Can't Wait For Saturday | Uh-oh, I've got a feeling. Or it could be a cold

Nov. 11—Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here

Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmusssen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves.

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Illinois football hasn't scored any knockouts this season. Instead, four really close decisions, with help from the Australian judge (an obvious Hugh Robertson fan).

Illinois won its first four games by a total of 12 points,. an average margin of three per game. That's a good way to keep the fans on edge if that is the idea.

My hunch/guess/suspicion is the close wins end today. And Illinois stops a decade-plus of frustration against Indiaana with a lopsided 31-7 home victory.

Leading the way will be the usual suspects Isaiah Williams, Johnny Newton and Kaden Feagin, plus legacy transfer John Paddock.

Illinois will grab an early lead with a defensive score and build on from there. In the fourth quarter, Bret Bielema is able to go the bench and get some snaps for one of the other quarterbacks.

A win means so much to Illinois, which will move closer to bowl eligibility and keep its Big Ten West title hopes alive.

If I'm way off, always a possibility, I will happily accept ridicule and scorn. If I'm right, you won't hear a peep.

Here is also your reminder to submit picks to asmussen@news-gazette.com by 11 a.m. Saturday. Please include your name, predicted score, where you live and if you are an alum.