The #25 ranked Michigan Wolverines take their show on the road for only the second time this year. Back in August, we all dreamed of an undefeated team heading into Champaign with nothing but National Championships ringing in our heads. That dream died early as our Wolverines opened the year with a embarrassing lost to a team from the "hills" and a pretty good Oregon team.
Since then the boys have turned the ship around putting 5 wins in a row and their dreams of National Championships have turned to a Big Ten Championship and a win over "The Sweater Vest". Mike Hart has been the Big Ten Player of the year and is running in the top 3 on most Heisman trackers. The defense has showed up and put it's most complete game of the season together last week in a blowout against Purdon't. The offensive with maybe the most dangerous weapons in the country finally got their act together and put up some points on the the Boilermakers.
The top 25 ranked Fighting Illini found themselves in a trap game on the road at Iowa last week and laid a 6 point egg to Iowa's 10. Illinois has a mobile QB that is a quick and slippery as he name implies (Juice) and they like to run the spread. The problem is Juice can't hit the ocean from the beach and would rather run then throw. They also have a punishing back named Rashard Mendenhall that has been running through Big Ten and preseason defenses.
Their lack of a passing game makes them one dimensional and easier for Michigan Defensive Coordinator Ron English to plan against.
You will hear on every college studio show that Michigan struggles against the spread and mobile QB's. That's true, but QB's that both can pass and run. I am more concerned about this being a night game in Champaign where the "fighting Zooks" are looking for some national exposure on their turn around. The place will be Jumping! Zook has circled this game and been pointing to it all year. He just got a 3 year extension to his contract (shouldn't they have waited until after the Michigan game or after the road trip to Columbus?) and will put it all on the line for a win on ABC with the nation watching.
Sing "Hail to the Victors" if:
- Hart starts and is healthy all game
- Hart goes for 100+ yards
- Henne plays like he did against Purdue
- The defense makes Juice a delicious drink and not a 2008 Heisman candidate
- We stop the run and the QB shuffle begins
- Mike DeBoring opens up the play book and actually calls plays people don't expect
Open the bar and start drinking if:
- The spread continues to confuse the Michigan defense and all the Michigan coaches
- Mike Hart is in street clothes
- We have a non-scholarship running back handling most of the carries
- Rashard looks like Mike Hart and runs for 150 yards
- Chad and Mario are not on the same page
"If I were a betting man":
Michigan 31 Illinois 20
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