Behind the Mic

From Broncos to Buckeyes To Bowl Bids

Posted by: Brian Barnhart

Monday, November 10, 2008 11:27 AM

The Illini did not play well in Detroit against Western Michigan.  That much we know. And the reasons the Illini lost have been hashed and re-hashed for the last few days.  No need to go into that here. 

Now the question is....Can they beat an Ohio State team that is determined to exact revenge for last year's Illini upset of the  #1 Buckeyes in Columbus?  That remains to be seen.

I have heard that the Illini have been on the Buckeyes mind all season and Ohio State is coming off of  a solid win over Northwestern on Saturday.  They would like nothing better than to help the Illini miss a bowl game this year. 

Most people on the national level wrote off Ohio State after their whipping at the hands of USC. .. and their narrow loss at home to Penn State.  But you look up now in mid November and there is Ohio State right near the top of the conference again.  They have a phenom quarterback in Terrelle Pryor and players like Beanie Wells and James Laurinatis are still around to cause problems for the Illini.

It will be Senior Day and it will be the last chance for the seniors to take the field at Memorial Stadium. Hopefully that will provide some extra incentive for the Illini.

And isnt it kind of strange that this season is mirroring the 2002 season for  Illini fans? Hopes and expectations where also high after the Big Ten championship and Sugar Bowl appearance the year before.  The Illini opponents the last 2 games of that year were against ......thats right...Ohio State in Champaign and Northwestern in Evanston.  And remember...the Illini took the eventual national champions to overtime before losing and thus were eliminated from bowl contention that year. 

The Illini still have a chance to end this roller-coaster of a season on a upward swing.  A win over  Ohio State and Northwestern could still land the Illini in  a nice warm place in late December. 

But they have to beat a revenge-minded Buckeye team to start down that bowl path. Otherwise it will be a long winter.

 

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