Pregame: Illinois vs Wisconsin, Saturday, October 21st, 2:30pm CT, FS1
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From your keyboard to the football gods' ears my Illini brother!
As of Wednesday morning:
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Haha, more accurately: I carried around a bag of 5 beers myself, lol.Isn’t your wife pregnant?…Did you get her to carry an extra beer for you?
It seems to me that we have struggled against screens and short passes to backs out of the backfield.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
My view of the ESPN matchup predictor: garbage in, garbage out. I doubt very much that model has much predictive value in itself.
[EDIT: I could simply truncate this post to "My view of ESPN: garbage in, garbage out" and it would be just as valid.]
Hopefully he doesn't Mertz us.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Sportsline has something similar (I will refrain from disclosing any commentary, as it is paid content). They have Wisconsin winning in 63% of the simulations, which is greater than implied odds of 57.1% from the ML. They also have simulations covering the spread 59% of time (at -2.5) compared to implied odds of 52.6%. As a result, they are stating that the best bets are taking Wisconsin ML and more so ATS. However, as you indicate, I take these models with a lot of pause, especially since Wisconsin will have their backup QB starting (granted that has spelled doom for Illini in past). I will say, ESPN is the last place I look for anything chalk related. They have such a bad track record.
The key to me in the game is the front 4 taking away Wisconsin's running game and Illini offense being able to control the ball on the ground. If both of those things happen, I think Illini will pull off the minor "upset". Make Wisconsin win the game by throwing the ball.
We’ve enjoyed the East balcony for many years. It’s easy to grab good last minute single game seats there. However we chose West for season tickets for the shade as well as the much more convenient concessions and restrooms.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I think the concessions and restrooms are the best reason for West Balcony. I have had season tickets in East Balcony for 14 years now, and I personally love the sun (for B1G season when the weather gets colder...late August/early September games stink in the sun though. So definitely a double edged sword). My issue is that I always forget to put on sufficient sun screen, so I end up looking like Harvey Dent/Two-Face for about 3-4 days.
One more reason. It’s a compact setup with just 13 rows, so the open breezy concession mezzanine is just steps away, extending the length of the field. You can see the scoreboard and even much of the field if you’re tall and walking/standing near the edge. It has a cozy feel, like a poor man’s skybox.
No doubt
Wisconsin spreads the ball around to a number of guys. Five guys have 15 or more catches with RB Allen having the 2nd most receptions.
Key for both sides will be stopping the run and see which QB turns the ball over. Locke is inexperienced with Altmyer still gaining experience. Wisconsin would be smart to QB Spy Altmyer. Altmyer tends to miss a few easy throws, throw into double coverage and gets happy feet and takes the sack instead of throwing it away more games than not so far. Locke has a full week to prepare and while I like the Illinois defense they aren't the quality he faced against Iowa. He will have to earn it on the road. No clue what to expect but hope for another big W
or gabbert, to go farther back
or that one uconn dude
let's hope it's a little more kaliakmanis-flavored
What was it for the Maryland game?
Edit: Answer below, but I get your point. Seems a bit off given the spread.
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Shotgun gives Luke more time to check down his receivers, evidently coaches feel he is slow on reads. Also helps on RPO plays.
KenSWburbs
- SWburbs
No way Illinois scores 31 points!
The defense better bring their big boy pants cause I am expecting to see something like 15-12, 12-9.
Just like Wisconsin-Iowa game last week
My wife and I ride our bikes from SE Urbana every game. There are tons of places right by the stadium to lock your bikes. There are bike racks on three sides of the ARC and the rod iron fence that wraps around the stadium makes for a good, secure spot. You do need lights if you get to far away from the main campus but like I said we do it every game. P.S. we are both very athletic 69-year-olds and former Illini athletes!!! Go ILLINI
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I can honestly say I NEVER watch it anymore and haven’t really in quite a few years
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
ESPN: The Total Sports Network
Hah!!!
- piss-poor coverage of major league baseball
- extreme NCAA favoritism of the ACC and SEC conferences
- 10 hours per day of annoying "talking heads" repetitively covering the NBA (which I don't watch)
- 10 hours per day of annoying "talking heads" covering the NFL in way too much detail. (Plus, I watch the NFL only when the Bears are competitive/good)
I'm with you. I watch ESPN for perhaps 10-15 minutes per week. That's it! It's peek contribution to the sports world was the decade of the 1980's, and it's been downhill ever since.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I can't determine whether ESPN broadly or the nepotistic tandem of Cris and Jac Collinsworth on SNF annoys me more.
[I will admit, however that I use the ESPN scoreboards and gamecasts online regularly. I feel deep shame simply writing that. Someone please steer my lazy a$$ toward an alternate source of comparable quality.]
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Yours has my vote for Inspiring Post of the Day. I'm barely a decade behind you and aspire to write that post when I'm 69. Gotta go deadlift...
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
46 yo guy here and deadlifting has kept me in better shape than most dudes in their 20s.
My license plate:
cuillini
- San Bernardino, Ca.
I dunno. It's hard to beat those 1924 horse troughs in the s end zone.
cuillini
- San Bernardino, Ca.
Wait til you get arthritis in your lower back at 60. It really sucks.
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