Staff Predictions: Michigan football vs. Illinois

Believe it or not, Illinois thinks of Michigan as one of its main rivals, and there’s a legit hatred for all things U-M from many in Champaign. It might be because Bo Schembechler used to run up scores on the Illini after they fired his former assistant, Gary Moeller, after only three years in Champaign.

Part of it, too, is that Michigan is pretty much everybody’s rival.

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Homecoming? Let’s bring in Michigan.

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Red Grange day? Hey, let’s find the reels when he ran all over Michigan.

At places like Indiana and Northwestern, communities even plan their high end garage sales around home games with the Wolverines. They know 50 percent of the fans that day could be clientele passing by (they save the Busch light tab collections and velvet Elvis living room art for when the Buckeyes come to town).

Michigan’s response to the added attention and “hatred”:

We’ve heard, but can’t confirm, that the 1989 Flyin’ Illini had Final Four rings made with the slogan, “We really were the best team that year. Please believe us!” That’s right up there with this year’s MSU design for the Quick Lane Bowl runners-up ring in which “Yeah, but we won the tunnel” will take the place of the Michigan score.

In all seriousness, it’s impressive what Bret Bielema has done in such a short time in Champaign. He’s got them believing, and the Illini are improving.

Forget for a second that the Big Ten West is a complete joke — he’s got them in first place for another two days, and when everyone else drops at least one more, they’ll be right back on top with the other four-loss teams.

It was Balas and Skene (again — old hat) last week. This week’s winner receives Anthony Broome’s new book, “The Detroit Lions and Me: Duped Again” and Easyfeet Foot Scrubber Brush Slipper Bath Shower (as seen on TV. Clean and massage your feet from heel to toe!).

The Picks:

CHRIS BALAS: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh won’t have his team looking past the Illini or anyone else, and he won’t be bringing out the super secret playbook until Sunday (many Michigan fans’ hopes). No, this will be another boring, methodical, Michigan victory in which the Wolverines take care of business and move on.

And that’s just fine with us. Michigan 34, Illinois 10

JOHN BORTON: Illinois’ shot at being the BOTW (Best Of The Worst) probably went down the drain a week ago, in a home loss to Purdue. It won’t help any when the Illini ultimately get ground to bits by one of the Big Ten’s two Great White Sharks, with bigger fish to fry. Michigan 30, Illinois 13

CLAYTON SAYFIE: Illinois is Diet Michigan. The offense likes to run the ball behind a great running back and strong offensive line. The quarterback is efficient, can run, makes good decisions and doesn’t turn the ball over. The front-seven is very good, and while the secondary is banged up it still has some studs, led by Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

This will be an old-school, smashmouth Big Ten game played in freezing temperatures — a struggle, at times, for either team to get much going offensively. The Wolverines will pull it out.

Side note: I haven’t won staff predictions yet this season, which many people are saying is statistically more impressive than winning it at least once. (Editor’s note. No, Clay. No, they aren’t). Michigan 27, Illinois 14

ANTHONY BROOME: The pop quiz ahead of the final exam that is Ohio State is upon us. Illinois is no pushover, though. In a lot of ways, this might be the second-best team that Michigan has seen to this point this year. This can’t be a letdown spot because it is not an opponent they are, or should be, overlooking. Bret Bielema has the Illini playing a physical brand of football that mirrors what Michigan does in a lot of ways, especially offensively. Michigan’s toughest opponent is the team it sees when it looks into the mirror, which makes Illinois being a clone of them even more interesting this week.

Michigan has handled its business week-to-week all season long, and it does not feel like there is anyone in the building looking ahead right now. This is a team the Wolverines should be able to take care of, but they will have to work for it. They will be dominant again, setting the stage for next week’s epic showdown in Columbus. Michigan 31, Illinois 12

DOUG SKENE: The trap is set but will Michigan realize it and step around it by taking care of this Illinois team?  It would be easy for Michigan to get caught up in the big game in Columbus.  I don’t see that happening as the big goals are so close. The Wolverines are built to grind opponents down, and they should do the same thing against a physical team.  

It’s all about getting the win and staying healthy.  Michigan 35, Illinois 14