The fighting Zookers at Cincinnati 12pm

[Mac4Lyfe]

Friday Afternoon College Football, November 27, 2009

12:00 P.M. ET from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on ABC

The Illinois Fighting Illini (3-7) vs. The #5 Cincinnati Bearcats (10-0)

Illinois Coach Ron Zook (44-51) vs. Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly (51-22)

The Fighting Illini QBs #7 Juice Williams SR 6-2 237 and Eddie McGee JR 6-4 211
vs.
Bearcat QBs #12 Zach Collaros JR 6-0 211 and #15 Tony Pike SR 6-6 211

Line: Cincinnati 20 1/2 Illinois Over 57

This is the 1st meeting between the Bearcats and the Illini.

Weather Forecast at Kickoff:
Temps in the 40s and Cloudy. West Winds 10-15 mph.

The Bearcats are 1 of 6 undefeated teams in the BCS race.




This is a tough one to cap. Illinois has been horrible the first part of the year but has shown some improvement. Their weakest position is in the secondary which falls into Cinci's strength in the passing game.

Illini overall has the same talent as Cinci but are snake bitten under Zook. The Zooker however is known for pulling signature wins out his ass. This game is their bowl. If they can upset Cinci, the season wouldn't be a total loss. I think Illini can smash Cinci in the mouth with their offensive line but have to limit drive killing sacks. Tony Pike is back but he could be rusty playing limited time and he may be pressured to perform.

Cinci's defense combined with Illini's offensive line I think will lead to plenty of offense. 20.5 points are too many for Cinci to cover here as this may become a shootout.

Prediction: Cinci 42, Illini 30. Illini +20.6 and the Over for me.

[whatdafuxup]

Not sure about this one. Could be all Cinci, but Illinois could also show up (probably not). The 57.5 seems too much

[Unchained]

Mac, very nice write-up. I have the Illini +21 myself.
Enjoy the games today and I hope all are winners for ya.

[RayzHELL]

Parlay Bet

Description

Risk

Win

Nov 27 03:30 PM EST - Football NCAA - 126 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes -13½ buying 4 points -195 for Game

Nov 27 12:00 PM EST - Football NCAA - 127 Illinois Fighting Illini +24½ buying 4 points -195 for Game

Nov 27 03:30 PM EST - Football NCAA - 129 Nebraska Cornhuskers -6½ buying 4 points -207 for Game

3 Team Parlay

277.70

669.58

Bet Slip Total

Risk

Win

277.70 USD

669.58 USD

[ezmoney]

Like Illini plus21 too!

Texas did not cover last nite, look for same here.

[aman86]

would love to take Illinois here, they've been keeping and winning some games as of late and Cincinnati hasn't quiet been blowing teams out with their high powered offense. i agree pike should have some rust but if he gets going he's going to want to prove why he was hyped so much earlier in the year. If juice is healthy I think this could be a somewhat close game. Illinois still has a talented team and I wouldn't be surprised if they win this outright. because i'm just not sold on Cincinnati's dominance on both sides of the field i'm going to at least make a medium sized play on Illinois

[SmackdownV]

Good call Mac.

Rivalry Game equals............Close game.

[BrownTown]

Good call Mac.

Rivalry Game equals............Close game.

Hey Smack ... would you mind defining the term RIVALRY for us? I could be wrong, but the 1st meeting b/w 2 schools might be just shy of a rivalry.

Just sayin ...

[diehardfan]

Hey Smack ... would you mind defining the term Rivalry for us? I could be wrong, but the 1st meeting b/w 2 schools might be just shy of a rivalry.

Just sayin ...

[BrownTown]

Far as the game ... see the WV game a few weeks ago. CU head coach rumors, the pressure of the unbeaten season, Pike playing his first game in weeks, sitting a hot QB ... boys all these factors play into the CU offense and defense playing with a stick in their ass.

They will win, but they won't be playing to win ... they will be playing not to lose.

How's that for a deep!
Take the points in this one fellas.

[SmackdownV]

Rivalry game for Ill.

Not for Cincy.

Ill. is the pick today.

The Juice will be loose.

[BigdaddyQH]

This is NOT a rivalry game for either team. Saying that is just flat ignorant. If they have never played, this can not be a rivalry. Go back to the WWE or wherever you came from. Illinois pulled a couple of upsets against some very weak Big 10 teams. Then they went back to basics and lost to Northwestern, at home. The fact is that their offense has scored 17 points or less 7 times this season. It will take more than a couple of wins against Big 10 teams who did not have winning records this year to convince me that Illinois can be remotely in this game. Still, 21 points is a lot, so this is a Pass.

[Rixsaw]

Good call Mac.

Rivalry Game equals............Close game.

This is not a rivalry game.

[BrownTown]

Yawn...are you Smack's brother?

[Mac4Lyfe]

Fighting Zookers went up 7 but let Cinci return the kickoff for an equalizing 7 but there's a flag on the field. Against Zook of course. Dam 7-7 but it's early. I still like the Illini here but they dam sure better not kick it to fast as hell Gilyard again.

Isn't it strange that Zook was a special teams coach yet his special teams always suck

[Mac4Lyfe]

Just like that Cinci is up 14-7... The only chance Illinois has is to pound the run IMO. The defense has to get a couple of stops.

[whatsgood5]

Didn't put any real $$$ on this, but I did put Cincy ML -1400 in a parlay with 'Bama ML for all my points. I did like Cincy -the points but didn't have the balls to play it...

[teaserpleaser]

cincy may be in the 40s by half

[Mac4Lyfe]

Zooker's have to get a stop. 4th and 1 here. I hope Cinci punts because Illini defense is horrible. Going for it.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Thank God the receiver dropped the pass. Let's go Illini. Let's get another TD here over Cinci's porous defense. Illini need to ram the ball down their throats and milk clock.

[whatsgood5]

This game is starting to get a little too close for my comfort level, need a stop here Cincy.

Over looks real good though.

[aman86]

over 30 2h?

[landers781]

I hit under 30.5

[whatsgood5]

I hit under 30.5

Me also GL

[aman86]

just seems like cinci is unstoppable especially when they start at the 40 every possession and illinois should connect for another 2, juice can make it happen they just have to keep throwing

[aman86]

didnt see a reason not to take the o30, could be covered by the end of the 3q, gl

[aman86]

good pick on the under guys, love the explainations

[Mac4Lyfe]

Prediction: Cinci 42, Illini 30. Illini +20.6 and the Over for me.

Final Score...

Cinci 49
Zookers 36

13 point victory. Plus the over cashes