Michael Smith
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Weather, Wind, and Looking Ahead are Key Factors Against Illinois
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Hello everyone and welcome as I help you get ready for this Saturday. Our Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Champaign, IL to face the Fighting Illini of Illinois. Also on the line is the Illibuck trophy.
As most of us know, the Illibuck trophy is a wooden turtle. The two teams actually battled over a real turtle until it died in 1927. Since then, the teams have played for the Illibuck trophy.
Its the 2nd oldest trophy in the Big 10, only the Little Brown Jug is older. Ohio State leads the all time series with Illinois 66-30-4 and have beaten Illinois 6 straight games.
My one big concern about this game was the fact it was being playing in Champaign in November. The Fighting Illini stadium known as Memorial Stadium has another nick name. The Wind Tunnel.
The weather is usually bad when Ohio State visits causing games with the Fighting Illini to be closer than they should be.
However, the weather forecast for this Saturday is actually stunning. It’s suppose to be beautiful.
At kickoff it should be in the low 50’s with winds only 5-15 MPH. For Champaign — this time of year — it’s shorts weather!
Illinois actually comes into this game with a winning record at 5-4.
However, they lave lost 3 of their last 4 games, but are coming off a big 48-14 win over Purdue.
That said all of Illinois’ wins this year have come against poor teams. Their 5 wins are from teams who have a combined 17-30 record.
Illinois’ 4 losses are too North Carolina, Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin. All that being said Ohio State can’t just mail this one in. We all know how tough in the past Illinois has played against Ohio State regardless of its record.
Illinois’ offense averages 29 points a game and 390 yards of offense a game.
The Fighting Illini are led by QB Wes Lunt, who has thrown for 2000 yards this year with 12 TDs and just 4 INTs. His favorite target is Geronimo Allison, who leads the teams in receptions at 56 and yards with 756. He has 500 yards more receiving than the next WR for Illinois.
Illinois’ rushing attack is led by 2 RBs, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Josh Ferguson, who have combined for nearly 1200 yards and 9 TDs between them.
Illinois has been sort of a Jekel and Hyde team on offense this year. They have put up big numbers against poor teams, but don’t score a lot against good teams.
The best defenses they’ve faced this year have shut them down. They were shut out vs Penn St, scored just 14 against both Nebraska and North Carolina.
Ohio State’s defense is finally finding it’s groove. In their past 2 games vs Rutgers and Minnesota, they’ve only given up 21 points combined. Illinois’ offensive line could be in trouble in this game. They haven’t faced any defensive lines like the Buckeyes have.
Illinois is also more of a passing team. They like to put the ball in the air more than run it. This is also in Ohio State’s favor as the Buckeyes have one of the best pass defenses in the country. Illinois might get some yards but I’m not sure a lot of points.
Ohio State’s offense comes into the game with J.T. Barrett back at QB. Ohio State’s offense has clearly looked and done its best with #16 in at QB.
There’s just no question about it.
Illinois’ defense, like its offense, has played well against poor teams, but hasn’t done so well against good teams. They shut out the likes of Western Illinois, gave up 3 to Kent State, 14 to Purdue and held Nebraska to 13. However, they gave up 48 to North Carolina, 29 to Iowa, and 39 to Penn State.
Their big weakness is vs the run.
Illinois comes into this game giving up 140 yards rushing a game. North Carolina had 254 yards rushing vs Illinois this year, and Iowa got 278 yards rushing as well. This has got to make Zeke Elliot smile, as his streak of 14 games in a row with at least 100 yards rushing, keeps marching on.
Not to mention Braxton Miller and JT Barrett, who we know can run with the ball as well.
Ohio State also has got to take Illinois seriously and not get caught looking ahead to Michigan State next week. Urban Meyer said this week that it was a concern of his. If Ohio State keeps their focus and avoids turnovers, it will be real tough for Illinois to pull of the upset.
Prediction
I was fully ready to make a 24-17 or 28-19 type prediction. It seems when we play Illinois in Champaign that’s what we get all the time. However, that was always with poor weather. If the weather forecast holds true and Ohio State keeps it’s focus while playing a clean game. I’m going with:
Ohio State 42 Illinois 17
The post Weather, Wind, and Looking Ahead are Key Factors Against Illinois appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Hello everyone and welcome as I help you get ready for this Saturday. Our Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Champaign, IL to face the Fighting Illini of Illinois. Also on the line is the Illibuck trophy.
