2008 Ohio State Buckeye Football Game 11: #11 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1) @ Illinois Fighting Illini (7-2, 3-2) at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL) Date: November 15th, 2008 TV: Big Ten Network Kick Off: 12:00 PM ET The Buckeyes are coming off an impressive win over then #25 Northwestern. Terrelle Pryor and Beanie Wells really shined in this victory. However we had trouble stop their QB (Kafka) when scrambling. This concerns me a bit, especially with what Juice did to us last year. Let's discuss this game.
I think Juice benefited from Mendenhall more than people realize. I don't see us having too much problem keeping Illinois from scoring more than 21. And I'm normally a worrier. As for our offense, I have no predictions. Illinois seems to have a strong secondary, so hopefully the o-line gets the job done and we can get Beanie some good carries.
Yeah but Illinois has another good back this year in Dufrene, who has the potential to be dangerous. He's no Mendenhall, but he could be a possible threat for Saturday's game. Also didn't he have that huge run against us last year, the one where it SHOULD have been a fumble near the goal line?
I think this will be an easy win for us. Our guys will be pissed after last year and OSU always avenges past losses. Just look at Iowa in 2005, PSU and Texas in 2006, Wisconsin in 2007 (for their losses in 03 and 04). Illinois has a pretty rowdy crowd though, but I expect them to be a little down after last week's shocker. Ohio State-31 Illinois-13
I also think a noon start time at Illinois helps us a ton. Our players won't have to sit around all day waiting for the game.
Nah. Kind of washes both ways, I think. Illinois wouldn't stand a chance even if a volcano erupted on the 30 yard line.
Just hope that we have some of our O line back and healthy. They played terrible against NW and we'll need them to give TP and Beanie some help.