Ohio State at Illinois

The public is swarming Ohio State in this one. Not so fast. The Illini are off a loss to Western Michigan, so how are they going to stay in the game vs. the Buckeyes? If you think last week they didn't have one eye looking to this game, then your missing something. Remember they beat Iowa two weaks ago, a team that just knocked off Penn State. So, expect that team, and more, to show up here. Don't underestimate how big a game this is for Illinois. They went to Columbus last year and won by a touchdown. The last time the Buckeyes came to Champagne, they were a whopping 24-point favorite vs. a 2-7 Illinois team. The Buckeyes barely got out alive 17-10. They won at Columbus 23-16 vs. an Illinois team that was 4-6 the time before. The Illini won in Columbus the two times before that, once as a double-digit dog. In the last three played in Champagne, the Buckeyes have not won by more than 7. It's simple... The Illini always get up bigger for this one than any other game. Speaking of looking ahead... After this one comes Ohio State's biggest game of the year vs. Michigan (records don't matter - this is one of the top rivalries in all of sports). After seeing the Illini mail it in vs W. Michigan, Ohio State sees an easy one here, but it won't be. I'll grab the Illini and the points.