I was Block -I that year, what fun!I was at that game! SO much fun! Let’s do it to the Badgers!-L-L
Pregame: Illinois at Wisconsin, Saturday, October 1st, 11:00am CT, BTN
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currently at -7 (probably fair), which is the 2nd smallest spread for B1G underdogs this week. Vegas only thinks IU at -5.5 against Nebby has a better shot. The Mildcats are -26.5 (PSU) and Rutgers is -40.5! (OSU). Pretty wild spreads for conference games. 2nd largest P5 spread I see is Mizzou -28 (Georgia). It would be a shame if the dawgs covered....
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
these spreads are all backwards. the underdog is listed as + (thus we are +7 against WISC)
correct. my bad
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
no worries! never want to see a day where miznoz is -28 against georgia...
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
I'll take Rutgers/Schiano and the 40.5
the national
- the Front Range
I’m really happy Lunney opened up the passing attack against Chattanooga. They will force Wisconsin to practice more things; keeps them honest. Really smart move by the coaching staff. It only gives Wisky a few days to game plan an Areal attack that hadn’t previously been revealed. A small detail but gives us an advantage.
Man, I really like this coaching staff.
Man, I really like this coaching staff.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
This match-up was a 20-27 pt spread just 2 or 3 years ago. Nice progress by Bielema and staff!!!
Don’t know what the numbers mean..but pretty close matchup
I read this as it will be a defensive sided game so the score will be close. Most likely will come down to penalties and turnovers. Whoever makes the least mistakes will win.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Less than a 3 pt spread/pt differential, with the game being played in Camp Randall. I LIKE!
WSU had it won then handed the game back. In the PNW we call that “coug’ing the game.” To “coug it” is to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. WSU has a history of couging it
oh wow. I honestly wasn't aware of that. I should probably do a quick google search before I hit enter next time lol.
Madison is an insanely loud tough place to play in and you just know their fans are going to be hyped to get the better of Bielema. Here's hoping Bielema and the Illini can pull off a road win and win the turnover battle.
Where have I heard this before?
So if I’m reading this right, Wisconsin is terribly inefficient passing the ball and even worse on 3rd and 4th down, 2 places we’re pretty darn good at. They’re really good offensively on 1st and 2nd down though.
They’re great rushing and we’re solid against the run, but the slight advantage goes to them. But because they seem to suck at passing we can really concentrate on the run? Particularly on 1st and 2nd down?
Meanwhile we’re not great on 1st and 2nd down offensively, but they’re even worse defending 1st and 2nd down? But they’re better at getting off the field on 3rd/4th down than we are at staying on. So it looks like we will have the ability to do well on our early downs offensively.
In short: defensively, stop the run, force them to their inefficient pass game. Offensively, win those early downs where their defensive is “weakest” so they can’t play to their late down strengths.
more likely to be 6-5. as long as we are the 6!
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Bret Bielema unaffected by first game at Wisconsin since coaching the Badgers
Illinois football defensive lineman Jamal Woods to return from injury vs. Wisconsin. Running back Josh McCray is progressing.
- By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
- 17 hrs ago
As a defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, he went back to his alma mater when the Badgers visited Iowa with a Big Ten title on the line. He remembers Jim Leonhard, now the Wisconsin defensive coordinator, getting a pair of interceptions before the team lost.
It was a return to a place Bielema played and coached, but it didn’t hit him before or during the game.
“I really didn’t have one emotional moment until after the game,” Bielema said.
When he returns to Madison on Saturday for the first time since he left Wisconsin in 2012, it’ll be a routine he’s done before.
“The first time that I went to Iowa as a head coach was really no factor,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to win the game, but as a head coach, I thought there was going to be a lot more to it and it wasn’t.
“This year is really no different. We obviously played Wisconsin last year. It was my first time (playing them). I think because the experience I had at other places, it’s not going to affect me. I have friends and family and all that jazz. It’s really not an effect. I think as coaches you’re probably more numb to it than the outside world because it really is just about the game you’re involved in.”
Exactly. Play stands as called. Video review has deflated college and NFL football. And TV announcers beat a play to death by looking for ways that it is not a good play versus finding ways that it is. Fans don't want to see electron microscopy of a molecule of a kneepad touching a blade of artificial turf as the player stretches for a touchdown. Al Michaels and Collinsworth are the worst at this.
I always tend to be overly optimistic with the Illini, but if we can win the turnover battle and not blow things on special teams, we will win this game.
And I know, based on what we've seen this year, those are two gigantic ifs.
And I know, based on what we've seen this year, those are two gigantic ifs.
In 1983 3rd game of season we shut out Iowa 33-0. At that point we realized we might have something special.
We went 9-0 in B10 and went to Rose Bowl. PTSD prevents me from remembering the event in Pasadena.
If we can upset Wisconsin at Camp Randall then this team might have a chance to go to a big time Bowl.
We went 9-0 in B10 and went to Rose Bowl. PTSD prevents me from remembering the event in Pasadena.
If we can upset Wisconsin at Camp Randall then this team might have a chance to go to a big time Bowl.
Exactly right. That's when we knew we belonged.
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