October 28th, 2010 at 2:14 PM ^
They announce times either 12 days before or 6 days before.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
I bet they are waiting for Saturday's result. If we win, it will be a 3:30 kickoff.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
Rittenberg said in one of his mailbags this week that ABC is waiting until after this weeks games to determine their game. Based on the results, they will select (I think he said on Sunday) and then ESPN and the B10 network will have their picks.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
Ira and Sam brought this up and they said that because of the weekend lineup of games were pretty weak. Espn has exercised their right to hold off on announcing game times to see the outcome of each game. Then determine game times from there
October 28th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
It's a noon start... work at 5:30
October 28th, 2010 at 2:33 PM ^
fingers crossed for a 3:30 start (probably only time you'll ever hear me say this), I have something going on until 2pm.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:36 PM ^
I don't care about the time for a change. I'm flying up next week to see a game live for the first time in years. Can't wait.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
I'm stoked! Big House, here I come! Maybe I can bring some of my 1997 national championship magic with me . . .
October 28th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
Agreed. I want to get in a round of golf before the game.
October 28th, 2010 at 5:28 PM ^
Although cell phone/radio/clubhouse TV silence is pretty effective, and I don't have to watch any commercials on DVR.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
A 3:30 start likely means we beat PSU.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
It's probably not worth its own post, but what do you guys think our chances are of winning that game? I thought we'd wipe the floor with Illinois, until last weekend when they bitchslapped Indiana. As of right now I don't think we have much of a chance.
Did anyone watch the Illinois/Indiana game that can give me a reason for optimism?
October 28th, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
Not much of chance seems more than a little strong. They have clearly played better than any of us expected the last sveral weeks, but I think we have a lot more than not much of a chance.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
October 28th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
Yes, Illinois beat Indiana pretty convincingly while we just got by, but its not as simple as that when it comes to our game. I won't pretend to be an expert on Illinois, but I believe their QB doesn't like to go downfield much and often won't take shots even when they are there. I'm not talking long bombs either, I mean the digs and posts and corner routes often get over looked for the crossing routes. Yes I realize nothing involving the ball traveling through the air is a strength for our defense, but I believe we can get some stops with their mindset.
What does worry me is how Illinois was able to keep MSU's running game in check. Denard is a whole different animal, but their run D is sound. That may be the key to they game.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:55 PM ^
I didn't watch the game, but I noticed in the stat line that Illinois returned two pick sixes and ended up with less than 300 yards of offense on 12 posessions. We had 574 yards on 12 posessions. Their defense vs ours was night-and-day, but so was their offense.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:05 PM ^
Illinois blew out Indiana, but not in a way that's likely to be repeated. Scheelhaase threw for 123 yards passing and 2 TDs. Illinois only had 289 yards of total offense. They scored twice on interception returns and got 5 turnovers in the game altogether. Our offense is totally different than Indiana's because we are not totally incapable of running the ball. That is actually our strong suit. Yes, Illinois does some things well on defense...but certainly not to the point of saying we have "no chance." I think we match up pretty well in this game. It seems Illinois plays much different away from Champaign also. They hung in with OSU at home but got thoroughly shut down at MSU (despite State being flat early on following their game against us in a "let down" game).
October 28th, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
#1:
#2: No Juice
#3: Um, we are 5-2 and they are 4-3.
#4: They put up 6 points against MSU - we put up significantly more.
Seriously, though, if we are going to look at EVERY opponent that is not Purdue and say "I don't think we have much of a chance," then that is a sad commentary on the state of our team. Is this game the gimme we thought it was? No. Is it winnable (i.e. can we beat a team that only scored 6 points on MSU)? 100%, and in fact, I would still favor us, even if slightly.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
It would make a great Christmas Card
October 28th, 2010 at 3:08 PM ^
Edit: Double post - my bad.
