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Game Thread Game Ten: #1 tOSU 17, Illinois 10 (11/4/06)

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Illinois is an up and coming team in the Big Ten. Their record may not show it, but they are much improved on D, they have better speed all around, and they are doing better on the recruiting front.

Hopefully, we don't overlook them this Saturday.
 
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scarletngray;646934; said:
Illinois is an up and coming team in the Big Ten. Their record may not show it, but they are much improved on D, they have better speed all around, and they are doing better on the recruiting front.

Hopefully, we don't overlook them this Saturday.
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It is also worth restating the obvious - this game is on the road.
Juice Williams is a clearly talented player, though still very raw.
The game next week is an opportunity for the Buckyes to once again bring out their best, which on the road has been their hallmark thus far.
 
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Indiana and Illinois are some what similar in their look on offense.
I actually think Illinois looks better on "O". They have a better running game.
They played Wisconsin tough.
They will play us tough in their house.
Turn overs will be key.
 
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If Illinois' play were solely exemplified by the game against Wisconsin, they would be worth taking very seriously. Against a top-20 ranked team (#17 BCS) they put up better numbers on the scoreboard in the first half. They forced Wisconsin, at home, to launch a comeback while working without PJ Hill. Notably, this took Wisconsin out of their running game on two counts - the catch-up mode and the use of a back-up RB. Notable because Wisconsin did not put up huge rushing numbers yesterday. They also had poor returns on their 3rd down conversions, 4 of 15.

Now, I am not trying above to build Illinois up to be something they are not. However, noone should discount what the Illini have done in winning or losing efforts. One interesting statistical rating that tells us something about Illinois is, their Total Defensive ranking. They are 39th in the nation, giving up an average of 300 yds per game. This is not the type of rating one would normally associate with a pushover, especially one that has a season record of 2 Wins to 7 Losses. In fact, with two exceptions (FIU and Wyoming) every other team ranked above them in Total defense has a .500 or better W-L record. (And many below them in the rankings are also better served in the W-L columns than the Illini).

So, what might help us understand the achilles heel, what has been going on in Illinois, stopping them from balancing that win-loss sheet?

Part of it surely is the ball security shown by Juice Williams, and his ability to avoid the sack. He comes in with 9 TDs and 8 INTs, he also has been sacked 21 times in 9 games. That is a huge number of times to meet the turf.

So, what I come up with the following.

Williams is an exciting but vulnerable player. He either gets himself into positions that his Offensive line cannot handle (hence the sacks) or he throws under pressure or ill-advisedly (hence the interceptions).

The Illini Defensive ranking likely means they will not be a pushover. But, as long as Ohio State takes care of the ball (unlike Wisconsin early in the going yesterday) this should end up with a high margin of victory for the Buckeyes.

A 35-7 win would not surprise me.
 
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OnionBag;647212; said:
OU beat Illinois in Champaign a week ago, I don't think OSU is going to have any problems.
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Well nearly 3 weeks ago by the time the game is played...

Looking at common opponents, they lost to Indiana, Penn State and Iowa. But they did come back and beat Michigan State.

I think we will see a very young team that might be in the game through halftime, but OSU will pull away in the 2nd half.

38-7
 
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They were upset by the Bobcats because they were looking ahead to Wisconsin. They then went on to give the Badgers one heck of a game. Even if they'd won, the general trend of such things is for a team to be emotionally spent and have a bit of a down game the week afterwards.

Illinois lost a heartbreaker though. Not only did they shoot their wad against Wisconsin, they gave up a soul-crushing comeback.

They'll talk a good game this week. Most teams do.

But after a quick score or two on Saturday, the Illini are going to fold like origami.
 
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