Soxbadger

When's the last time you were even the best in the state you reside? (I kid, I kid) Not sure how good Wisconsin will be this year, a lot of question marks, but more talent than we have had in the past. Should be a good year, hopefully finish in the top 25.

I didnt really think Griese looked that much better than Grossman, seems the OL is doing a better job of not letting free players wreck our QB, and now that Olsen is playing its giving the QB another big target. When Griese floats a ball, I always just have to wonder, could Rex have done it slightly better.

Congrats to the Illini on a good win. Wisconsin did not deserve to win that game (although they could have) and really were lucky that Illinois did not get out to a much larger lead earlier. Defense played as poorly as expected and offense gave up critical turn overs during the later stage of the game that were pretty unnecessary (turn overs on early downs are bad). Wisconsin coaching seemed uninspired, Illinois did not even try and throw the ball yet Wisconsin never tried to force the issue. They kept forcing PJ hill up the middle when perhaps change of pace back like Brown or Landingham would have done better on the outside. The field goal miss hurt, Bielema chasing points turned out to be a non-issue. And most of the calls really did go Wisconsin's way. Good luck on the rest of the schedule.

I drafted Selvin Young in my league, so Ive had him all along. I just really need him to play this week.

I guess when you win 14 games in a row you would be shocked to lose to any team that is unranked, even if it is an away game? I think its going to be a close game, but that Wisconsin will win it. How is that incompatable statements? Where did I say that they couldnt hang in the game? I said I could see them putting up 30. That definitely is hanging in there and staying close. They will play the game, and if Wisconsin gets exposed and shown up, I will be the first one saying that they were not for real and that they just got some breaks. I just dont expect that will happen, but it may.

Um what are you highlighting? What is so crazy about that? Wisconsin is ranked in the top 5, maybe they havent played at the highest level, but Illinois is not even ranked. No one even discusses why if Illinois is so good (going to beat Wisconsin by 2 td's according to some), why they are not even ranked at all. Do you think that if Illinois wins this will be an upset? Do you think that if Illinois wins that students will try and rush the field? If the answer to either of these questions is "yes" then this should be a shocking win. Ah yes simpson's double negative talk strikes again. You have to read both negative's hence" I dont think that wisconsin Will win this game no questions asked. The first part is a negative modifier, hence my statement is translated as: I think that this game will be very close. Sorry for the confusion.

Baker doesnt know how to win, he is to laid back. Bonds is very competitive, probably why he didnt fit into Baker's friendly atmosphere.

Id just want Bonds to DH so that his body experiences less wear and tear. I would hope that exclusively playing DH would allow him to stay healthier and hit better. Hence why LF is just not a great option because every time he goes in the OF your risking an injury.

Id like Bonds, just dont really see a way that the White Sox can make it work, because his best value is as DH, and we have 2 guys fighting for that position (3 if you include Dye).

Dodd-40 Kucinich- 39 Hilldog and Obama- 37 All 4 I disagree with on Iraq, and there were no selections really hit my view on immigration.

