I just had a long-winded and overly-worded response to this that was wiped out due to board glitch. It was hysterical also. You would have died.

Short summary:
I'd like NIU's chances on offense. Illinois defense is crumbling and NIU has a dominant run game that has really come around. They have shown the ability to throw some when needed also.

I'd be concerened about NIU's defense though, I personally do not trust their secondary right now.

Illinois would be favored by about a FG at Wrigley vs. NIU this weekend.

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Huh? You're confusing the hell out of me.

You just got done arguing that everybody in America thinks that NIU is a better team. So, why the hell would UofI be favored on a neutral field?

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Well, I'm not a gambling expert, but I believe the point spread has nothing to do with the expected outcome of the game, right?

They were favored by 7 in Champaign earlier this year, and isn't it a standard 3 point bump for home field? So there is 3 right off the top. Again, NIU is on a long winning streak now, and Illinois has lost 2 in a row including last week's flop. Also - I going to make the "wild assumption" that Illinois has a larger following amongst the betting public than NIU, so that usually inflates a spread toward that team as well. But you're right, it may be closer to a pick'em.

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Even though Illinois is actually playing Northwestern, Mike North loves NIU and take the points.

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In an odd twist, the bookie priest really likes Illinois.

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Not exactly. Over the long haul, there is no better predictor of outcomes than the spread over time. Obviously, in any individual game that might not hold true. Whether that's because the spreads are accurate for the sake of accuracy, or because of the wisdom of crowds in determining the outcome (chicken-and-egg problem).

I do not know what the spread would be, but my guess is also Illinois -3 on a neutral field right now. The numbers the books use don't change that much after one bad loss, or one good win (in fact, that's how they make a lot of their money--by people overvaluing one or two recent events).

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Fire Phil Emery

Great play by Scheelhaase there. He's having a solid game.

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Return coverage kills this team. It lost them the Minnesota game and it's killing them tonight.

Plus, they have no return game either.

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The refs have missed two 15-yd penalties in a row against the Illini. In reality it only cost Fresno 2 pts., but still.

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There have been bad calls all night on both sides. Missed personal fouls on Illini. That weird play where the Fresno guy clearly went out of bounds, was reviewed, and upheld. Bad all night.

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Agree on that.

This game just has a "weird feel" to it, doesn't it? Not sure if it's just because it's a late Friday night game or what. Or maybe it was the fact that the Illini were literally forced to walk through the crowd to enter the field. That's kinda weird every time.

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Illinois doesn't have a good Zook-history of winning close games late.

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This field is a joke. It's worse than Soldier Field. Way worse.

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That last call made up for all those. Awful call - you have to let them play the game.

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I was saying that earlier in another thread. It's terrible. What is the excuse - do they play state HS playoff games on this too?

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is this still going on? what network?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

They better put 3:22 back on the clock.

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espn2.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

No way he got that.

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thank u.

check that.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

He barely got to the line of scrimmage.

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greaaat.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Illinois is getting robbed.

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Bull shit call.

wow. talk about bad field.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

That 4th down wasn't even close. I'm pissed.

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This is why you never let a mid-major ref team officiate an interconference game. This is complete bullshit.

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Fire Phil Emery

That injury was hard to watch.

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then they take him off the field and the cart bounces a couple times just to add extra ouch.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Illinois' D won the game twice for them but the refs didn't seem to like that. Joke.

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