Here is a picture of Denard for your troubles:
October 28th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
Illinois @ Michigan
Northwestern @ Penn State
Iowa @ Indiana
Wisconsin @ Purdue
Minnesota @ MSU
...I don't see how we're not the 3:30 game. If we could have night games now, we would be at 8.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
But if Sparty is still perfect and we stumble, then the bigger game nationally becomes the Minnesota/MSU game. God, it sucks saying that.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^
Sparty will not still be perfect and we will not stumble. I see the MSU Minnesota game being a noon BTN game.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^
Not sure I agree. IF we win, we would be a borderline top 25 team (we are already so in the Coaches Poll) playing an unranked, so-so team. But, the same can be said of the Wisco game (Wisco is better than us but Purdue is worse the Illinois), and the MSU game (MSU is (*puke*) better than us but Minny is worse than Illinois), and the Iowa game (Iowa is better than us and Indiana is worse than Illinois).
If we lose this week, forget about it - two crappy to average teams squaring off - not worthy of 3:30 in the networks opinion.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^
might be our toughest one to compete with (which obviously is not saying very much) if anything at all..
October 28th, 2010 at 6:01 PM ^
that means we crushed PSU. I won't be able to watch then since in Chicago for a 4:00 wedding. I'll take the later time if it means a victory this weekend. Go blue !!!!!
October 28th, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
but it will end with Michigan being 7-2
October 28th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
I've been waiting for this to be announced as well. I don't care what time the kick is, but I have two different buddies on hold, and the time determines which one of them can go. Don't usually find myself in this situation, and of course the one time I do, they decide to invoke the "...or 6 days" part of that rule.
Damn you, Angry Michigan Schedule Hating God....
October 28th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
It is pretty much guaranteed it will be dark by 5:30pm for Illinois. I know they have brought in portable lights for other games, but this was mostly for the "twilight" hours, correct? I know the permanent lights are coming, but I don't think they have been installed as of yet.
I know in past games the portable lights did not offer the best illumination on the field and often created weird shadows and such. Will this have an affect on game time?
For the record I would be in favor of a noon kick off. My three hour each way drive makes 3:30pm games killer since I like to be tailgating as early as possible!
October 28th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
I'm a little surprised they aren't installing the permanent lights as we speak, given the 3-week break between the Iowa and Illinois games. Maybe just unable to get on the installer's schedule? They'll have 3 weeks between the Wisconsin game and the Big Chill (which they planned to have them done in time for)... but why not do it before snow is a possibility? Who knows... perhaps it's something that's done rather quickly and they'll pop 'em in next week.
I recall a November Illinois game during the Moeller years that was a 3:30 start, ended in pitch dark, and until the 2008 Northwestern game was the absolute worst weather (cold, wind, wintry mix... mostly rain and ice) I've been at a game for. Point being... I guess those temporary lights will have to do, and they're probably a little better now than back in the 1990s.
October 28th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
I was there; two smallish banks of lights exactly where you'd expect on the roof.
October 29th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
Those were temporary, and are no longer there. I drive by the stadium every day en route to work.... the best thing about my drive to work, of course. :) I can report, however, that there is a crane at the stadium as I type this. It was lifting some small cage-looking thing to the roof on the east side.... perhaps something in prep for the permanent lights?
I'd expect permanent lights to be larger than what was at the Iowa game.
October 28th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^
October 28th, 2010 at 4:37 PM ^
and hope it's 3:30.
p.s. I am recruiting Goofy for deep safety.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:38 PM ^
I might just DVR both stations for 6 hours. Knowing my luck it'll be ESPN2 or something else.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
I will be in the stands for the first time since the '08 Utah game, coming from the West Coast. 3:30 start would sure help that mgojetlag.
October 28th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^
meteorite. Even NW has a good year once in a while. No worries. Go Blue !!!
October 28th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
would be announced either Saturday (probably after the games are played) or Monday.
October 31st, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
on ESPN (in case it hasn't been posted elsewhere).