Illinikrush, I dont even know where to begin, youve stretched my argument to parts that I never have even said. I said that I thought the game would be high scoring and that in the end Illinois would most likely not be able to stop Wisconsin as consistently as Wisconsin can stop Illinois. How the hell is that being a homer? That is just watching the games and having a feeling for what is going to go on. I feel that Wisconsin has one of the best offenses, and could score many more points, but most of the time they are just happy grinding it out and playing time of possession. You can disagree on Wisconsin being one of the top offense's, there is no problem with that, the season will play out, one of us will be right, and one of us will be wrong. The problem I have is that when you come in here and start trying to personally insult me and constantly misquote me to try and make my argument weaker, it is just annoying. I dont mind talking about football and really I dont think that Wisconsin will win this game no questions asked. I never said Wisconsin is a GREAT team, I said that they were deserving of the 5 ranking because they have done nothing to lose that ranking. By the end of the season if they still are undefeated they will have been a GREAT team regardless of how close these games were, because no one will care. If they are not a great team, then they will lose a few games to OSU, PSU, Michigan, Illinois, etc, and these games will show that Wisconsin was just beating on weaker teams. But at 5 games into the season, its impossible to really say any of those things, so I guess I just go based on this: Like it or not, the past does matter. Its not like this Illini team is not playing players from last year, or the year before. And its not like Wisconsin is playing a brand new team, the fact that Wisconsin has consistently won more games and played in more pressure situations will help them on Saturday. Experience does matter, hence why all things being equal I would take the program who over the last 5 years has been head and shoulders better, who was ranked in the top 10 to start the season, who hasnt lost in almost a year. I guess those are my homer reasons as to why I think that Wisconsin will win in a close one. /lol And I said that about Zook to show that he agrees that Illinois should not be favored. And you keep harping on why Wisconsin must be bad because they arent favored, when even your coach disagrees with that statement. Jenks, I think even more important for Illinois is to run WR screen to Benn and other plays that get your most talented players into open space. Against MSU, Wisconsin put on the worst tackling performance that I have ever seen, and it has happened in other games where a LB has had to run down a RB because of blown tackles in the secondary. Wisconsin does not play press coverage, they give generally 10 yards, if they play this way against Illinois it is going to be a long day on defense. Wisconsin has not really seen the option this year, I always have hated it as a fan because I used to dislike Nebraska, but I also know that its pretty tough to stop. Wisconsin has shown little discipline, so that is some what scary. Wisconsin has faster LB's than PSU, but they are not as strong or polished, so not sure whether thats a good thing or bad thing. What I would love to see out of Wisconsin (and they wont) is for them to come out in a 4-6, with cb's pressed and a lb or safety shading Benn. I would want to force Illinois to beat Wisconsin through the air, especially down field.

Here are my 2 posts, before you came in and started to write your own argument for me. Notice I never once say "Illinois defense", you just keep creating that argument. Im not going to stoop to personal insults, because I dont think thats necessary. http://blogs.jsonline.com/badgers/archive/...e-underdog.aspx I guess I share good company then: So yes Ron Zook and I are huge Wisconsin homer's because both of us agree that Wisconsin should be favored, and should win this game. Yes it is possible that Illinois will win, but I never said otherwise. In every one of my posts I have stated the same thing, I think it will be close but that Illinois will not be able to stop Wisconsin with as much consistency as Wisconsin will stop Illinois. That is so far fetched, that your own coach believes it. This thread is a joke, and shows why many fans believe that Illini are unbearable when it comes to talking about sports. Most of you guys I respect and really enjoy talking with, but when it comes to the Illini it immediately is an insult or something about how the other person is ignorant, etc etc. A lot of times your points would be heard better if you didnt resort to that type of stuff, its not like anywhere Ive disresected Illinois. I said that they might score 30, that seems like a pretty big compliment to a team that prior to this year was not beating anyone. /shrugs

You know what, your right. Because they have not fully clicked, yet still have won every game, they are going to get exposed. There is no possible way that as the season progresses that our 2 new starting safeties will begin to play better, and that our new starting QB will start to read defense's better and hit more open receivers. Wisconsin is not even one of the top 25 teams in the nation, who cares that they have not been beaten in 14 games, thats just all luck. You know what, Id rather be 5-0 and not be one of the best teams in the nation compared to all the other great teams in the nation that never struggle and never lose a game. The odd part is, of the pre-season top 10, only 3 teams did not lose in the first month: USC, LSU, and Wisconsin. But hey, every team always wins, there should be no respect given for 5-0. No respect for being able to give up -3 turn overs against Iowa and still win, give up more turn overs against MSU and still win. I dont get why Illinois, who has beaten no one outside of PSU (who has beaten no one this year) is all mighty, yet Wisconsin who has not even lost a game in almost a year, is one of the worst teams in college football. How is it possible to win 14 games in a row and not get any respect? Its not like Wisconsin is going to the horseshoe, or big house, or even playing Iowa who they never beat: 2002: 20-37 (Illinois lone win) 2003: 38-20 2004: 24-7 2005: 41-24 2006: 30-24 Wisconsin- 5-1 over that period, never being held to under 20 points. Wisconsin is: 51-19 over that stretch Illinois is: 17-46 If Illinois wins this game, it is one of the biggest victories in the last 5 years for them. If Wisconsin loses this game, it will ruin their season. Thats where the programs are, and while Illinois may win, there is really no reason to believe that they are even close to the same tier as Wisconsin. 5 games does not make a season.

