Illinois @ Fresno State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2009 ) Fresno State 53, Illinois 52

Here's a piece of advice for the Illinois coaching staff going into Friday night's game at Fresno State: Watch for the play where a pass is deflected into the hands of an offensive lineman, who runs it into the end zone for a game-winning two-point conversion.

It's the oldest trick in the book.

That's how last season's game in Champaign ended. Trailing by 52-45, the Bulldogs scored a touchdown in the final seconds. Instead of kicking the extra point and going to overtime, Fresno State coach Pat Hill decided to try a two-point conversion for the win.

Quarterback Ryan Colburn's pass was tipped at the goal line by an Illinois defender and landed in the hands of Cunningham, who leaned into the end zone, giving Fresno State a 53-52 win.

The fact Colburn and Cunningham will be playing their final regular-season game for the Bulldogs should be a word of warning for Illinois coach Ron Zook. Who knows what the two have cooked up for this one?

Both teams are already bowl eligible going into the non-conference game. Illinois (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) rolled over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Dec. 20 while Fresno State (7-4, 5-3 WAC) hung on for a win over Idaho last week.

It could be a long night for the defenses, if last season's results are any indication. The teams combined for 964 yards of total offense, including 564 on the ground.

The Illini broke a two-game losing streak with its 48-27 win over Northwestern. Mikel LeShoure rushed for 330 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries to lead the offense, which racked up 559 total yards, including 519 on the ground.

The win came at a perfect time for Illinois and Zook. The Illini's two previous games ended in a pair of tough losses. Illinois dropped a 67-65 decision at Michigan, a game that lasted three overtimes. The following week was even tougher to swallow, when the Illini blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost to previously winless Minnesota 38-34.

The Bulldogs had to rally in the closing seconds to defeat Idaho 23-20 last week. A.J. Ellis's 1-yard touchdown dive with 14 seconds remaining provided the winning score after the Bulldogs fell behind 20-16 with just over two minutes remaining.

Colburn had an inconsistent game for the Bulldogs. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 219 yards, but fumbled three times and was sacked five times.

Robbie Rouse, Fresno State's leading rusher, left the game in the first half with injured ribs. Rouse entered the game with a broken hand that occurred the week before against Boise State. He's questionable for Illinois.