Illinois +7.5 at Sparty (ov/un 51) Noon ET, BTN

[BB73]

Two squads each knocked off a team in the 800-win club last week try to keep their momentum.

 

[buckeyescott11]

Illinois moving the ball down the field, partly due to Sparty penalties.

 

[buckeyescott11]

3-0 Illini.

 

[jlb1705]

Illinois grinds out a long drive, but settles for a field goal after having goal-to-go.

They lead 3-0 in the middle of the 1st.

 

[Jake]

Maybe the talking heads who ripped us for "only" beating Illinois by seven should consider the possibility that the Illini aren't half bad?

 

[Zander42]

What's our rooting interest in this game? I can see it both ways.

Sparty: Iowa gets to play and possibly beat a top ten (potentially) MSU team. We get to then play a higher ranked Iowa.

Zookers: Obviously we beat them so the better they end up, the better for us.


Or does it just not really matter.

 

[Muck]

Root for Sparty to lose since the Buckeyes don't play them.

 

[sepia5]

I've actually been really impressed by Illinois the past three weeks. I think they could end up finishing as high as 3rd in the Big Ten this year. Which is the worst thing in the world for Illinois fans, because that means the Zooker will be sticking around.

 

[Palpie]

Root for Sparty to lose since the Buckeyes don't play them.

Exactly, while I don't think the computer and SOS rankings will matter as long as OSU takes care of business, every win by a big ten team we play vs MSU and NU helps.

 

[Muck]

Which is the worst thing in the world for Illinois fans, because that means the Zooker will be sticking around.

Yet another reason to root for the Illini!

 

[jlb1705]

Root AGAINST Sparty because the Buckeyes don't play them. Ohio State is bleeding in the SOS area in the computer polls. They need their opponents to win every game possible.

Rooting for Sparty because they play Iowa isn't going to help one bit.

 

[OSUsushichic]

I want to hear Lou Holtz try to say "Nathan Scheelhaase" -- just once.

 

[buckeyescott11]

Martin with a muffed punt. Illinois with the ball at MSU's 15 with 36 seconds remaining and one timeout. A touchdown here would be HUGE.

 

[Jake]

What's our rooting interest in this game? I can see it both ways.

Sparty: Iowa gets to play and possibly beat a top ten (potentially) MSU team. We get to then play a higher ranked Iowa.

Zookers: Obviously we beat them so the better they end up, the better for us.

Or does it just not really matter.

We're #1 in both human polls and the BCS will take care of itself so long as we take care of our own business. We really don't need any help.

 

[MolGenBuckeye]

Martin with a muffed punt. Illinois with the ball at MSU's 15 with 36 seconds remaining and one timeout. A touchdown here would be HUGE.

Or...they could only manage to get one snap in before settling for a FG.