Sorry I know that not all Illini fans are the same way, but it is just tiring. I never said anything against Illini beating PSU, except for, why is PSU a good team, and who have they beaten? They turned it over a bunch of times (5 maybe) and still were with in striking distance at the end of the game. Its not like Illinois has pounded every team they have played. Now Wisconsin comes in, who was ranked 6th pre-season versus PSU at 18, and there is no way Wisconsin can match up with Illinois? Its just unreal. Wisconsin is the 5th ranked team in the nation, Illinois is unranked. If Illinois wins, they will be rushing the field, acting like its the biggest thing ever. If Wisconsin wins, it merely means that our season is not ruined. I guess thats the basic point, is that you can talk all the trash in the world, but at the end of the day Wisconsin is supposed to win this game and it would be a huge disappointment if they dont. Illinios may win, but to act like Wisconsin has no chance and is not one of the top 10 teams over the last 2 years is pretty ridiculous. All you can do is win the games that you play, and I believe that Wisconsin has won more games in the last 2-3 seasons than any other Big 10 team (if not only OSU is ahead). And I think that should earn your team respect. Hell I give Illinois more respect as a 4-1 unranked team than Illinois fans give Wisconsin as a 5-0 top 5 team. Its not like the experts couldnt rank Illinois higher and Wisconsin lower, there must be some reason why they keep thinking Wisconsin is pretty good. And the line is the way it is because Wisconsin has not covered 1 time this entire year, so Las Vegas is trying to entice betting on the Badger side.

Monday: How I met your mother, Heroes, Rules of Engagement Tuesday: House Weds: Lost (eventually), Thursday: Survivor, CSI, ER Those are the top, How I Met Your Mother is the becoming the next friends.

Wisconsin is one of the top 5 teams in the country until proven otherwise. They have not lost a game since last year at Michigan. I do not know what else they can do except win games. I dont see in the standings "style points" and plenty of those teams that are generally stylish, lost this week. When you look at the top 10, how many teams are still there from week 1? Its around 50%. Id rather be disrespected by a fan group that has 1 loss, than have 1 loss. /shrugs You attacked 2 specific points? You said Illinois does not give up a lot of points, I showed how in almost every game they gave up more than the average to the other team. You said Wisconsin does not have a high powered offense, I asked when was the last time a team outscored them this year. Isnt that the point of winning football games, not to put up tons of yards and lose. But to win? I really thought thats what football was about, but when you talk to Illini fans it seems that: All winning is luck, the only reason Illini are not 12-0 each season is that they dont have the luck of OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin. 12-0 is the luckiest thing ever, nothing about skill. Hopefully Wisconsin brought their magic horse shoe, because they sure dont have talented players.

Who said that? The only person here who has said anything like that is whitesoxfan101 a perceived Illini fan who said that Wisconsin is a fraud at 5, eventhough they have the longest winning streak in the nation. I guess my question is, what else can you do besides win the games that are in front of you? No one has said that Wisconsin wont give up a lot of points to Illinios, all Im saying is that the reason I dont think Illinois will win is that they will give up to many points to Wisconsin. Donovan has not thrown for a lot of yards, but his passer rating is outstanding 3rd in the Big 10 in rating. As for my teams problems, what is your deal? One of your fans attacked Wisconsin as a fraud and started spouting nonsense. I merely stood up for my team saying that I think Illinois has given up a few points in its game, and I think that Wisconsin will have a better time scoring than Penn State, and every Illini fan has a little hissy fit? The game is going to be played on Saturday, I have no worry that if Wisconsin needs to score it will score. And not exactly sure how I didnt point out a weakness, I said Illinois might score 30. Wisconsin was one of the better defenses last year, but I am realistic on how they are going to play this year. This year's defense cant tackle, and is far to willing to let teams beat them under neath. If Wisconsin lets Illinois run WR screens to Benn, underneath stuff to Mendenhall, it may be a long day. Wisconsin lb's are faster than PSU, but safeties lack discipline and tend to over pursue. Failure of one tackler often leads to big plays in a scheme that is built to be bend but do not break. Offense is often uninspired. Does not feel urgency until later in the game or after defense has given up big play. Does not put other team away, leaves game to close. Often fails on short yardage plays that should be automatic. Zach Brown will back up PJ Hill not Lance Smith. Donovan locks onto Swann cause they are best friends often overlooking more open receivers (Jefferson most specifically). Offense lacks WR depth, best player is Travis Beckum TE/WR hybrid. PJ Hill can be slow to the hole, a faster quicker lb corps some times can frustrate him. Does not hit the hole with power on every down. There, now we can go back to why every time anyone else in the Big 10 wins its luck, and how Illinois is the best college team in football and how dare I question their defense's ability to stop Wisconsin.

