Illinois @ Michigan preview
Michigan Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2009 ) Michigan 13, Illinois 38
Two teams heading in opposite directions meet Saturday afternoon at the Big House in Ann Arbor when struggling Michigan hosts surging Illinois in a key Big Ten Conference game.
Illinois (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) has won two straight games and four of its last five. The Fighting Illini look to become bowl eligible with a win and their improved play has been fueled by freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and a stingy defense.
Scheelhaase is coming off his best game of the season after throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for a career-best 118 yards in a 44-10 rout of Purdue last week.
Defensively, the Illini rank 12th in scoring defense, allowing just 16.8 points per game, while ranking 15th in total defense. Illinois has slowed down some potent offenses this season, but will be severely tested by Michigan, which ranks fourth in total offense, averaging 518 yards per game, and 19th in scoring at 35.4 points.
Michigan (5-3, 1-3 Big Ten) is looking to become bowl eligible with a win, but has lost three in a row after racing to a 5-0 start and a top 25 ranking. The Wolverines continue to ride the legs and arm of sophomore standout Denard Robinson, who is second in the nation in total offense and already has set the all-time Big Ten record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,287, which also leads the nation. Robinson, a Heisman Trophy front-runner just a few weeks ago, has rushed for 12 touchdowns and thrown for 10 more.
Michigan hopes the 2010 season is not going down the same road as 2009 when the Wolverines lost five of their last six en route to a 5-7 campaign after a 4-0 start. Michigan's biggest problem remains its defense, which ranks 89th in the nation, allowing 30 points per game. During the three-game losing skid, the Wolverines have allowed almost 38 points per outing.
According to the NCAA strength of schedule, the Illini have played the toughest schedule in the nation. Illinois’ three losses are to teams ranked in the top 15 of the BCS rankings (Missouri, Ohio State and Michigan State) which have a combined 23-3 record. Illinois is looking to beat Michigan for a third straight time, an event that has not happened since the Illini won four straight in the series from 1950-53. Illinois has been dominant in the two straight wins, outscoring the Wolverines 83-33 while compiling 1,001 total yards.