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College Football: 10 best under-the-radar games in 2016

By Michael Collins

Nov 14, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls fans celebrate on the field after beating the Temple Owls at Raymond James Stadium. South Florida Bulls won 44-23. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls fans celebrate on the field after beating the Temple Owls at Raymond James Stadium. South Florida Bulls won 44-23. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh gets set to take the field prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh gets set to take the field prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Game Date: Saturday Oct. 22, 2016
Venue: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mi.
Series Record: Michigan leads, 69-23-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 13, 2012 (Michigan 45, Illinois 0)
Why it’s intriguging: Lovie Smith vs. Jim Harbaugh

Lovie Smith has been charged with taking an anemic Illinois football program and turning it around to become relevant in the Big Ten.

Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines /

Michigan Wolverines

Last season, Jim Harbaugh took a Michigan program that was beginning to sink and had them thinking Big Ten title in November.

Both coaches have solid NFL experience, and are two of the best defensive minds in the nation. While the Illini may not quite be up to the level of play (yet) that the Wolverines are, this could be a signature game for Lovie’s first season in Champaign.

The trick for Illinois is going to be figuring out how to score, something they struggled with all season in 2015 putting up only 22.7 points per game. Quarterback Wes Lunt wasn’t terrible in 2015, and if he can get some help from his receivers, the Illini stand a chance of pulling what might be the biggest upset of the year in the Big Ten.

This game will be as dirty, gritty and hard-hitting as anything you’ll see all season.

Next: Game Number Two

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