Illinois @ #13 Michigan St.

[TOP]

Quite the barn burner going on. Illinois leads 6-3 at the half.

 

[getyopopcornready]

Illinois is tough. Not many teams can play Ohio St as tough as they did.

 

[TOP]

Illinois is tough. Not many teams can play Ohio St as tough as they did.

Usually have a hard nosed defense.

Now that we say it, probably jinx them and MSU will go off.

I don't really have a preference in this game. Guess I'll probably go for Illinois since they are the underdog. I kind of like Sheelhouse(sp?). I also like MSU's coach though after the heart attack. Feel bad for the guy.

Also, MSU just picked Illinois off. Dang.

 

[tvolsfan]

It would be kind of cool to see MSU go unbeaten after the situation with Dantonio, and this is their year to make it happen, because soon Michigan will be too good, ND will be up again, Penn State won't be so horrific, and they'll have OSU on the schedule again. I guess I should root for Illinois because it helps OSU in the Big 10 title race.

 

[TOP]

-1 yard for MSU on the drive and yet they walk away with a field goal. Tied up at 6 apiece.

 

[TOP]

It would be kind of cool to see MSU go unbeaten after the situation with Dantonio, and this is their year to make it happen, because soon Michigan will be too good, ND will be up again, Penn State won't be so horrific, and they'll have OSU on the schedule again. I guess I should root for Illinois because it helps OSU in the Big 10 title race.

I agree.

I don't really care for the school based on their basketball fans though. That's my only real dislike when it comes to MSU.

P.s. I think Iowa will beat them. I hope I'm wrong but outside the polls, most people underrate the Hawkeyes.

 

[txvolsfangatorh8r]

It would be kind of cool to see MSU go unbeaten after the situation with Dantonio, and this is their year to make it happen, because soon Michigan will be too good, ND will be up again, Penn State won't be so horrific, and they'll have OSU on the schedule again. I guess I should root for Illinois because it helps OSU in the Big 10 title race.

and dont forget that nebraska is coming and they will add a champ game next year.
big 10 gonna be hard to win after this year for MSU

 

[TOP]

Illinois left MSU wide open. Touchdown for the Spartans. Up 13-6.

 

[TOP]

Illinois just fumbled it away inside MSU's 20. Illinois is making too many mistakes.

 

[txvolsfangatorh8r]

illinois seems like they are another year away form being able to beat people everygame

look like they have a solid team tho.

 

[TOP]

illinois seems like they are another year away form being able to beat people everygame

look like they have a solid team tho.

Yeah. The key will be the development of Scheelhaase. He has had his moments. Both good and bad. Only a freshman.

 

[txvolsfangatorh8r]

zook can obviously recruit. agreed he just has to develop these guys. actually looking forward to big ten next year when they become real conference

 

[tvolsfan]

I agree.

I don't really care for the school based on their basketball fans though. That's my only real dislike when it comes to MSU.

P.s. I think Iowa will beat them. I hope I'm wrong but outside the polls, most people underrate the Hawkeyes.

Most people overrated them a lot last year.

 

[TOP]

Most people overrated them a lot last year.

How so?

They only lost two games and it was without their starting quarterback. The quarterback that replaced him was a true freshman.

They were beating up on Northwestern before Stanzi got hurt. They didn't score again and barely lost. Then the following week, their freshman QB almost beat Ohio State. Went to overtime.

Georgia Tech was 11-2 going into the bowl games and Iowa held them to 155 yards of offense.

I don't like Iowa but they probably finish the regular season undefeated if Ricky Stanzi doesn't get injured.

 

[tvolsfan]

How so?

They only lost two games and it was without their starting quarterback. The quarterback that replaced him was a true freshman.

They were beating up on Northwestern before Stanzi got hurt. They didn't score again and barely lost. Then the following week, their freshman QB almost beat Ohio State. Went to overtime.

Georgia Tech was 11-2 going into the bowl games and Iowa held them to 155 yards of offense.

I don't like Iowa but they probably finish the regular season undefeated if Ricky Stanzi doesn't get injured.

Iowa was overrated throughout the season. The Big 10 was horrific, so they weren't exposed. Their close games with the like of Northern Iowa were close because Iowa was mediocre. They play last season again, they probably lose 3 games.

And as far as Georgia Tech, of course they did well. They had a month to prepare for a team

Kirk Ferentz is wildly overrated, and Iowa hasn't ever fielded a legit national title contender while he was here, and they probably never will.

 

[TOP]

Iowa was overrated throughout the season. The Big 10 was horrific, so they weren't exposed. Their close games with the like of Northern Iowa were close because Iowa was mediocre. They play last season again, they probably lose 3 games.

And as far as Georgia Tech, of course they did well. They had a month to prepare for a team

Kirk Ferentz is wildly overrated, and Iowa hasn't ever fielded a legit national title contender while he was here, and they probably never will.

The line about playing last year again doesn't make sense. They already played last year and we saw the outcome.

UNI played them opening week. Lots of teams play bad opening week. That says more about how bad Ohio State was then Iowa. Iowa almost beat them with a freshman QB that had only played half of a game coming in.

I also disagree completely with the Kirk Ferentz remark. The guy is a d'bag but he was 11-1 after blowing a huge lead to Iowa State and last year was 10-2 only losing with a back up quarterback. That's two years of almost making the national championship.

