX
1. UCLA at #3 Indiana ... Gives them an excuse to head to Bloomington, and UCLA (given their resurgence) is actually one of Indiana's more appealing home games left.
2. Michigan at Michigan State ... Especially if Michigan beats Washington, I think they'll like the excuse to cover a rivalry game involving Michigan but that is at a location they have not visited.
3. Minnesota at Iowa - Confirmed for 11:00 am or 2:30 pm ... Iowa is reliable to put on a good pregame show/atmosphere, and it is still a rivalry. If Iowa beats PSU (and improves to 5-2) and Minnesota beats Nebraska (and improves to 5-2), I think this becomes more appealing than Northwestern/Nebraska, simply because Northwestern is not a great draw. However...
4. Northwestern at #25 Nebraska ... It seems like BNK has not been to Lincoln for a while, and if Northwestern beats Purdue and Nebraska wins at Minnesota, this all of a sudden looks like a sneakily interesting game.

In the event FOX is the first pick, it then makes the pool of games smaller for CBS and NBC. Not sure if CBS/NBC would prefer one of the four games above over Illinois/Washington or Wisconsin/Oregon anyway, but it's worth noting.

TL;DR

I think we will be at either 2:30 pm on CBS, 6:30 pm on NBC or 2:30 pm on BTN/FS1 (if we are already on BTN/FS1, I don't think the conference would put Washington in the same window at night as the Mariners World Series game). I AM going to predict that Illinois/Washington is actually a very appealing game for this weekend, so my STILL random guess (wow, I wasted a lot of time!!) is...

If Mariners Are in World Series
60% for 2:30 pm on CBS
25% for 2:30 pm on BTN/FS1
15% for 6:30 pm on NBC (not ideal, but it will still draw decent ratings if it's the best NBC has!)

If Mariners Are NOT in World Series
40% for 2:30 pm on CBS
40% for 6:30 pm on NBC
20% for 2:30 pm on BTN/FS1
 
#100      
with win: 10-2 with an outside shot at the CFP playoffs depending on how others fair, but getting a high profile bowl game if not - season clearly a success with loss: 9-3 and not sniffing the top 25 again, likely not feeling like the season was a success based on expectations going in
Illinois has never won 9 games or more in consecutive seasons. The last time it won 75% or more of its games in consecutive seasons was 1929. Finishing 9-3 would be great; even 8-4 would be good … of course, I’m still hoping for 10-2. BEAT THE HUSKIES!
 
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