When you look at the odds on the Illinois vs. Northwestern game at the sportsbook you will likely be focused on the fact that the game is being played at Wrigley Field but another story line could be the future of Illinois head coach Ron Zook. The Illini are 5-5 this season straight up and 7-3 against the odds at the Internet sportsbook. Illinois needs one more win to qualify for a bowl game and they may also need another win to save Zook’s job.
Illinois Imploded Last Week
The Illini lost last week to Minnesota in a game they were expected to win easily. Illinois was a three-touchdown favorite against the rotten Gophers but lost the game. Fans at Illinois are furious about the loss and demanding Zook be fired. You can make a case that Zook should have been fired before this season began or that he should have been fired long ago. If Illinois doesn’t win this week or in their finale at Fresno State then Zook could be looking for work. Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther said that Zook had to win this season to keep his job. Whether five wins are enough is the question. It seems unlikely that that will be good enough if Illinois loses its last four games to finish 5-7. Zook’s current deal runs through 2014 so Illinois would have to pay a buyout to get rid of Zook but they may have no choice.
Illinois -7.5 vs. Northwestern at Sbg global
If Zook finds a way to lose this week against a Northwestern team that is without their starting quarterback and then loses in two weeks at Fresno State the pressure on the administration to fire Zook will be immense. It would be one thing to finish 5-7 and rally for a good finish at the end of the season but to finish 5-7 having lost your last four games to just miss out on a bowl game would be intolerable, especially when you were favored to win at the sportsbook against Minnesota and Northwestern. It could be all or nothing for Zook this week at Wrigley Field against the Wildcats which is why this might be the most important game in Zook’s career at Illinois.