Stolen as usual.....
Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) vs. Nebraska (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten)
Date | Time Friday, Nov. 6 | 7 p.m. CT
Location Champaign, Illinois (Gies Memorial Stadium) {DRIVE BACK FROM NEBRASKA, JUDGE JUDY!}
Tickets Limited Remain at FightingIllini.com {C'MON MAN!}
TV FOX
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network / SiriusXM (132/231)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After a walk-off win at Maryland, the Illinois football team is back home to host Nebraska on Friday night for Dads Day and "Hail to the Blue Out" at Gies Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) is riding a three-game winning streak into the primetime matchup, the second-longest active winning streak in the Big Ten. Only undefeated UCLA has won more consecutive Big Ten games than Illinois.
Limited tickets are available at fightingillini.com/tickets for Dads Day, a proud 100+-year Illinois tradition of the Dads Association. Dads Day began in 1920 and a "King Dad" will once again be crowned at Friday's game.
Illini fans are encouraged to wear blue, as the Illini host its first blue out under the lights. {OK. SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT}
Jack Kizer (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) have the the national television broadcast on FOX {AGAIN?!}. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the state-wide radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Kevin Mitchell (sideline).
Notes
Illini Host Nebraska for Dads Day on Friday Night
• Continuing the proud 100+-year Illinois tradition of the Dads Association, which began in 1920, Friday's game is marked as Dads Day, honoring the dads of all Fighting Illini. A "King Dad" will be crowned. {I HOPE I WIN THIS TIME!}
• Along with the annual Dads Day celebration, Illinois will host its first "Hail to the Blue Out."
• Illinois is on a three-game Big Ten winning streak after victories over Michigan State, Oregon, and Maryland. Only undefeated UCLA is on a longer winning streak in the Big Ten.
Gies Memorial Stadium
• Illinois is 15-4 at Gies Memorial Stadium over the last three seasons (2024-26).
• Illinois ranks 18th in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in home wins since 2024 (15).
Illinois Offense Notes {I QUESTION IF THEY REALLY UPDATE THESE AT THIS POINT}
• WR Collin Dixon is one of the top wide receivers in the nation:
» One of only five players in the nation to rank in the top 12 in receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, along with Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Malachi Toney (Miami), Umari Hatcher (Syracuse), and Easton Messer (FAU)
» Fourth in the nation in receiving touchdowns (10), behind Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Oregon State's Jesse Legree, and Miami's Malachi Toney
» Tied Illinois' single-season record with 10 receiving touchdowns this season
» Seventh in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receptions (60)
» 11th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in receiving yards (781)
• QB Katin Houser ranks 24th in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (77.5).
• Illinois running backs have three touchdown rushes over 60 yards this season: Aidan Laughery has two and Javari Barnett has one. Both of Laughery's are over 75 yards.
• Laughery has 100+-yard games against two ranked opponents - Ohio State (113) and Oregon (123). He ran for 113 yards at Ohio State, the first opposing player to rush for 100+ at Ohio Stadium since Michigan's Kalel Mullings (116 yards) on Nov. 30, 2024.
• Barnett had a career-high 80 yards on six carries at Maryland, including a game-changing 64-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. It is the longest touchdown run by a Big Ten freshman this season. {THIS IS AN UPDATED STAT}
• Illinois' offensive line ranks ninth in the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed (3.13 per game) and 13th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (1.00 per game).
Illinois Defense Notes {ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE SAME 3 PLAYERS}
• The Illini defense allowed just three points and 99 yards of offense over the final 26:10 of the win at Maryland.
• DB Matthew Bailey is the only player in the nation returning after leading his team in tackles in 2024 and 2025. Bailey is Illinois' leading tackler again this season with 55, including a career-high 14 at Ohio State.
• DL Will Holmes' 26 pressures ranks sixth in the Big Ten, according to PFF.
• CB Juice Clarke ranks sixth in the nation and is tied for the Big Ten lead in pass breakups (9). He is tied for the Big Ten lead with Audavion Collins of Penn State.
Weather with Mr. Robert
It is a Blue Out for the game. I once had blue balls but some Baby Vamp with a wonderful set of gams took care of them! Boy oh boy.
Have not seen much of Babe since Dolly Parton made it up here. I think he is in love. I loved that Think I Am In Love song by Eddie Money. His real name is Eddie Mahoney. Good guy. The Real McCoy. Donnie Iris on the other hand? Bad egg. Onto the weather, you saps! For you boiled owls tailgating Friday afternoon, get a job you palookas!
Afternoon
53°
RealFeel® 49°
RealFeel Shade™ 49°
Partly sunny
Wind SSE 10 mph
Wind Gusts 21 mph
Humidity 58%
Dew Point 37°
Probability of Precipitation 6%
Precipitation 0.00 in
Cloud Cover 70%
Visibility 10 mi
For the game:
Evening
40°
RealFeel® 36°
Partly cloudy
Wind SSE 7 mph
Wind Gusts 15 mph
Humidity 75%
Dew Point 35°
Probability of Precipitation 2%
Precipitation 0.00 in
Cloud Cover 51%
Visibility 10 mi
Sun Rise 6:28 AM
Set 4:45 PM
Waning Crescent Moon
Rise 3:49 AM
Set 3:08 PM
I do not want any beefing about this Climate Change stuff. The average temperture is 55/36 this time of year. It is going to be colder than average. Last year it was 63 out. So scram with that horsefeathers talk.
Thank you, Mr. Roberts! Little fiesty today, I see.....Gambling with our own James the Greek!
Brent: James, you went 1-1 last week, yet again. But betting Tempo's Uber Tax Free Tips set you up for a big win on the Under!
Greek: The problem was we were not working with a very large pool of funds!