They are 5-1 this year and their only loss was without their offensive coordinator. He was in the hospital.

I probably hate Iowa and Ferentz more than you do but having to live here, I've seen how good they are. They are pretty good. Their defense rivals the best in the country.

 

[TOP]

Another comment on Ferentz being overrated. His recruiting classes generally rank around 50th or so. He had at least one in the top 25 recently I believe but his classes usually aren't very good. The fact that he does a good job with them makes me think he is underrated if anything. Bad recruiter when it comes to high profile players maybe but good coach.

 

[tvolsfan]

The line about playing last year again doesn't make sense. They already played last year and we saw the outcome.

Right. No chance anything turns out different if they played again.
UNI played them opening week. Lots of teams play bad opening week. That says more about how bad Ohio State was then Iowa. Iowa almost beat them with a freshman QB that had only played half of a game coming in.[/quote]
There were multiple teams that Iowa looked average against because that's about where they were. In the SEC, they would have lost 4 or 5.

I also disagree completely with the Kirk Ferentz remark. The guy is a d'bag but he was 11-1 after blowing a huge lead to Iowa State and last year was 10-2 only losing with a back up quarterback. That's two years of almost making the national championship.

They went 11-1 without playing the best team in the conference and they lost to Iowa State. They got ripped in the bowl game and it was obvious they didn't belong with the elite. They were 10-2 but everyone that watched them new they were going to blow it. They weren't that good. There have been mediocre seasons throughout. Kirk Ferentz has never won the conference outright in his years of being at Iowa, because he's not special.

They are 5-1 this year and their only loss was without their offensive coordinator. He was in the hospital.

They lost at Arizona, and they gave up plenty of points.

I probably hate Iowa and Ferentz more than you do but having to live here, I've seen how good they are. They are pretty good. Their defense rivals the best in the country.

They aren't even the best in the conference. Ohio State has a considerably better defense than Iowa.

 

[TOP]

Right. No chance anything turns out different if they played again.
UNI played them opening week. Lots of teams play bad opening week. That says more about how bad Ohio State was then Iowa. Iowa almost beat them with a freshman QB that had only played half of a game coming in. There were multiple teams that Iowa looked average against because that's about where they were. In the SEC, they would have lost 4 or 5.

But that doesn't make any sense. Saying "it would be different" if they played again is completely irrelevant. The games are over with. That's how things work. You get one chance in college football. They made the most of theirs.

They went 11-1 without playing the best team in the conference and they lost to Iowa State. They got ripped in the bowl game and it was obvious they didn't belong with the elite. They were 10-2 but everyone that watched them new they were going to blow it. They weren't that good. There have been mediocre seasons throughout. Kirk Ferentz has never won the conference outright in his years of being at Iowa, because he's not special.

Again, talking about who they did and didn't play is irrelevant. They can only play who is on their schedule.

They lost at Arizona, and they gave up plenty of points.

You didn't watch the Arizona game did you? Arizona put up 21 points on 13 yards of offense

7-0 -- Blocked punt. 13 yard drive.
14-0 -- 85 yard int for a touchdown.
21-7 -- 100 yard kick return for a touchdown.

They aren't even the best in the conference. Ohio State has a considerably better defense than Iowa.

Iowa has allowed 10.2ppg this year compared to Ohio State's 13.5ppg. How is that better? I don't know what Ohio State's defense ranked last year but I believe Iowa's ranked 8th in the country.

 

[tvolsfan]

But that doesn't make any sense. Saying "it would be different" if they played again is completely irrelevant. The games are over with. That's how things work. You get one chance in college football. They made the most of theirs.
They may have made themost of their opportunity, but that was still only good for second. I doubt Ferentz ever wins the Big 10 outright.

Again, talking about who they did and didn't play is irrelevant. They can only play who is on their schedule.
Agreed. Too bad for them Iowa State was on the schedule.

You didn't watch the Arizona game did you? Arizona put up 21 points on 13 yards of offense

7-0 -- Blocked punt. 13 yard drive.
14-0 -- 85 yard int for a touchdown.
21-7 -- 100 yard kick return for a touchdown.
It's not like they shut Arizona down. They still gave up close to 400 yards of offense.

Lastly... Iowa has allowed 10.2ppg this year compared to Ohio State's 13.5ppg. How is that better? I don't know what Ohio State's defense ranked last year but I believe Iowa's ranked 8th in the country.
The best team they have played so far didn't exactly struggle to score on them. OSU's defense is definitely better, and if they lose a game, it will likely be because Pryor.

See bold.

 

[TOP]

I hope Ferentz doesn't win the Big 10. I don't like the guy at all. I don't like Iowa at all. I cheer against them every weekend. I just think he is a good coach and Iowa is a good team. I definitely don't like them though.

Iowa State did have Seneca Wallace though. He was the only reason Iowa State won that game. Dude was a one man show. He has been solid when given playing time in the NFL. The real knack against him is that he is short. 5'11 I believe.

Bend but don't break. Yards are irrelevant if you don't give up points. The defense didn't give up points. Special teams did. 21 points worth.

I don't think either defense is better than the other. I think they are on par. Both really good.