Hard to believe Year 2 of the Lovie Smith Experiment only includes wins over Ball State and Western Kentucky by a combined 16 points. (Smith's 2017 salary: $4 million.)
I actually have no problem with Illinois. I love the Illibuck. I like their color scheme, as obnoxious as it is. I even respect the city of Champaign. I'm not even trying to have a go; I'd rather save my Loko mana for next Saturday.
But Illini elders left the yard by hiring Smith. What was the plan!?
- Hire Lovie
- ????????
- Lose the Super Bowl
Granted, Smith was an upgrade on psychopathic Tim Beckman. But why not instead go out and find a program builder. Go out and find Tom Herman, Matt Campbell or Willie Taggart. Why settle for a guy that hadn't collegiately coached in 20 years?
Illinois has one good player on offense: Ricky Smalling. I'd take him on the Browns tomorrow. Unfortunately for Illini fans, Smalling won't be enough to pull an upset for the ages on this day.
Ron Zook ain't walking down that ramp, either.
| TIME (ET) | GAME | FAVORITE | CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | #24 MICHIGAN at #5 WISCONSIN | UW (-7½) | FOX |
| 12:00 | BUM SQUAD at #1 ALABAMA | BAMA (OFF) | SECN |
| 12:00 | BUM SQUAD at #6 AUBURN | AUB (-36½) | ESPN2 |
| 12:00 | VIRGINIA at #3 MIAMI | CANES (-19) | ABC |
| 12:00 | #12 TEXAS CHRISTIAN at TEXAS TECH | TCU (-6½) | FS1 |
| 12:00 | #15 CENTRAL FLORIDA at TEMPLE | UCF (-13½) | ESPNU |
| 12:00 | MINNESOTA at #23 NORTHWESTERN | NU (-7) | – |
| 12:00 | TEXAS at WEST VIRGINIA | WVU (-3½) | ESPN |
| 12:00 | THE CITADEL at #2 CLEMSON | CLEM (OFF) | ACCNE |
| 3:30 | #4 OKLAHOMA at KANSAS | OU (-37) | ESPN |
| 3:30 | KENTUCKY at #7 GEORGIA | UGA (-21½) | CBS |
| 3:30 | NAVY at #8 NOTRE DAME | ND (-17½) | NBC |
| 3:30 | KANSAS STATE at #13 OKLAHOMA STATE | OSU (-37) | ESPN2 |
| 4:00 | NEBRASKA at #10 PENN STATE | PSU (-27) | FS1 |
| 4:00 | MARYLAND at #17 MICHIGAN STATE | MSU (-16½) | FOX |
| 7:00 | #20 LOUISIANA STATE at TENNESSEE | LSU (-16) | ESPN |
| 8:00 | UCLA at #11 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | USC (-16) | ABC |
| 8:00 | CALIFORNIA at #22 STANFORD | STAN (-15½) | FOX |
Shoutout to Alabama, Clemson, and Auburn for being too scared to take a loss a week before the regular season finale. Cowards.
Sure, Ohio State plays Illinois, but that's a scheduling quirk of the Big Ten. Two years ago, the Buckeyes lost to Michigan State on this weekend.
Aside from that, I like Michigan playing before Ohio State. The Buckeyes will know what's at stake when they kick off.
Special salute to the seniors and those walking with them on their last day in the Shoe (Happy Jamarco, it seems we hardly knew ye! We will toast once again in Valhalla.)
Word of the Day: Shogun.
THE ILLINOIS DOSSIER. Here's everything you need to know about today's opponents, the Brawlin' Illini of Illinois:
Be sure to follow 11W, Dan Hope, Andrew Lind, and James Grega on Twitter for updates live from the Horseshoe.
#PERTINENTSOPRANOS. Illini got in deep trying to finance benefits for Lovie Smith. Now they're left holding a short sack thinking it's okay. Unfortunately, that's now how this racket works. IT'S A BUST OUT.
PROPHECY: 56-0, local team.
THOSE WMDs. Policeman's bear hug on suicide bomber prevents more deaths... Amazon Pickup near campus solves doorstep theft issue... Exfiltration of personal data by session-replay scripts... Cheesecake Factory: postmodern design hellscape... da Vinci painting sells for $450M.
