Refuted: 2007 Illinois --Best in Big Ten?

[Steve19]

By the same token, you haven't played opposition as good as that which Illinois has either beaten or lost to. Next.

By the way, anyone bagging on the competition Wisconsin's played in order to downplay the Badgers and the Illinois win over them, might want to also take a look at Purdue's schedule thus far.

You're right, we should try to inject some objectivity to this discussion rather than opinions.

How about this...

Sagarin predictor rating this week(i.e., after the OSU-Purdue game, using the most accurate measure of competitiveness among his ratings).

Ohio State 93.90
Purdue 80.58
Missouri 80.50
Illinois 76.11
Wisconsin 75.61
TSUN 75.61

Uh, that would suggest a three touchdown Ohio State victory at home.

 

[Steve19]

You're right, we should try to inject some objectivity to this discussion rather than opinions.

How about this...

Sagarin predictor rating this week(i.e., after the OSU-Purdue game, using the most accurate measure of competitiveness among his ratings).

Ohio State 93.90
Purdue 80.58
Missouri 80.50
Illinois 76.11
Wisconsin 75.61
TSUN 75.61

Uh, that would suggest a three touchdown Ohio State victory at home.

Oh yeah, and it also would suggest that we have beaten a team that is better than the one Illinois lost to.

 

[sandgk]

Oh yeah, and it also would suggest that we have beaten a team that is better than the one Illinois lost to.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

By the same token, you haven't played opposition as good as that which Illinois has either beaten or lost to. Next.

Wrong. We just stomped a mudhole in a ranked team's ass on their field while Illinois just barely beat an over-rated Wiscy team at home. We also put a solid beatdown on a pretty decent Washington team nearly 2,000 miles from home while Illinois lost to a Missouri team a few hundread miles away who hasn't played anyone other than Illinois. Keep trying...

 

[HailToMichigan]

Oh yeah, and it also would suggest that we have beaten a team that is better than the one Illinois lost to.

Yes, that is certainly a margin to hang your hat on. By a margin of .08 in one man's computer poll, I am soooooooooooooooooooo pwned.

Would you honestly pick Purdue to beat Missouri?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Yes, that is certainly a margin to hang your hat on. By a margin of .08 in one man's computer poll, I am soooooooooooooooooooo pwned.

Would you honestly pick Purdue to beat Missouri?

Dizzy from spinning in circles yet?

Actually, I'd say Purdue would play Missouri very close if not beat them. Keep in mind Missouri barely beat Illinois in Columbia...

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Would you honestly pick Purdue to beat Missouri?

Would you honestly pick Illinois to beat Ohio State?

 

[HailToMichigan]

Wrong. We just stomped a mudhole in a ranked team's ass on their field while Illinois just barely beat an over-rated Wiscy team at home. We also put a solid beatdown on a pretty decent Washington team nearly 2,000 miles from home while Illinois lost to a Missouri team a few hundread miles away who hasn't played anyone other than Illinois. Keep trying...

Your spin is hilarious. "Ranked team".....would that be anything like the ranked team that Missouri hung 41 points on? Would that be anything like the ranked team that Illinois beat? Or the other ranked team that Illinois beat?

If you think Purdue's ranking means something, then so does Wisconsin. Don't give me this "Wisconsin was overrated" crap. Either Purdue was also overrated, or Wisconsin deserved to be ranked. Same goes for Penn State.

 

[OCBucksFan]

Not that I am doubting Illinois, they are looking good, they are confident and they are doing what's important, taking care of the ball. Now that said, you put them in Ohio Stadium against this Buckeye team, who are you going to pick to win?

 

[HailToMichigan]

Dizzy from spinning in circles yet?

Actually, I'd say Purdue would play Missouri very close if not beat them. Keep in mind Missouri barely beat Illinois in Columbia...

No, Missouri barely beat Illinois in St. Louis, a neutral site halfway between. Illinois-Mizzou is usually if not always played there.

Would you honestly pick Illinois to beat Ohio State?

No, not with the game in Columbus. I simply think it's premature to be as cocky about beating Illinois as I've seen a few people be, and I also think it's not a ridiculous point of view to claim Illinois is the best in the conference. I do think Illinois is perfectly capable of winning, even at the horseshoe.

 

[lvbuckeye]

sheesh... let it go. good grief.

 

[OCBucksFan]

No, not with the game in Columbus. I simply think it's premature to be as cocky about beating Illinois as I've seen a few people be, and I also think it's not a ridiculous point of view to claim Illinois is the best in the conference.

I don't think anyone is discounting Illinois, they are a program that's improved drastically. I think in a year they will have the scheduling advantage, and the confidence to make a real run at the Big10.

On the other hand, I can't take a win over Wiscy to be as much as people are giving it. Michigan State took Wiscy to the wire, and then a week later lost to NorthWestern in a 48-41 offensive explosion. My point, Wiscy has NO DEFENSE AT ALL, so yeah, I think it's fair to say that their ranking wasn't really justified.

I think it's great that people are giving Illinois that vote of confidence, as I have said, it's good for the conference. I will have a better idea of how good this team is in two weeks when they play you guys. If Mike Hart dices through their defense then we'll get a better idea of what we are looking at. I am not ready to crown anyone the Big10 champs when the season is only half over. With all the upsets that have taken place this year it's hard to tell who's good and who's not. Is Stanford better than USC? Is App State better than Missagain? No? Then what games are upsets and what games are wins based on the talent, coaching and skill of the opposing team?

 

[muffler dragon]

No, not with the game in Columbus. I simply think it's premature to be as cocky about beating Illinois as I've seen a few people be, and I also think it's not a ridiculous point of view to claim Illinois is the best in the conference. I do think Illinois is perfectly capable of winning, even at the horseshoe.

Since we're dealing in the world of hypotheticals at the moment, would you mind sharing how you would react to this sportswriter's opinion IF the shoe were on the other foot.

IF UM was 6-0 with the #2 defense in the land, and would be playing Illinois in the "Big" House; then would you really be defending this writer as much as you are now?

 

[7Brutus7]

I think the biggest fault i find here is that this guy thinks that the Iliini could score on teh ground against anyone in the big ten...I think I'm gonna take our front 7 come November 10th

 

[Taosman]

Everyone knows that Illinois , playing at home is a very different team than on the road! That stadium is very under rated as a tough place to play in the Big Ten. The wind usually howls from one direction , making offensive movement in one direction almost impossible! Shortens the game.
Wisconsin was a home game.
Penn State was a home game.
They caught some breaks in their schedule, this year.
DateOpponent*ResultRecord
Sept. 1, 2007Missouri (ESPN2)L40-340-1
Sept. 8, 2007Western Illinois (Big Ten Network)W21-01-1
Sept. 15, 2007at SyracuseW41-202-1
Sept. 22, 2007at IndianaW27-143-1 (1-0)
Sept. 29, 2007Penn StateW27-204-1 (2-0)
Oct. 6, 2007WisconsinW31-265-1 (3-0)
Oct. 13, 2007at Iowa11:00 am CT
Oct. 20, 2007Michigan7:00 pm CT
Oct. 27, 2007Ball State11:00 am CT
Nov. 3, 2007at Minnesota7:00 pm CT
Nov. 10, 2007at Ohio State11:00 pm CT
Nov. 17, 2007NorthwesternTBA
Even if they lose to scUM(I think they could win) they will probably finish in second or third place! A very good outcome.