As most of us know, the Illibuck trophy is a wooden turtle. The two teams actually battled over a real turtle until it died in 1927. Since then, the teams have played for the Illibuck trophy.
Its the 2nd oldest trophy in the Big 10, only the Little Brown Jug is older. Ohio State leads the all time series with Illinois 66-30-4 and have beaten Illinois 6 straight games.
My one big concern about this game was the fact it was being playing in Champaign in November. The Fighting Illini stadium known as Memorial Stadium has another nick name. The Wind Tunnel.
The weather is usually bad when Ohio State visits causing games with the Fighting Illini to be closer than they should be.
However, the weather forecast for this Saturday is actually stunning. It’s suppose to be beautiful.
At kickoff it should be in the low 50’s with winds only 5-15 MPH. For Champaign — this time of year — it’s shorts weather!
Illinois actually comes into this game with a winning record at 5-4.
However, they lave lost 3 of their last 4 games, but are coming off a big 48-14 win over Purdue.
That said all of Illinois’ wins this year have come against poor teams. Their 5 wins are from teams who have a combined 17-30 record.
Illinois’ 4 losses are too North Carolina, Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin. All that being said Ohio State can’t just mail this one in. We all know how tough in the past Illinois has played against Ohio State regardless of its record.
Illinois’ offense averages 29 points a game and 390 yards of offense a game.
The Fighting Illini are led by QB Wes Lunt, who has thrown for 2000 yards this year with 12 TDs and just 4 INTs. His favorite target is Geronimo Allison, who leads the teams in receptions at 56 and yards with 756. He has 500 yards more receiving than the next WR for Illinois.
Illinois’ rushing attack is led by 2 RBs, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Josh Ferguson, who have combined for nearly 1200 yards and 9 TDs between them.
Illinois has been sort of a Jekel and Hyde team on offense this year. They have put up big numbers against poor teams, but don’t score a lot against good teams.
The best defenses they’ve faced this year have shut them down. They were shut out vs Penn St, scored just 14 against both Nebraska and North Carolina.
Ohio State’s defense is finally finding it’s groove. In their past 2 games vs Rutgers and Minnesota, they’ve only given up 21 points combined. Illinois’ offensive line could be in trouble in this game. They haven’t faced any defensive lines like the Buckeyes have.
Illinois is also more of a passing team. They like to put the ball in the air more than run it. This is also in Ohio State’s favor as the Buckeyes have one of the best pass defenses in the country. Illinois might get some yards but I’m not sure a lot of points.
Ohio State’s offense comes into the game with J.T. Barrett back at QB. Ohio State’s offense has clearly looked and done its best with #16 in at QB.
There’s just no question about it.
Illinois’ defense, like its offense, has played well against poor teams, but hasn’t done so well against good teams. They shut out the likes of Western Illinois, gave up 3 to Kent State, 14 to Purdue and held Nebraska to 13. However, they gave up 48 to North Carolina, 29 to Iowa, and 39 to Penn State.
Their big weakness is vs the run.
Illinois comes into this game giving up 140 yards rushing a game. North Carolina had 254 yards rushing vs Illinois this year, and Iowa got 278 yards rushing as well. This has got to make Zeke Elliot smile, as his streak of 14 games in a row with at least 100 yards rushing, keeps marching on.
Not to mention Braxton Miller and JT Barrett, who we know can run with the ball as well.
Ohio State also has got to take Illinois seriously and not get caught looking ahead to Michigan State next week. Urban Meyer said this week that it was a concern of his. If Ohio State keeps their focus and avoids turnovers, it will be real tough for Illinois to pull of the upset.
Prediction
I was fully ready to make a 24-17 or 28-19 type prediction. It seems when we play Illinois in Champaign that’s what we get all the time. However, that was always with poor weather. If the weather forecast holds true and Ohio State keeps it’s focus while playing a clean game. I’m going with:
Ohio State 42 Illinois 17
The post Weather, Wind, and Looking Ahead are Key Factors Against Illinois appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...