Playing for history
Even if the theory was correct and a loss would marginally improve Illinois' chances at winning the national title, fans should root against losing. That would be like trying to get everybody to fold when dealt a full house in poker. Yes, it would guarantee a win, but not a big win. In poker, you want to win the biggest pot possible. In sports, the biggest pot is an historic championship.
Most fans can't remember who won a title three or four years later. But we all remember the 1927 Yankees, the '85 Bears, the '76 Hoosiers. If Illinois can replace Bob Knight's 1976 Indiana team as college basketball's last undefeated NCAA champs, the Illini will be remembered -- by everybody -- for 30 years.
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