Okay you got me, the fumble recovery is not really the defense's fault, the punt return is. I consider special teams coverage part of your defense. So just to make my argument fairer towards the Illini (not that I really think I need to my statement originally was "Illinois really has given up a good amount of points in almost every game." 20 points imo is a good amount of points to a team like Syracuse or PSU. 30 points imo is a good amount of points to MO. If you want to argue thats not a good amount of points and that its far fetched to believe that Wisconsin could put up 30+ if Illinios scores 30, then feel free. I never even said defense, it was one of your fellow Illini. Hmm reading is fundamental. (Got a little confusing in the middle, I deleted a bunch of junk)

And so if I add in plays that Wisconsin should have made because of poor reads by the QB, can we change the score? When you score points, you dont need to score more points. Thats what people dont seem to understand about programs like OSU. If they have a lead, they dont play the same way that they might have before because they want to shorten the game because at the end all that matters is the W. Wisconsin gave up 34 to MSU, plenty of that were on a few plays with horrible tackles. If those plays dont count, then yesterday is a blow out. But everything does count, and Wisconsin's special teams is going to be playing against the Illini, as well as their defense. So I dont see how that is irrelevant to a discussion about how many points Illinois has given up. If anything special teams is one of the most important aspects of giving up points, because of field position. And you cant just discount bad turn overs by the offense either, that put the defense in a poor place.

Did I say that they didnt?

What are you talking about? Unlike you Ive actually watched every Illini game: MO: 40 points (Second highest scoring output for MO, scored less against 2 non BCS schools) Syracuse: 20 points (Second highest scoring output for Syracuse, scored 0 against Iowa) Penn State: 20 points (Only scored 14 against Michigan, other games have been against very poor teams) So in your 1 other division 1 game you gave up 14, so I count: 1 good defensive performance and 3 performances where you let the other team score more than their average. But I forgot, you probably count 20 against PSU, 20 against Syracuse, and 40 against MO as good defensive performances? (EDIT) Where have I said anything about Illinois not scoring? I merely said that Illinois defense isnt anything to write home about. Nice straw man.

Wisconsin has the longest streak at 14 games. I think you are not considering OSU losing to Florida, which was like 5 games ago lol Maybe longest regular season streak is OSU?

Last year in Madison was a 1 half aberration. As for better opponents I think that needs to be played out, PSU and MSU are going to be about equal when it all plays out, and teams like Iowa, etc play up for Wisconsin, beating a top 10 team is a make or break game, so generally Wisconsin is seeing teams play at their peak. Its not that I dont think Illinois is talented, I just dont see them being as talented as Wisconsin. Penn State was ranked high, but why? It was nothing more than the belief that Morelli would take the next step with the defense and that they would therefore be a potential Big 10 contender. Morelli could have won that game, he made costly mistakes at in opportune times. I think Wisconsin is a bad match up for Illinois because Wisconsin has one of the the most high powered offense's in the nation and Illinois really has given up a good amount of points in almost every game.

I would be really shocked if Illinois wins. I can see them putting up 30 points, but I really dont see how Illinois can stop Wisconsin from putting up 40 in that scenario. The reason that Wisconsin plays close games is that they play ball control and run the ball. They dont go out there and just start airing it out trying to put up a huge lead. But then again I guess its cool to be disrespectful to the team with the longest winning streak in the nation? Because thats just luck right? Its not about being good winning 14 games in a row, its all about being lucky. College football is about winning every game, its not about style points, its not about how it gets done, its about at the end of the day still being undefeated. In each of the games this season Wisconsin has walked onto the field as the more talented team, and in each game they have walked off the field with a victory. Call me old fashioned, but last I checked Wisconsin was 5-0

I dont know if anyone else has RCN in Chicago, but I was looking at the guide and all of a sudden I have Big Ten Network. Coincidentally I sent one of those Big 10 Network request forms today, but I have to beleive thats just random.