Pregame: Illinois vs Northwestern, Saturday, November 25th, 2:30pm CT, BTN
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the good thing is other than the color of the jerseys and the names of the school they represent , these two teams this year have nothing in common with the teams of yesteryear
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
It's like the spinning of a roulette wheel. But dammit, every time I bet red it comes up black!
Game rating chart (from BCf Toys) favors Northwestern, but the Cats have been up and down. We've been steady over the last four games. Let's catch Northwestern on a down day. I'll be there in the east balcony with our family of five. Go Illini.
Final Memorial Stadium Sellout Watch of the season. Thanks for following along with me this year. While attendance was more encouraging this season, we're still searching for our first official sellout crowd since 2016. Hopefully that comes in 2024.
The ticket tracker for Northwestern tomorrow is showing 41,378 tickets sold. That is an increase of only 215 since Tuesday's update. I expect the official announced attendance to be slightly higher, though I'm sure there will be more no-shows than usual for those that have tickets to the game. My official guess: 42,878.
The ticket tracker for Northwestern tomorrow is showing 41,378 tickets sold. That is an increase of only 215 since Tuesday's update. I expect the official announced attendance to be slightly higher, though I'm sure there will be more no-shows than usual for those that have tickets to the game. My official guess: 42,878.
In 2000 and 2015, Northwestern was pretty clearly the better team heading into the games so the results were no surprise. 2000 Northwestern was the co-Big Ten champs and they won 10 games in 2015. 2008 was more of a toss up, but that was a disappointing Illini team despite being more talented. NU had 8 wins compared to our 5 heading into the matchup that season, so again, not much of a surprise that they won.
This season's matchup is the closest to 2014 when both teams were 5-6 and needing a win to make a bowl and that's the game we won fairly comfortably! This will also likely be the first time we are favored in this scenario against NU. That Northwestern team was probably better than this year's NU team and I think this year's Illini would beat the 2014 Illini handily.
I shouldn't say handily, we don't beat anyone handily, but the 2023 Illini would win on a last minute field goal.
None of this should factor into thoughts about the game on Saturday, but it should be noted that despite being 1-3, it's not like these were games where the Illini blew it against Northwestern teams they were clearly better than.
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Lol!
So many of our games decided by who gets the ball last. It would be fitting for this game to be a double switcheroo: they get a last minute score to take the lead, but we nonetheless get another miracle drive for a last second field goal. (Stay strong, Robert.)
Not saying I want to give up the lead late, just saying it would be so this season.
Not saying I want to give up the lead late, just saying it would be so this season.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
We should be able to move the ball very well through the air. 4mph winds and a much easier D to work against than Iowa’s. That being said we need to outscore them. Like Indiana they’ll score some points. We can’t settle for FGs. Be aggressive offensively and we win going away. Beat the Mildcats
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Nah.
My heart and I would prefer a comfy blow-out, with both Illini QB's throwing for 300 yards to establish a new NCAA record.
According to footballs, Coleman, Tip Reiman, and Isiah Williams gone.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Kofi got two jerseys for senior night, too. Could just be because the decision isn't made yet and those dudes deserve their flowers, just in case
Didn't he announce Paddock as the starter after Iowa game?
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