Illinois at Penn State, Saturday, September 28th, 6:30pm CT, NBC
Great reference. That was around 2001, if I'm remembering correctly. Saturday afternoon game. I was a poor bachelor and my roommates and I had a garbage low-resolution CRT monitor for the watch party, so low-res that it was impossible to distinguish between digits 2/3/5/8 in the scorebox (we just kept track manually). That particular game was hilariously unwatchable (there's always AM radio), but still extremely memorable.
I expect we'll see higher contrast team uniforms next Saturday in Happy Valley.
Has anything been released yet about injuries? Need everybody available to win this game.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
18 pts -- Wow! Totally shocked. I just can't see it. I may have to drive to North Carolina and get some of that action.
-18 just seems unfathomable. If I could bet, I would.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Moved up to 43 in Connelly’s SP+ ratings, which still factors in preseason ratings.
We come in at 15 in his ratings that only factor in this season’s performance. Penn St. lands at 13:
We come in at 15 in his ratings that only factor in this season’s performance. Penn St. lands at 13:
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
I don’t gamble on sports, but I’d absolutely take the Illini against the spread. 18 feels like a spread to generate Illini betting interest.
This is a battle tested team. They will be in this game for the long haul.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
I personally LOVE the color vs color games. The genesis of a team wearing white was when games were on black and white TVs. We’re obviously past that.
Yes. I’d be in favor of always having a color vs color Bragging Rights game for basketball. Just make it black vs orange or gold vs navy every year.
I mean...he returned to the game so I'd imagine it isn't too serious (hopefully).
Think about trying to find a receiver wearing white running free down field against a backdrop of all white. Small chance it covers something up but I could see some rationale to it.
I love your point about battle tested.
I'm really worried about this game. I think our team isnt.
18 points? Seems a bit harsh, but I love the narrative Bret can create in the locker room this week.
All excellent points and accurate. I was so pleasantly unprepared for how poised and unaffected the team looked in that kind of environment. I cannot imagine any other road game on the schedule having a more charged atmosphere than the Nebraska game - and that includes at PSU, higher crowd capacity notwithstanding.
I believe this team is bursting with confidence right now. That can obviously work against you, too...but there's been no signs of that to date.
All of the above, plus the extra day of rest and prep? I don't think you could ask for any better shot at winning a game like this.
That seems insane, and that worries me. Usually too good to be true spreads are just that and straight up sucker bets, and this one feels a good 8pts off. It's a very very very strange line, and tends to make me think Vegas knows something we don't quite realize. Wonder if they know Franklin and Priestley are going to be out for us? Because if not, that line seems off the walls. Color me concerned as most times you see a "sure thing" bet, Vegas makes a killing. And 17.5pts would fall in that category for me.
Welp, similar to Nebraska, gotta show up angry from the kick and make PSU earn everything they get. You do that, you've got a chance.
17.5pts... Wow....
It’s relative. Has PSU faced a ranked team yet?
Franklin came back in at the end of the game. I wouldn’t worry about that.
Ryllini
- Lombard
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
so did Priestly
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I've said it before but it bears repeating: props on your avatar. An Illini moment that still sends chills up my spine when I recall watching it in real time, and one I'll remember as long as my synapses are firing.
BTW... it seems that many on our team possess this sort of sprit, tenacity and cussedness. Bodes well.
Krombopulos_Michael
- Aurora, Illinois (that’s a suburb of Chicago)
Cannot count the number of times I have quoted that line
The more I see, the more I am beginning to think we might outright win this game. Are you ready for a great game!! Hopefully we are healthy.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I genuinely looked at the schedule after the first two games and thought the Nebraska game would be the toughest W. I thought Nebby would be so up for that game in front of the 400th sellout that we would need a miracle.
Turns out we just played our game and were better.
If they are even peeking ahead at UCLA and USC.....we will have a great chance at winning it. Just like @Neb.
BZuppke
- Plainfield
I’ve seen UCLA/USC do it.