Brent: What you have for us this week?
Greek: Odds makers were not impressed with Illinois last week. Nebraska started out as -5.5 to -6. The Sharps like Illinois! Down to -4.5 everywhere. Moneyline Nebraska -200 to -190; now at -190. Illinois can get at +160 to +170. Over/under started 48.5 to 49.5. Currently 50 to 50.5.
Here are the trends: Nebraska is 6-2 against the spread. And 3-5 Over/Under. Last 3 games have come in Under.
Illinois? 4-4 against the spread. Have covered the last 2 games. 5-3 Over/Under. Last 2 games have come in Under by double digits.
As I say every week: Bet against the Illini on the spread and bet Tempo's Uber Tax Free Tip Money on the Under. As it is Election Day, remember that in 1948 I placed a $10k wager (real cash money back then) on Harry S. Truman to beat Dewey because the dames I spoke with didn't trust a Buster with facial hair. Got 17-1 odds and won a profit of $160,000 when Truman pulled off the historic upset. Suck it, Chicago Tribune!
Thanks, Greek. And now, what everyone has been waiting for, Tempo's Kompendium of Krap! Brought to you this week by....
The Thorntons Beer Cave in Savoy. Convenintly located at the Thorntons gas station on the corner of South Neil Street (Route 45) and Burwash Avenue! Open 24 hours (Daily)
Thorntons stores provide fresh foods, high quality beverages and fuel in six states! This location features a walk-in Beer Cave stocked with a large variety of chilled beer, multipacks, and alternative malt beverages. It sits right off the main Neil Street commercial strip, making it an easy stop for picking up cold drinks on the way through town.
Thorntons strives daily to be our Guests’ favorite place to stop when they are on-the-go. Our team-based, high-energy culture is a combination of entrepreneurial spirit and core values centered around our guests. Our core values include: Delight Our Guests, Passion for Details, Restless Dissatisfaction {WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN?}, Everyone Counts, Cheer for Each Other and Have Fun.
Don't let Trump know, but at Thorntons, we promote a culture where we embrace and celebrate the differences of our Team Members by creating a positive space of acceptance, engagement, and innovation. No matter what you look like, where you are from, or who you love – we welcome you!
Eat here and get gassed!
Better get there quick. This location is set to close 11/16!
Take it away, Tempo!
I'm so sick of reading posters at HQ2 act like Justin Fields was the problem in Chicago. The guy never had a fair shot! Every year, a new coach, a new offensive coordinator, a new system, and the same old Bears dysfunction. How the hell is a young quarterback supposed to develop when the people responsible for developing him can't even figure out what they're doing?
They gave him questionable offensive lines, inconsistent receivers, predictable play-calling, and coaching staffs that seemed more interested in protecting their own jobs than building around their quarterback. I AM LOOKING AT YOU GETSY! Instead of designing an offense that played to his strengths, they kept trying to squeeze him into whatever outdated system they happened to be running.
And let's not pretend coaching doesn't matter. Look at how many times Fields was left scrambling for his life, making something out of nothing because the play had already fallen apart? When he made a spectacular play, everyone celebrated his athleticism. When something went wrong, suddenly it was all his fault.
Was Justin Fields perfect? Of course not. Did he have things to work on? Absolutely. But quarterbacks need coaching, consistency, protection, and weapons. They need an organization that actually believes in developing them instead of pulling the plug every time things don't go according to plan.
The Bears had a golden opportunity to develop a young quarterback and instead put him through the organizational equivalent of a revolving door. Then they shipped him out and acted like they had solved the problem.
Maybe Fields wasn't going to be the next Patrick Mahomes. But we'll never know how much better he could have been with competent, consistent coaching and an organization that actually knew what the hell it was doing.
Justin Fields didn't just have to beat opposing defenses. He had to overcome his own coaching staff and the Bears organization. And that's a hell of a handicap for any young quarterback.
AND WHAT THE HELL IS ANDY REID WAITING FOR?! Seriously, how much longer are we supposed to watch Justin Fields sit on the sidelines while Andy Reid keeps trotting out the same old routine?
You've got a quarterback with tremendous athletic ability, a big arm, and the ability to make things happen when a play breaks down, and you're not even giving him a legitimate opportunity? What exactly is the plan here? Let him collect dust on the bench?
Andy Reid is supposed to be an offensive genius. The guy has spent years figuring out creative ways to get the most out of his players. So tell me why he can't figure out how to use Justin Fields? You don't have to completely rebuild your offense. Put him in some packages, use his legs, get him outside the pocket, create some mismatches, and make the defense account for him.
And don't give me that nonsense about him needing to learn the system. At some point, a coach has to recognize the talent sitting right in front of him and find a way to use it. You don't acquire a dynamic athlete just to turn him into a sideline spectator.
The frustrating part is that Reid has the reputation, the experience, and the offensive imagination to make something interesting happen. If anybody could design a role that takes advantage of Fields' abilities, you'd think it would be him.
I'm not saying hand him the starting job or bench somebody just for the sake of doing it. I'm saying GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE! Let him get on the field and show what he can do.
Justin Fields has spent enough of his career getting jerked around by coaches. The last thing he needs is another opportunity to prove himself that never actually comes.
Andy Reid, quit admiring the talent from the sideline and put the damn guy on the field!
Yikes. Someone should check on Tempo....
Tailgating Update:
Will not be in Lot 46 this week. If anyone wants the parking pass, message me here. Rented an RV with some buddies and will be in Lot 33 Friday afternoon. $150! Used to be $50! Thanks, Biden! RV has to be back 11AM Saturday, so will need to leave early Sat AM! Dad's Day and early departure time may make hitting the Illini Inn a little tough post-game!
Go Illini!
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