It was a Sunday afternoon, and the game was close. Paul had always been a casual football fan, but something changed when he placed his first in-game bet during the second quarter. Now, every play felt personal. As the teams lined up for a field goal, his phone buzzed with live betting options: will the kick go through, or will it miss? The excitement wasn’t just about his team … [Read more...] about The Role of Sports Betting in Boosting Viewer Engagement
bowl games
Real Reason that College Football Bowl Games were Created
Have you ever wondered how we got to the point- where there is at least one college football game on television every single day for three weeks from mid-December to early January? Why and how are we living in times when college football bowl games are so abundant that now multiple cities (New Orleans, Tampa, Miami, Phoenix among others) have both a real bowl game after … [Read more...] about Real Reason that College Football Bowl Games were Created
Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 2/2: Major Bowls
Good morning college football and Illinois Fighting Illini fans. Just four more days until the Reliaquest Bowl kicks off in Tampa! This will be Illinois' 20th bowl appearance, and they are 8-11 in their previous 19 postseason games. We'll run all this down for you, in two parts, starting with the minor bowls, which we defined as non-traditionally on New Year's Day and/or … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 2/2: Major Bowls
Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 1/2: Minor Bowls
Good morning college football and Illinois Fighting Illini fans. Just four more days until the Reliaquest Bowl kicks off in Tampa! This will be Illinois' 20th bowl appearance, and they are 8-11 in their previous 19 postseason games. We'll run all this down for you, in two parts, starting here with the minor bowls, which we defined as non-traditionally on New Year's Day … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 1/2: Minor Bowls
Illini Win Bowl Games in Back to Back Years- 1st Time in School History
For the second year in a row, the Illini found themselves with a college basketball game scheduled at the exact same time as a college football game. Their bowl selection led to the scheduling conflict. Last year, they won both as the football team crushed Robert Griffin III's Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl while the hoopsters beat the Iowa Hawkeyes handily. This year … [Read more...] about Illini Win Bowl Games in Back to Back Years- 1st Time in School History
UCLA vs. Illinois: Brutally Honest Fight Hunger Bowl Preview
Ever since the bowl matchups were announced, everyone has picked on the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl for being the the worst matchup of them all. The New Year’s Eve game features not one but both teams playing under interim coaches because the regular head coach was recently canned. And both teams made dubious "history" on the way here. Illinois comes in riding a six-game losing … [Read more...] about UCLA vs. Illinois: Brutally Honest Fight Hunger Bowl Preview
Ron Zook Fired! Illini A.D. Addresses Media (Video)
You look at the pic above and think "what does a celebration from the Illinois Fighting Illini 2004-05 college basketball season have to do with this?" The long overdue firing of the school's college football coach Ron Zook. Well, when I searched for google images of "Illini celebration," it was all hoops images. (which says something about why the Zooker is being … [Read more...] about Ron Zook Fired! Illini A.D. Addresses Media (Video)
Which Illini Coordinator Gets Ron Zook’s (Interim) Job?
In 2009, a very underachieving Illini football team finished 3-9. Picked as high as third by some Big Ten and college football pundits, the horrible record was nothing short of a catastrophe for the resume of Ron Zook and the Illinois program. Or so I thought. Logic dictated then Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther can Zook then and there. Unfortunately, Guenther had … [Read more...] about Which Illini Coordinator Gets Ron Zook’s (Interim) Job?
5 Biggest Reasons Illinois Should Fire Ron Zook Next Sunday
The main story surrounding the Illinois Fighting Illini losing 28-17 to the Wisconsin Badgers today is the fact that Illini Head Coach Ron Zook is a "dead man walking." New Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas said he won't make a decision until after the season is over, so I wouldn't expect to hear anything concrete until after the season's final game- next Saturday at … [Read more...] about 5 Biggest Reasons Illinois Should Fire Ron Zook Next Sunday
Bowl Attendance is Actually Up 4% This Season
Despite an economic climate that's a bears a haunting and striking resemblance to the 1930s, people are opening their wallets to travel to the bowl bliss of college football. Yes, it seems like there are way too many bowl games, yes many of them have ridiculous sounding and horribly corporate names, but people are still coming. And after all, who really wants less football? … [Read more...] about Bowl Attendance is Actually Up 4% This Season