Pregame: Illinois vs Rutgers, Saturday, November 1st, 11:00am CT, NBC

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#229      
DeonThomas
I probably like and admire Schiano a lot more than most on this site. Hence, he scares me more than he does others of you. Despite that, I'm going with the home team this week, mostly because I like Bielema even more. I tend to think our offense will ensure we're at least one score better than the Scarlet Knights.

34 ILLINI
25 rutgers

(6-2 on the season correctly predicting the winner, with misses against Ohio St. and USC. 3-5 on the season vs the spread.)
 
#233      
SuperMetroid
DeonThomas said:
I probably like and admire Schiano a lot more than most on this site. Hence, he scares me more than he does others of you. Despite that, I'm going with the home team this week, mostly because I like Bielema even more. I tend to think our offense will ensure we're at least one score better than the Scarlet Knights.

34 ILLINI
25 rutgers

(6-2 on the season correctly predicting the winner, with misses against Ohio St. and USC. 3-5 on the season vs the spread.)
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My only two reasons for hope this week:
1. Bret Bielema - We needed a minor miracle to beat these guys last year and they have a really good offense. Our defense is absolutely broken and demoralized right now. The dream of making the playoff has been destroyed with extreme prejudice. This feels like the kind of game where the motivation and intensity levels are low and we lay an egg. It's up to Bret to get them up off the mat again like for USC
2. Luke Altmyer - Keep it close and Luke always gives you a chance to win
 
#236      
Illiniaaron
SuperMetroid said:
My only two reasons for hope this week:
1. Bret Bielema - We needed a minor miracle to beat these guys last year and they have a really good offense. Our defense is absolutely broken and demoralized right now. The dream of making the playoff has been destroyed with extreme prejudice. This feels like the kind of game where the motivation and intensity levels are low and we lay an egg. It's up to Bret to get them up off the mat again like for USC
2. Luke Altmyer - Keep it close and Luke always gives you a chance to win
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If they lay an egg and lose this Saturday, this team has more problems than we realize.
 
#237      
BZuppke
I get a kick out of some on this board ragging on our defense. Our defense has looked awful against three top offenses. We’re not a great defense but they’ll do well enough against the last 4 teams on the schedule all of whom possess a fraction of the talent we faced in our three losses. Our offense will also do much better. The only game that scares me is NW. they seem to play their best against us.
 
#238      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
BZuppke said:
I get a kick out of some on this board ragging on our defense. Our defense has looked awful against three top offenses. We’re not a great defense but they’ll do well enough against the last 4 teams on the schedule all of whom possess a fraction of the talent we faced in our three losses. Our offense will also do much better. The only game that scares me is NW. they seem to play their best against us.
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Illinois is 132 out of 136 FBS teams in 3rd down conversion rate allowed at 48.5%. That number is up to a staggering 58.5% in B10 play.

Our 3rd and 10+ conversion rate allowed is worse than the OVERALL 3rd down defense of 44 other FBS defenses.

We have ways to go.

Fortunately Rutgers seems to be the only team on our schedule - along with Purdue - with a defense comparably as bad. Rutgers offense however is much better than PU.

One thing about the FPI stats ranking us the 66th defense is that it has almost entirely to do with who we have played. It's the sole reason why we're 66th and Rutgers is 132nd. So those who've talked about the offenses we've played as an excuse, that metric is opponent-weighted. The problem has been that we've looked completely incompetent and uncompetitive.
 
#239      
Fly Illini Fly!
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
Illinois is 132 out of 136 FBS teams in 3rd down conversion rate allowed at 48.5%. That number is up to a staggering 58.5% in B10 play.

Our 3rd and 10+ conversion rate allowed is worse than the OVERALL 3rd down defense of 44 other FBS defenses.

We have ways to go.

Fortunately Rutgers seems to be the only team on our schedule - along with Purdue - with a defense comparably as bad. Rutgers offense however is much better than PU.

One thing about the FPI stats ranking us the 66th defense is that it has almost entirely to do with who we have played. It's the sole reason why we're 66th and Rutgers is 132nd. So those who've talked about the offenses we've played as an excuse, that metric is opponent-weighted. The problem has been that we've looked completely incompetent and uncompetitive.
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I think where this game swings in our favor is the quarterback match up. Both defenses have been bad, and both reciever rooms are very good. However I'd trust Luke to outplay Kaliakmanis.

The run game could also be an advantage in terms of wearing on them and controlling possession. The OL has been much improved.
 
#241      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
Illinois is 132 out of 136 FBS teams in 3rd down conversion rate allowed at 48.5%. That number is up to a staggering 58.5% in B10 play.

Our 3rd and 10+ conversion rate allowed is worse than the OVERALL 3rd down defense of 44 other FBS defenses.

We have ways to go.

Fortunately Rutgers seems to be the only team on our schedule - along with Purdue - with a defense comparably as bad. Rutgers offense however is much better than PU.

One thing about the FPI stats ranking us the 66th defense is that it has almost entirely to do with who we have played. It's the sole reason why we're 66th and Rutgers is 132nd. So those who've talked about the offenses we've played as an excuse, that metric is opponent-weighted. The problem has been that we've looked completely incompetent and uncompetitive.
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Henry is the reasoning for a lot of money lost for Gabe Jacas.
 
#245      
OB positive
I don't know who you've been watching. Our defense has been awful all year except for maybe one game and even then it was just average. Not a bit of improvement from the year before with nearly everyone returning.
 
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