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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > November > 14
Friday, November 14, 2008
Illinois will be ready to play against Ohio State
Illinois went to the Rose Bowl last season, but has returned to Earth in 2008. But the Illini are still a dangerous bunch and always seem to get up for Ohio State.
Maybe that explains their stunning loss last week to Western Michigan. What was that?
Anyway, the Buckeyes are 9 1/2-point favorites this week at newly remodeled Memorial Stadium in Champaign. (If you’re going, I recommend the Esquire downtown; cold beer and free peanuts in the shell.)
This line has been moving down all week, which means a lot of money is coming in on Illinois. I agree, although I’d feel more comfy with the opening line of 10 1/2 points.
The home team has been terrible in this series, but I think Juice Williams has enough talent to keep it close. Illinois is averaging 447.6 yards per game, so I don’t expect a repeat of last week’s dismantling of Northwestern.
On defense, Illinois has 32 QB sacks this season and OSU coach Jim Tressel says the Illini “do a good job of mixing up what they do.” So maybe Terrelle Pryor hesitates a little, but pulls out a victory.
The Buckeyes have a lot to play for — a BCS bowl bid remains a tasty possibility — but I’ll take Illinois and the points.
LAST WEEK: Our advice was to take OSU and lay 10 1/2 at Northwestern. Bingo. The Buckeyes ran away with an easy 45-10 win.
SEASON: That much-needed win brings us to 5-4 on the season with two games to play.
