Big Game Hunting: Illinois takes on Purdue in the game of the year in the Big Ten West

CHAMPAIGN — An electronic mail hit the inbox this week providing an inventory of odds to win the Large Ten championship. Ohio State and Michigan, tied atop the East, had been at 1-to-4 and 13-to-4, respectively. Illinois, alone in first place within the West, was at 14-to-1 — a longshot determine that claims all of it about how vastly totally different the divisions are perceived to be.

Not many anticipate the West winner — whether or not it’s Illinois or one of many three groups which are a recreation behind within the standings — to place up an actual struggle Dec. 3 within the convention title recreation in Indianapolis, however isn’t getting there an enormous deal in itself? After all it’s. Purdue (+6½) at No. 21 Illinois (11 a.m., ESPN2, 890-AM) isn’t setting the world on hearth like a possible conflict of unbeaten mega-rivals would when Michigan visits Ohio State on Nov. 26, nevertheless it’s the sport of the yr within the West. Not a rattling factor improper with that.

The pathway to Indy is fairly easy for the Illini (7-2, 4-2 Large Ten). In the event that they beat the Boilermakers, they’ll hold their division lead and — with two video games to go — personal tiebreakers over everyone on their heels. One other win at Michigan or at Northwestern is perhaps vital. The Boilermakers (5-4, 3-3) can seize the within monitor, although, and have lightweights Northwestern and Indiana left to play.

“Quite a lot of issues to play for this week,” Illini coach Bret Bielema mentioned.

Broader implications apart, merely getting the higher of Purdue for a change would hit the spot. Purdue has taken house the Cannon in 5 of the final six renditions of this rivalry collection and has a five-game successful streak at Memorial Stadium, the place it hasn’t misplaced since 2010. For these of you scoring at house, that was 4 Illinois coaches in the past.

Bielema’s second Illini squad boasts every kind of gaudy stats. Operating again Chase Brown leads the nation with 1,344 dashing yards; no different Energy 5 again has even 1,200. Defensively, the Illini are No. 1 within the nation in opposition to the cross and in complete yards and factors allowed. However the numbers paled in significance every week in the past when run-of-the-mill Michigan State got here to Champaign and gained 23-15. The Illini regarded like pretenders.

Purdue is available in with the Large Ten’s top-ranked passing assault, Aidan O’Connell the one quarterback averaging 300 yards by way of the air in league video games. A former walk-on who performed at Stevenson, O’Connell seems to be early and infrequently to former Deerfield standout Charlie Jones, who’s averaging 9.2 catches per recreation and has 9 landing grabs. Not so way back, the childhood buddies had been teammates on the Buffalo Grove Bisons.

So, what occurs? O’Connell and Jones aren’t in Buffalo Grove anymore. They’re up in opposition to a staff making an attempt to get to 4-0 in opposition to opponents it misplaced to in 2021, and it has a Cannon to steal. Illini, 27-20.

OTHER WEEK 11 PICKS

No. 20 Notre Dame (-15½) vs. Navy (11 a.m., Ch. 7, 780-AM): They meet in Baltimore for the primary time since 2008, when the Irish gained for the one time throughout an nearly incomprehensible four-game stretch in opposition to the Middies. This Navy staff is fairly hopeless in opposition to the cross, so Drew Pyne may really throw the ball round a bit for a change. Irish in a mismatch, 38-14.

Northwestern (+17½) at Minnesota (2:30 p.m., BTN, 720-AM): The Wildcats are on an eight-game shedding streak, their longest in 20 years. Does it even matter that Pat Fitzgerald is 8-6 in opposition to the Gophers? Or that the ’Cats had been respectable final weekend in a 21-7 loss to Ohio State? Gophs by 21.

Wisconsin (-1½) at Iowa (2:30 p.m., FS1): The Badgers have taken eight of the final 10 Heartland Trophy video games, however Iowa’s 24-3 win at Purdue final weekend was an eye-opener. The Hawkeyes’ turnaround continues, 20-14.

No. 9 Alabama (-11½) at No. 11 Ole Miss (2:30 p.m., Ch. 2): Is that this Crimson Tide staff, led by Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Younger, actually going to be Nick Saban’s first three-game loser since 2010? Put me down for a no. Tide, 31-21.

No. 1 Georgia (-16½) at Mississippi State (6 p.m., ESPN): The Bulldogs — Georgia’s — left a ridiculous variety of factors on the sector final weekend in opposition to Tennessee and lined anyway. Get it cleaned up, and no person can contact them. Bulldogs — Georgia’s — 38-17.

No. 4 TCU (+7) at No. 18 Texas (6:30 p.m., Ch. 7): Are the 9-0 Horned Frogs the category of the Large 12 or the worst unbeaten staff within the nation? One supposes it’s attainable they’re each. They haven’t been confronted by an offense like Texas’, although. Longhorns in a enjoyable one, 41-31.

My favourite favourite: No. 6 Oregon (-13½) vs. No. 25 Washington (6 p.m., Fox-32): Since getting obliterated by Georgia of their opener, the Geese have popped off for not less than 40 factors in eight straight video games. Make it 9.

My favourite underdog: No. 22 UCF (+1½) at No. 17 Tulane (2:30 p.m., ESPN2): Whether or not it’s John Rhys Plumlee or Mikey Keene at QB for the Knights, they’ve the Jimmys and Joes to get the job performed.

Final week: 2-6 straight up, 2-6 vs. the unfold. I ran stadium steps as penance, taking breaks solely to flog myself with a moist newspaper.

Season so far: 51-34 straight up, 41-44 vs. the unfold.