By Woodrow Carroll
The University if Illinois’ 19-17 defeat at Michigan Saturday, Nov. 19 had the look of a moral victory given the host Wolverines were 18-point favorites. However, it was a defeat never-the-less. The Illini, who looked to have a lock on the Big Ten West Division championship a few weeks back, will need plenty of help if they are they are to make it to the Big Ten championship game, Saturday, Dec. 3, in Indianapolis.
After beating Nebraska, October 29, Illinois was 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Conference. Three losses in a row since have changed the dynamic in Champaign. Now, for the Illini to reach the Big Ten championship game December 3, help is needed.
For starters, the Illini need to win at Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.That looks to be the easy part because the Wildcats are on a 10-game losing streak.
Illinois would needs for both Iowa and Purdue to falter. Both are 5-3 in the Big Ten and one game ahead of the Illini.
Wonderful timing! Illinois and Purdue will play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday with Purdue on the road at Indiana. Iowa will be host to Nebraska with a 3:p.m. start Iowa is master of its fate! A Hawkeyes’ victory and its on to the Big Ten championship game. Purdue, for its part, needs a victory and a Hawkeyes’ loss.
Take a look at Illinois’ 7-4 record. On the good side, Illinois beat all three non-conference foes, Wyoming, Virginia, and Chattanooga. The down side for the Illini is that Illinois lost to all three Big Ten East opponents, Indiana, Michigan State, and Michigan.
• Illinois, Northwestern and Northern Illinois each opened the season with a victory. Then things went sour, at least for Northwestern and Northern Illinois. Even with Illinois sporting a 7-4 record, the State’s three big time collegiate football programs are a combined 11-22 entering the weekend.
• Northern Illinois dropped a midweek Mid-American Conference (MAC) game to Miami, Ohio, 29-23, to fall to 3-8 overall and 2-5 in Conference. Once a feared foe to play at home, the Huskies have lost four straight conference games in DeKalb going back to last season. The Huskies, who came into the season as defending MAC champion and a strong favorite to repeat, will play host to Akron (1-9, 0-6) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26 to close out what has been an underwhelming season.
If you think weather has wreaked havoc on the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, take the case of MAC member Buffalo.
At the moment, Buffalo, the Bulls by nickname, could capture the MAC East championship and face West Division champion, Toledo, for the MAC championship, December 3, in Detroit.
Bad weather forced a postponement of the Saturday, Nov. 19 game, Akron at Buffalo.. Buffalo is scheduled to play host to Kent State Saturday, Nov. 26. Given the snow belt reputation, the scheduling of two home games this late in the season invites trouble.