Spartan
CFB BOWL Game of Year!
#278 Illinois -1.5
**CFB Bowl Game of the Year**
Nothing is a lock guys and those of you who have been with me for any length of time know I loathe and despise that word. I will say my eyes lit up when I saw this match up posted. Then when the number was published, I felt like a kid at Christmas. I pumped the brakes and did my due diligence. Thankfully it checked all the boxes and it is full steam ahead. I know when Ryan Walters left Missouri to take over as DC as Illinois it was their gain and Mizzou's loss. I hear people rave about Barry Odom and what a sharp DC he was, or is. No discredit to Odom but Walters has it on him. He has it on most. I do not expect Illinois to hold onto him long. Anyway, he built up the Illinois defense in pretty short order. Now they get to have a month to game plan for Mike Leach and his air raid offense. And we all know Leach never has and likely never will deviate from what he likes to do on offense. And his past bowl history does nothing to inspire confidence. No, the Illini will not light up the scoreboard here. But they won't have to. I expect Illinois to for the most part throttle that Bulldogs offense. I also have heard from voices I trust that the locker room was getting away from Leach as the season wound down. I am skeptical just how motivated this Bulldog team will be. On the flip side by all accou¡nts Illinois is embracing this opportunity. We have all seen how important that is once the things kick off. Some teams just sleep walk through these things. Some come out all jacked up but once they are hit in the mouth have no real stomach for a fight. Unless Illinois just is snake bit by turnovers they should take care of business here for us. I am going with them as my one & only bowl game of the year.
Many sincere thanks as always guys. Best of luck and let's get 2023 off to a flying start. Steve
ADDED NOTE: Obviously a horrible situation with Mike Leach. Just when you think you've seen it all. I am staying with the release guys. I have given it thought and obviously I felt strongly enough about the game to tag it as I did. Nobody knows for certain how this will affect the Bulldogs actual play on the field. It simply is not something that makes me move off the game. That might strike some as cold hearted. Not my intent at all. I feel terribly for Coach Leach and the family. But clearly I felt it was necessary to come on here with a statement. Take care. Steve
AND ADDED NOTE PART 2: Might be the, no, make that the strangest Bowl I have ever had a large wager on. I personally am not buying out of it. Now Ryan Walters gets the head coaching job at Purdue. While I am happy for him as he has earned, it it adds another wrinkle to this thing. But this is still his defense guys. They will not change the strongest part of their entire team. No reason. But I just wanted to emphasize once again I am staying with this all the way.
