HEART OF DALLAS BOWL
ILLINOIS (6-6) vs. LOUISIANA TECH (8-5)
Friday, December 26 Day at Dallas, Texas (Grass Field)
TEAM SUR ATS OU PF PA
Illinois 6-6 5-7 6-6 26 35
La. Tech 8-5 10-3 9-4 38 25
LT- last bowl 2011...Skip 2-3 / 3-2 in bowls..recall missed a bowl in 2012 despite 8 wins.. that year beat Illinois there 52-24..
NOTE: .6 players susp here...2 Sr OL (LG / RT)...MLB...all-conf WLB...DT...bu RB / WR
beat WKU 59-10...Rice 76-31...lost to Marshall 26-23 on 12/6 (CUSA title game)
Ill- last bowl 2011....won and covered last 2....4-2 SU/STS run...HC Beckman 0-1/0-1 bowls...bad start with HC about to be fired...then beat Minny....Penn St and NW (so not THAT bad)
LT with a clear match-up edge here...they have the much better D....can run / stop the run...and lead the nation in forcing TO's (40)
A problem for the Illini here is they don't run well and although QB O'Toole has done a nice job...LT's strength is their pass D...
vs Doughty/Kato/Heinecke..allowed 5.9/att...250/g...57%...5TD / 9INT
Illini playing only a slightly tougher schedule (LT covered at Auburn and OU)
LT with a huge TO margin edge (+15 to -2)...but they have lost the ball a lot too (25 TO's)
Neither brings heat but LT protects the QB much better (#6 to #94)
*LT should have a nice crowd edge (about 4 hrs away)...selling all their tickets and traveled well in the past
Initially I liked La tech here...thinking the susp players would return for some reason....Although there are plenty of positives..I don't like going against (what I feel to be) a solid handicapping angle.: play on the team (with lost players) the first game / fade the next...
they rallied and lost but covered ....vs Marshall...now favored by a TD over a Big 10 team that fought hard late to get here.
*SO.......I'll let my play on LT ride...might buy back some in-game or halftime...but my recommendation here would be to stay away...lean under maybe ........
*I don't see much reason to back Illinois either.....why would they be fired up to play La Tech ?.....had a bad year....reached their goal in getting 6 wins (saving coach's job).........NOW WHAT?
*I wouldn't take the points if you like Illinois...take the ML or pass
LT will be fired up to play them no doubt.... with fan support ...DC Diaz no doubt looking for a HC job....so he can't afford a weak defensive performance here
Other 2 games probably a no play.....
*the teams I lean...UNC and NCSt.....are way too flaky
The impediment to action advances action - what stands in the way becomes the way.