THE OFFICIAL RUTGERS-ILLINOIS PREDICTION THREAD

[bac2therac]

Illinois 61 RUTGERS 54 in front of 8,007 at the RAC

 

[RW90]

I agree. Keeping up with 2023 RU sports tradition, we keep it close but just don't have enough offense to pull off the win.

 

[gregkoko]

Illinois 68
Rutgers 62

 

[JudgeSmails56]

Illinois 77-56

 

[RutgersDom]

Illinois 77-56

shocking from you

 

[PatrickRU92]

Our first real test. I think the RAC will work its magic and we'll barely scrape by

RU 87
Illinois 31

 

[dfr1966]

RU 72-68

 

[RUtrumpet92_rivals498139]

Contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Illinois will kill us on the boards, and our D will force turnovers. They are worse than us at the FT line. It's never comfortable but Rutgers comes away with the W.

RU 67
Illinois 62

 

[coldsprings_rivals]

RU 77-66

Pike has a conversation with the team about getting Gavin into the flow of the offense which opens up the inside for Cliff. Wishful thinking?

 

[knightru]

Pike Speed Limit game … barely.

RU 67
IU 64

 

[Rutgers56_rivals]

Illinois 63
Rutgers 57

 

[toby83]

is Coleman Hawkins confirmed back?

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Illinois 69
Rutgers 55

We are one of the few teams in the country that hasn’t played anyone yet.

 

[toby83]

will be a game we really miss Caleb. Shannon might eat up Hyatt.

 

[Joey Bags]

RU W
IL L

 

[Rokodesh]

Rutgers 76
Illinois 73

 

[Scangg]

will be a game we really miss Caleb. Shannon might eat up Hyatt.

Agreed. I was really hoping Mag made his return against a cupcake prior to this game. Even if he played 10-15 min on Shannon it would make a difference.

We really don't have a good wing defender without Mag. It's seemingly Hyatt or Griffiths size wise with the matchup. The other guards are tiny. Maybe Williams but he still gives up some size there and not sure he can handle Shannon anyway. Oskar, no. Wolf interesting... he does move ans guard the perimeter very well for his size but that's a foul waiting to happen and likely creates a mismatch elsewhere

These athletic wing type players are a mismatch for RU with Caleb gone and no Mag back yet

 

[Rufans]

Illinois 71
Rutgers 67

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Illinois 76
RU 63

 

[fatsam98]

Rutgers 60
Illinois 56

The RAC with an assist in Illinois' first road game of the season.

 

[toby83]

Their message board is not bad, some guys seem to know their stuff.

Somw RAC talk in there also

https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-at-rutgers-saturday-december-2nd-3-00pm-ct-btn.32866/

 

[4theknights]

Illinois 72
RU. 65
Hope I’m dead wrong instead we come out with a efficient offense not seen so far

 

[GreaseTruckCaptain]

I think it'll be an interesting test. While our offense has been playing more uptempo, our defense continues to grind out possessions taking nearly all of the shotclock, which makes the final score look deceiving as to how fast we play. Illinois is a truly uptempo team and I am not sure how we adjust to playing against another team who also wants to play fast. I think we fall behind early and claw our way back into it, but ultimately cant find the offense down the stretch to overcome the early deficit, and use it as a learning experience for the two road games next week...

Illinois 72
Rutgers 69

 

[zebnatto]

RU 74
Illini 67

 

[fatsam98]

Their message board is not bad, some guys seem to know their stuff.

Somw RAC talk in there also

https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-at-rutgers-saturday-december-2nd-3-00pm-ct-btn.32866/

One of the better fanbases imo. Loyal and down to earth

 

[RUPete]

shocking from you

Beat me to it! He's consistent, that's for sure.

 

[Degaz-RU]

This game pits the two best defenses in the Big Ten through the first month of the season. Rutgers is #1 at ppg defense (55.5) and Illinois is #2 (58.7). But Illinois has the 6th best offense (77.8) while Rutgers is dead last (70.5). I think this will be a low scoring affair, played in the 60s, and I just don't think our team is ready to beat a top 25 Illinois team without the defense, toughness, rebounding, and finishing ability of Mawot Mag; and before Gavin Griffiths has truly gotten his Sea Legs.

Illinois 65
Rutgers 58

8,284 at the RAC.

 

[bigmatt718]

One of the better fanbases imo. Loyal and down to earth

Illinois is probably the one B1G fanbase I actually legitimately like. Them and Purdue seem like the 2 that don't annoy me.

 

[Luvscarletknights]

RU 72 IL 60.

 

[LeapinLou]

I was hoping to see Mag get his feet wet against St. Peters. Without a healthy Mag, I have concerns about giving up 2nd chance points. We have to box out.
It hasn't happened yet this season, but a fast start that gets the RAC lathered up could go a long way.

 

[Zak57]

Illinois has Florida Atlantic and then Tennessee after us so even though it's their first conference game maybe they'll overlook it a tad.

 

[RUtrumpet92_rivals498139]

I'm wondering if their seven full days off before Saturday will make them come out flat/rusty like we did against St Peter's.

 

[RUJMM78]

Rutgers better win this game because the next two games are on the road and Rutgers lacks a Baker/Harper go to scorer.Rutgers also needs to break consecutive RAC losses against B1G Ten opponents at the end of the season.

Rutgers 63 Illinois 61.

 

[GM]

I don't think we are better than Illinois, but i do think they aren't too high of an IQ team and have rattled them in the past at the RAC. I think we pull off the upset 66-62

 

[NJDOVES]

Rutgers 73
Enemy 67

 

[RUBob75]

I will pick with my heart!
RU 65
Ill 61

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

We win in 0T, 70-66. Mag doesn’t play

 

[BKIn118]

Illinois is probably the one B1G fanbase I actually legitimately like. Them and Purdue seem like the 2 that don't annoy me.

You've never been to games at that arena of theirs have you?

 

[Scangg]

I'm wondering if their seven full days off before Saturday will make them come out flat/rusty like we did against St Peter's.

Illinois board saying they have struggled with slow starts this season. So have we. Let's hope they do come out slow and rusty. A fast start would juice up the RAC for the rest of the game. Fans are itching for a big game. Set the tone!

 

[RUbytheshore]

Rutgers 66 - Illinois 64