Illinois @ Northwestern Predictions
MY PREDICTION
NORTHWESTERN 35 ILLINOIS 10
It would nice if this team could end the season on a good note, but the odds of that happening are very slim. It's just been one of those years to forget, and you have to wonder how much the coaches and the players are looking forward to getting this season over with and starting over.
Would a win against Northwestern make us feel better about the season? Probably not. There is so much negativity floating around right now that a 50 point win wouldn't do anything to get rid of it. Don't get me wrong, the negativity is understandable, and with the way things are looking right now, you have to wonder when things might actually get better. When will we be good enough to make a bowl game? Furthermore, when we get back to that point, can the coaching staff take advantage of that success and get some solid players in here? Can they ride the momentum of a good season? That's been difficult to do around here.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats could win 10 games this season. Pat Fitzgerald has Northwestern playing pretty good football. They've suffered a couple of close losses, but at 8-3, Wildcat fans have to be happy with what they are seeing.
That shouldn't change Saturday. Look for Northwestern to protect the home turf and get their ninth win in the regular season.
What do you guys think? Will the Illini stun everybody and get their first win since September, or will it be nine straight losses to end the season? Let me know with your thoughts and predictions below.
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you have a chance to enjoy the outstanding weather we appear to be getting Thursday. Talk to you guys after the holiday.
I-L-L...
Yeah, forget it...
The ridiculous and buffoonish "rivalry" Beckman tried selling everyone on to make his mark on the program only adds more fuel to thefire as Northwestern goes out and clownstomps Illinois in humiliating fashion. From the little brother Illinois fans would cheer for outside of the Illini games to the younger adult who'd give us a competitive game and we'd all go out for beers afterward, to the folks shoveling dirt on our casket. We're not good enough to be a rival to Northwestern, Coach Timmy. How sad is that?
Northwestern: 38
Illinois: 10
And that might be not giving Northwestern enough credit...
Illinois almost pulled off the win last week but not quite. Northwestern has had a bit of a surprising, good season. Most people thought they'd go to a bowl game and be solid, but maybe not 8-3 at this point. It doesn't really matter because Illinois doesn't have much of a chance to win this one. Sad. Kinda feel bad for the seniors who passed up going pro last year to come back this yr.
Illinois: 17
Northwestern: 37
Wildcats 30
Illini 6
finally it's over. BTW, you can replace a coach in the first year if you don't see them getting better, and not getting recruits, or you can set new records in consecutive Big 10 losses. Your Pick Mike Thomas. Hint: If you can find someone you change, otherwise, you wait the 3 years when the "wait until he has his players" runs out.
Since I'm out of the running I'll pick with my head instead of my heart. So..... Northwestern 7934264 ... Fighting Illusions ..... Well they just stay in the locker room I mean why come out to play the game if you don't have a QB on the roster ( at least not one that gets to play) . Gimme a break.
- NU 58
- Illinois 20
- The other three Illinois fans and I start the "WAIT 'TIL B-BALL!" chant with 14:55 to go in the 1st quarter.
If we had seen any evidence that this team wouldn't fold up the tent at the first sign of adversity during the B1G season, I might think that there was a chance, but I think this one gets ugly in a hurry. This feels like it'll go the way of the 61-23 beatdown that Northwestern put on the Dustin Ward-led Illini in 2000.
Social Media
Comments
News-Gazette.com embraces discussion of both community and world issues. We welcome you to contribute your ideas, opinions and comments, but we ask that you avoid personal attacks, vulgarity and hate speech. We reserve the right to remove any comment at our discretion, and we will block repeat offenders' accounts. To post comments, you must first be a registered user, and your username will appear with any comment you post. Happy posting.