The Massive Ten is answerable for two of the three high 25 showdowns on the faculty soccer schedule this weekend, and the primary of them comes when No. 1 Ohio State hits the street for a conflict with No. 17 Illinois. The Buckeyes’ excellent season is on the road in what’s, from a rankings perspective, their hardest check because the opener. On the opposite sideline, the Combating Illini may re-emerge as School Soccer Playoff contenders in the event that they pull off the upset.
Will probably be a battle of energy versus energy when the high-octane Illinois offense squares off towards Ohio State’s formidable protection. Veteran quarterback Luke Altmyer has Illinois cooking along with his scalding sizzling begin by which he accomplished 73.6% of his throws for 12 touchdowns with out an interception throughout six video games. It would take his finest effort to maneuver the ball with any semblance of consistency towards the Buckeyes, although, given they’ve but to permit an opponent to succeed in double digits on the scoreboard.
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This is among the greatest video games remaining on each groups’ schedules. Between the 2, just one extra ranked matchup lies forward earlier than the tip of the common season. The time is now to earn a resume-building victory earlier than the slate will get lighter.
Ohio State vs. Illinois: Must know
First Illibuck matchup since 2017: Ohio State and Illinois performed almost yearly for many of this collection’ prolonged historical past, which dates again to 1902. Massive Ten enlargement over the past decade and a half altered the standard rivalry, although, and the foes haven’t executed battle since 2017 when the Buckeyes received a 52-14 rout to increase their profitable streak over the Combating Illini to 9 video games. The groups play for the Illibuck, a carved picket turtle that serves because the second-oldest trophy within the Massive Ten.
The Matt Patricia impact: Ohio State’s first-year defensive coordinator is a famous person, and the numerous gamers who stepped into beginning roles for the primary time of their careers this season have executed nothing however rise to the event. Caden Curry leads the Massive Ten in tackles for loss and sacks, Caleb Downs stays one of many sport’s finest total gamers and quite a few different standouts emerged on what is thru six weeks probably the most impenetrable protection in faculty soccer. The Buckeyes have allowed two touchdowns all season; that’s an unbelievable actuality in Week 7.
Altmyer and Beatty amongst nationwide leaders: There are few one-two punches within the nation as unstoppable as Altmyer and huge receiver Hank Beatty. The previous boasts the perfect touchdown-to-interception ratio within the sport, and the latter is the one participant within the nation with a passing, dashing, receiving and punt return landing this season. Beatty has been every little thing Illinois wanted after it misplaced its high two receivers from a yr in the past, and the passing sport has thus not skipped a beat as certainly one of faculty soccer’s high assaults.
Bo is aware of: Bo Jackson — the Ohio State freshman working again, not the two-sport legend — is probably probably the most nice shock within the Buckeye program. James Peoples and CJ Donaldson projected to guide the backfield, but it surely has as a substitute been Jackson who emerged as the highest ballcarrier on this potent offense. His 360 yards offers him almost as a lot manufacturing as Peoples and Donaldson mixed regardless of dealing with solely about one-third of the crew’s carries. Jackson’s workload elevated within the final two video games, and he figures to once more be a focus of the scheme this week towards Illinois.
The place to look at Ohio State vs. Illinois stay
Date: Saturday, Oct. 11 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Gies Memorial Stadium — Champaign, Illinois
TV: Fox | Reside stream: Fubo (Attempt totally free)
Ohio State vs. Illinois prediction, picks
Unstoppable pressure, meet immovable object. This sport is all about whether or not Illinois’ offense may be the primary crew to search out any sort of success towards Ohio State. The Combating Illini have solely had one sport go below this 51.5-point whole, whereas the Buckeyes have solely gone over that mark as soon as. In case you belief Patricia to maintain his protection buzzing at its unfathomable degree, the below is the play. In case you belief Altmyer to search out the tip zone a time or two, over. A type of two wavered as soon as this season (Illinois scored simply 10 factors towards Indiana) whereas the opposite is as regular as they arrive, so I lean towards the Buckeyes controlling this and holding it on the lower-scoring aspect. Decide: Below 51.5
SportsLine’s confirmed laptop mannequin has simulated each Week 7 faculty soccer sport 10,000 instances. Go to SportsLine now to see all of the picks, all from the mannequin that’s 38-25 because the starting of final season on top-rated money-line and over/below picks.
