{
  "id": 19354451,
  "title": "Can't Wait For Saturday And the winners are ... Auburn's Jim Bandy and Geneva's Rob Barnes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/cant-wait-for-saturday-and-the-winners-are-auburns-jim-bandy-and",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-10T15:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cant-wait-saturday-winners-auburns-154600556.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a thrilling finish, Auburn's Jim Bandy and Geneva's Rob Barnes emerged as the winners in a game of predicting scores. The two competitors were just four points away from matching the final score of Illinois-Nebraska, with both submitting a 24-17 prediction. Rich Patton of Carter Lake, Iowa trailed slightly behind with a five-point miss. The duo will both be entered into a season-ending drawing, should no one else hit the exact scores by the deadline.\n\nBandy, a proud alumnus of Eastern Illinois University, had a deep connection to Illinois, as his son Chet was a graduate of the school and a basketball manager from 2002-06. This personal bond added an extra layer of excitement to his prediction. Meanwhile, Barnes made his debut win in this competition, marking the first-time victory for him.\n\nThe author of this report, who has been closely following this event, is urging readers to submit their predictions for the upcoming Illinois-UCLA game. To do so, email your predicted scores for both teams to a specified email address. Remember to include your name, where you reside, and whether you are an Illinois alum. Feel free to share any additional details about your life as well. The author will reveal their own prediction in the following Thursday's column.",
  "summary": "Nov. 10—*** Tip of the cap to multi-time winner Barnes and, I believe, first-time winner Bandy. They were just four points off the Illinois-Nebraska final score with identical 24-17 picks. Rich Patton of Carter Lake, Iowa missed by five. Both Rob and Jim will be entered into the season-ending drawing if nobody hits the scores on the button. It has been so close. Jim is an Eastern Illinois alum ...",
  "key_points": [
    "Auburn's Jim Bandy and Geneva's Rob Barnes win prediction game",
    "Both predicted 24-17, just four points away from Illinois-Nebraska",
    "Rich Patton of Carter Lake trails slightly with a five-point miss"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}