bukie

And have Dorrell come back next year? Heck no. Enjoy winning the Big Ten next year, Illinois fans. Gotta admit UCLA winning those two games would be par for the course in the Dorrell era. Bad enough to incite rioting among the fans, just good enough to justify keeping him on.

As an Illini fan, the best chance for Illinois to get to a BCS bowl is for UCLA to suddenly get really good and beat Oregon and USC. There will undoubtedly be an at-large SEC and Big 12 team, and the Boise State/Hawaii winner is more than likely going to leapfrog the Illini, at least in human polls enough that the BCS is affected. So, that last at-large spot is going to be between Illinois and the 2nd place Pac-10/ACC winner, given West Virginia wins the Big East. So, cliff notes version, go UCLA.

Plus, is there something in the rules that would prevent a higher-ranked Georgia team from being passed over for a BCS bowl by Florida? I seem to remember something to that effect, the Kansas State rule or something.

I'd foresee something like 56-17. Is it wrong that I look at those matchups and think to myself...hey, I think Illinois has a better chance of winning that BCS bowl than they would against Florida?

The speculation is the Capital One bowl against Florida. The article you posted supports that speculation, it doesn't refute it. EDIT: At this point, the only things that would prevent an Illinois/Florida matchup would be if either of them makes a BCS bowl (not out of the question if, say, Georgia makes the SEC title and and loses), or if the Capital One bowl would somehow prefer Tennessee to Florida or Wisconsin to Illinois.

I would say that Illinois and Florida have had very similar seasons this year, the primary difference in schedule being that Florida played SEC teams while Illinois played Big 10 teams, and one top 5 Big 12 team. I would argue that Illinois did beat the toughest team they played this year, and I don't mean that as a slight against Missouri. I don't think Missouri was as good then as they are right now. If the matchup does occur, it should be one of the more evenly matched bowl games of the year.

I'd say, at this point, the teams that could build a legitimate argument for a spot in the BCS championship (not that they necessarily have one now) are: 1. LSU - duh 2. Kansas - If they win out, they are the only undefeated "big 6" team. That alone is a convincing enough argument to at least give them a shot. 3. Missouri - If they win out, they'd be 3-1 vs. the top 30, possibly with a win against a top 10 team (depending on how far Kansas falls after a loss). Oklahoma loss last night actually hurts their argument a bit, but still in position to grab a bid with 2 wins. 4. West Virginia - Dropped a game in conference, but who hasn't? The best of a competitive Big East, if they win next week. 5. Ohio State - Dropped only one close game, and no other game has really been close, certainly not within a TD. If the loss came earlier, they'd probably be in a better spot than Missouri at this point, but 3-4-5-6 are basically identical. Early end of season is likely only going to help them, as they can now sit and wait for the dominoes to fall. 6. Arizona State - How quickly they were forgotten after the loss to Oregon, but they are still in position to win a very tough Pac-10, and have only dropped the one game. 7. Georgia - Really only can build an argument if they win the SEC championship, which they really aren't even in a position to participate in, but they are arguably the second-best SEC team, and could lay claim to the best were they to beat LSU. 8. Oklahoma - Last night's loss was hugely disappointing, as that makes 2 games they really should have won, one that they were never in the game until the last minute. However, they can still win the Big XII championship, and as such, can leapfrog Georgia should they not participate in the SEC championship. 9. Virginia Tech - Looked awful against LSU in the beginning of the year, but becoming the clear best team in the ACC, given a down league. As of right now, it looks as if the 10 BCS slots will go to: Ohio State (clinched) - won Big 10 LSU - leads SEC Arizona State - Leads Pac-10 West Virginia - Leads Big East Virginia Tech - ACC rep, tied for lead, highest rank Kansas - Leads Big XII Georgia/Florida - SEC At-Large Missouri - Big XII At-Large USC - Pac-10 At-Large BC/Virginia - ACC At-Large

So, if Michigan would have won and earned the BCS bid, the Big Ten would have looked better? Or was it the Illinois/Northwestern blowout that made a difference in your opinion this week?

There's still an outside chance Illinois gets to a BCS bowl game. /delusional

FG to make it 38-14, which should just about do it for the 1st string offense.

Heh, that was about the most obvious pass interference penalty I've ever seen. The DB basically tackled the receiver. EDIT: -INI

Ahh, crap. Spoke too soon.

I hope this is Juice turning the corner with his passing, and not taking advantage of a bad defensive effort. Illinois with a decent passing game is really good.

Yeah, in Hawaii. Not a bad road trip for a team to take, especially with the weather like it is right now in Illinois. EDIT: My biggest concern is that Illinois doesn't have anyone that can score, consistently.

You mean that 8 point beatdown of Northeastern at home didn't inspire confidence?

Stupid Iowa.

Crazy as it sounds, I'd say Illinois has just as good a resume as Florida. Not that they're as good of a team, but the resume is strikingly similar.

I have a hard time believing any Big Ten game is a mismatch that doesn't involve Minnesota. Illini back in the polls at #20, should actually make the BCS standings. Actually, 5 Big Ten teams could make the top 25 BCS standings, depending on Harris and computer ratings of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State. Of course, they could be 21-25.

Yep, that was a 16 play, 48 yard drive.

This is possibly the most ridiculous drive I've ever seen.

Make that 10 for 40.

An all-rushing drive, 9 plays for 30 yards. :P

I'm going to wager a guess that the Illini have never been more popular on this board as they are right now. I'm sure they'll find some way to get back into everyone's bad graces soon enough.

Don't want to speak too soon, but if the Illini magically hold on today, that Iowa game really hurts.

I really don't blame OSU for their strategy here. You make Juice throw to beat you.