The Wiz of Odds

Illinois

New coach Tim Beckman, who is front and center in Illinois' poster schedule, stepped into a good situation. The Fighting Illini, who are 1-1 after a road loss at Arizona State, have a one in four chance of playing in the Big Ten title game. As a member of the Leaders Division, only four teams — Indiana, Purdue, Wisconsin and Illinois — are eligible for postseason competition in 2012. The other members — Ohio State and Penn State — are ineligible.

Thanks to Patrick.

Fight Hunger, Eat Boogers

If you missed the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, here's your highlight. An Illinois ballboy digs deep and finds gold.

Illinois Cheap Shot

Illinois' Jonathan Brown (45) draws a flag after delivering a knee to the groin of Northwestern's Patrick Ward (70) during Saturday's game in Champaign.

Here is how Brown's actions are being described on an Illinois message board.

Update: Brown has been suspended by Ron Zook for Saturday's game against Indiana.

Illinois

Illinois' fans won't be called upon to make a lot of those gas-gulzzling trips this fall. The Fighting Illini play eight home games and won't venture from Champaign until a Week 6 game at Indiana. With 13 returning starters, an improvement on last season's 7-6 record appears to be a lock.

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Justin.

Nittany Fans Told to 'Prepare for Return to Dark Ages'

Illinois' 33-13 victory over Penn State is being described as the Nittany Lions' biggest humiliation in Beaver Stadium in the 18 seasons since the team joined the Big Ten.

David Jones of the Patriot-News says the worst is yet to come.

"How has it gotten to this juncture so quickly? It wasn't that quick. Penn State has finally reached the point — about six years after I thought it had already permanently arrived — where it can no longer compensate for the age of its coach. Its diligent assistants can no longer recruit necessary talent around the denigrating whispers of their competitors on the recruiting trail. And they apparently cannot subvert his reactionary strategic tendencies on the field.

"It's sad to say it. But it all points in that direction."

Jones was just getting warmed up.

Wildest Finish of the Day

Fresno State's Jamel Hamler catches a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Colburn with two seconds left against Illinois, setting up this two-point try by the Bulldogs. Watch as 350-pound offensive lineman Devan Cunningham catches a deflected pass and stumbles across the goal line, giving Fresno State the 53-52 victory.

After the jump is Fresno State's winning drive in it entirety.