(Video courtesy IlliniProductionsHD)
Illinois (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Spread: Wisconsin by 14.5
Watchability: This one could be pretty ugly. The Fighting Illini have lost three of four and have only one win against an FBS team this season. Meantime, Wisconsin is struggling to find an identity and has turned to freshman QB Joel Stave to lead the attack. It didn’t help in a 30-27 loss at Nebraska.
Shining stars: Illinois: WR Ryan Lankford is emerging as the team’s top weapon on offense. The junior has 23 catches for 347 yards with four touchdowns this season. He has six catches of at least 20 yards. The team has a total of nine passing scores this season. Wisconsin: WR Jared Abbrederis is back after being slowed by injury earlier this year. The junior had seven catches for 142 yards with a touchdown against Nebraska. Overall, he has 20 grabs for 399 yards with four scores. No other Badger has more than eight catches.
Who could steal the show: Illinios: LB Mason Monheim earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors for making a game-high 11 tackles last week against Penn State. The first-year player has 28 tackles this season, including 2.5 for loss with a sack and an interception. Wisconsin: LB Mike Taylor is cementing himself as an elite playmaker. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder has 55 tackles -- 12 more than any player on the team -- to go with 5.5 tackles for loss and three passes defended. Taylor could have a big game against the Illinois spread offense.
You going? Ranking the road trip: This week’s Badgerville could steal the show. The festival is hosted by the athletic department on the grass field north of the stadium three hours before kickoff. There will be events ranging from meeting the men’s basketball team, to meeting former players, to getting faces painted.
Magic number for Illinois: 29.7. Third-down conversion percentage allowed by the Fighting Illini, the 19th-best mark in the country.
Magic number for Wisconsin: 2. Turnovers forced this season by the Badgers defense, both fumble recoveries against Nebraska.
The game comes down to: Can Illinois score? The Fighting Illini mustered only one touchdown -- off a trick play -- last week in a 35-7 loss to Penn State. QB Nathan Scheelhaase has been slowed by a sore ankle and limited the team’s ability to roll him out of the pocket. If Scheelhaase remains immobile it will be difficult for Illinois to move the ball consistently.
Prediction: Wisconsin 31, Illinois 3
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big Ten bloggers Dave Carey and Mike Singer, follow @CBSSportsBigTen.
