Illinois-Ohio State Predictions and Prediction Standings
Monumental collapses.
It's amazing what us Illini fans have experienced during this school year. We saw a football team start 6-0, only to seemingly forget how to score and finish the season 0-6 before getting a bowl win. After football, we had a basketball team off to a strong start and nationally ranked playing for NCAA tournament positioning. All of a sudden, they can't do anything right and now it makes you wonder if they will win again this season.
The lowest of the low... For football, it was the loss @ Minnesota, where the Illini played what should have been an inferior team and just didn't show up. For basketball, it was Saturday, when Illinois traveled to Nebraska to play them in something that wasn't football. We don't need to talk about that again.
Football was able to at least end the season on a positive note with a bowl win against UCLA. They got roughly a month off and that probably allowed them to forget all the negative they ended the season with. Basketball, however, doesn't get a month off. They only get a few days at a time. They will go into the next game more than likely with the previous game on their minds.
The question becomes, can Illinois find a way to salvage this season like the football team did? Despite this slide, Illinois could amazingly still make the tournament with a good finish. All I know that it's going to take a strong finish to get the fans back on board because a chunk of them have probably given up on this team.
Got the standings updated. Thanks to the last two losses on games that could have been wins, a lot of losses were racked up by all who predicted. Let's see how things look after 20 games...
NAMEPREDICTIONWINSLOSSESRSDT*buckhunter2Illinois 65-58146165geriatricilliniNebraska 61-60137157Bwp 5PIllinois 65-60137171pennilessIllinois 69-59136169bubba2hypeIllinois 66-61128152ReilliniIllinois 68-63128158Tom YoungNebraska 63-62128179dealmaker21Nebraska 66-57127201Paul KleeIllinois 57-56119163JoeK82Illinois 62-58119170riverIllinois 67-63119172walkerIllinois 64-60119203mbelcherIllinois 64-61118150aaeismacgychelIllinois 76-58117175Eric 22Illinois 73-551010212illiniearlIllinois 69-541010291CARPETIllinois 58-53108158Wincer_85Illinois 66-59911209mvilliniDNP98139smills89DNP97168illiniphil85Illinois 68-6396117illiniloveDNP93120rtrottDNP810194uofiisuDNP88127Foo_GNebraska 59-5487293dave1956DNP8392jruss62DNP8398WLSILLINIIllinois 65-6177129illinifan1280DNP76136gordonbacon15DNP76156drcc4DNP75107JamesBIllinois 58-536372oskeewowwowDNP6378illinizeemanDNP6159adamnolenDNP59107kelkaidruDNP5242UIUIlliniDNP5250indymic1956DNP4392tstephensDNP4265retby50DNP4138sunnyd503DNP4153illini7074DNP3462wilson577DNP3473ILLINI04DNP3237smccawDNP3247illiniartDNP3248Illini_Fan_78DNP3119uswtmb47DNP3013happygilmoreDNP2336LanphierDNP2390PhiloJoeDNP2242illinois52DNP2120ICB36DNP2124illini82DNP2130bumpin99DNP2140pblilliniDNP2155oandbDNP21133ax474DNP208berniesDNP2015cjcohenDNP2016Illinifan11_42DNP2022afanDNP2035demitrimaniscalacoDNP1351illiniwood12DNP1114butkus50DNP1115foreverilliniDNP1126Ed Bond DNP1129bookworm24DNP1136B-ILLINIDNP103CecilColemanDNP105JeremyHDNP105toohot4totsDNP107jimbo2009DNP108DaisyJDNP1011GWDNP1013ILL HoosierDNP1014rumbob35DNP10141 illinifanDNP1017SmittoDNP1022jrhymerDNP0224judahtomDNP017UIUCHoopFANDNP018yatesDNP0113mdejde1955DNP0116nikeguy1618DNP0116cevansDNP0118IlliniExileDNP0122Chief4EvrIllinois 65-620126toddalan1975DNP0128billdaveIllinois 72-640131WhoSaysDNP000
* - Real Score Difference Total
Looking ahead to Tuesday.....
MY PREDICTION
#6 OHIO STATE 80 ILLINOIS 65
Illinois for the most part has played to the level of their competition this season, but after the loss at Nebraska, I don't know if they will able to play at a high level the rest of the way. It all comes down to how mentally tough the kids are. How will they handle this situation? Unfortunately, I think the mentality is one of the biggest weaknesses of this team. They seem to get down on themselves quickly. In this case, hanging your head might be a good thing. It will keep you from looking up at the scoreboard.
What do you guys think? Will Illinois once again shock the world with an improbable win, of do the Buckeyes take care of business. Let me know with your thoughts and predictions below.
Also, at this point, which collapse do you think was worse? Football or Basketball? Why was it worse? Were you expecting either collapse or did they catch you by surprise? I curious to see what you guys say.
I'm currently working on the prediction standings. I hope to have them up some point this morning, but no guarantees. Once they are finished I will throw them up here for you to check out. Talk to you guys after Tuesday.
I-L-L...
Wow. Very disheartening in Lincoln Saturday. You never wanna see anyone cry on the bench, but i'd rather see that than no emotion at all; it shows that the players still care about winning, at least. If Illinois was down 30 at Nebraska, it could be a whole lot worse at Ohio State tomorrow. I don't really think there is anywhere to go from here except up and we usually play better on the big stage (ESPN2 broadcast Tuesday.) Don't think it will be enough because Ohio State won't be happy coming off of a loss to their rival and they want a little payback from Illinois beating them earlier in the year.
Illinois: 61
Ohio State: 71
Hey Tom, I may not end up winning this prediction contest, but can I get honorable mention for predicting spot on how the season would end way back before the Missouri game?
http://www.illinihq.com/blogs/fans/2011-12/prediction-standings-illinois...
Each of the football and basketball collapse this season is the same, no worse than the other - so sad.
Ohio State 77
Illini 52
With Sullinger in the middle, Ohio State probably doesn't have to double up on Leonard which could be good for the Illini offense. Nevertheless, Brandon Paul gets limited to about 12 points and 6 turnovers. Matta mercifully calls off the dogs after a huge lead and the Illini lose by 18.
Ohio State 84
Illinois 66
The collapse of the basketball team is way worse in my mind, then the collapse of the football team. The basketball program is something that I look forward to every year. The Illini were dominate in the early 2000's by taking names and winning B1G Championships; unfortunately, the basketball program has taken a huge hit over the past FEW years. I keep reading and hearing next year will be our time, but it is never ending - the slide continues!
As for the football program, I am always surprised when the team does well. I never expect the -team to do better than 6-6 or 7-6. That is just Illinois Football - the only teams we can beat are the division 2 teams, sometimes Northwestern, Indiana, and sometimes Purdue. We are a true joke in football. I really hope that Beckman can save the program? I truly do!
My brain is saying Illinois will lose very badly tonight at Columbus, but my heart is screaming:
Illinois wins 75 to OSU 74.
GO ILLINI!
George Russell
Lake Lotawana, MO
I watched the Bulls afternoon game yesterday and after getting a nice lead over Atlanta, they gave back some of it in the 3rd quarter...from around a 20 point lead to about 6 at the end. The sideline gal interviewed Coach Thibodeau and asked what happened to lose the big lead and he said " Well, we're makin' up stuff and we're payin' for it." They did get it together in the last quarter and win it though. But, I thought what a perfect description of this Illini basketball season.
I think most all of us kinda know who should win this game...the question is will we make a game of it or not?
Illini 56
Buckeyes 73
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