Where: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
When: 3:30 EST
TV: ABC/ESPN
Well. Um. Last week's loss to Nebraska was probably one of the most depressing collapses in the modern era of Buckeye football. I will leave it at that.
What was it that I wrote about in regards to that game? Something about how although there would be a loss for OSU, the future would look bright after their Saturday night road performance? I believe that was definitely the case, and I certainly stand by that.
We learned that Braxton Miller running a simplified offense is a very good thing. Utilizing your tight ends and fullbacks in creative ways is also a good thing. Factor in the giant Mike Adams returning at left tackle and the return of WR Philly Brown from injury and you have yourself vast potential for this offense to kick into high gear as the year rolls along.
As it stands right now, it is midway through the season and the team is sitting at .500 and winless in conference play. Ouch. I hope all of you got the negativity and frustration out of your systems though, because I have a feeling that there will be some good football played heading into November and beyond. The only thing that could make this even more interesting is if an All-Big Ten running back returned to the team to bring a much needed balance to the position of experience, power and decisive running. Oh wait! You will see just that when Boom Herron returns to the field on Saturday against the Illini, which in my opinion will be a huge factor down the stretch.
Speaking of the Illini, are they really 6-0? Wow. I thought they'd be an eight win football team, but six wins at the half way point?? This is looking like a potential BCS team if Illinois is able to keep up their solid play. They run the ball extremely well, have a receiver in A.J. Jenkins who just set the Big Ten record for the most receiving yards in a two game span in history, an experienced dual-threat QB and a defense that has been a huge part of the team's success thus far. The ingredients mix up to create a very solid, consistent and tough football team under Ron Zook.
This could very well be a Rose Bowl participant for the second time since 2007, especially if Wisconsin finds themselves in the BCS national championship game (which at this point in time I think is a legitimate possibility). Getting through OSU won't be as hard for them to do as it was in the past, but remember that Illinois has played the Bucks tough in Champaign dating back to the 2000 season, just before the Tressel era began. There is something about going to Illinois that just doesn't seem to work out for Ohio State, and I think that could cause trouble for the road team this week.
I am going to call for Illinois to win this one with a late field goal, sending them to 7-0 start and OSU to their first losing record midway through the season since the year I was born: 1988. Once again I'll say that the improvement will be evident, but Illinois will finally get a home victory over the Buckeyes.
Two weeks in a row of me picking my team to lose? This truly is a season unlike any other.
Prediction:
Ohio State- 20
Illinois- 23
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