Louisiana Tech @ Illinois preview
Memorial Stadium
Finding a way to keep pace with Louisiana Tech’s up-tempo offense will be vital for Illinois when it hosts the Bulldogs on Saturday night. Louisiana Tech is ranked third in the nation in scoring after putting up 56 points in each of its first two games, ranked No. 5 in total offense and ranked No. 9 in rushing. The Bulldogs average 83 snaps a game and employ the type of pace that stumped the Illini in a 45-14 loss to Arizona State two weeks ago. To compensate, Illinois will rely on color-coded cards from the sideline to set up its defense.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Illinois -2.5
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (2-0): Colby Cameron was named Western Athletic Conference offensive player of the week after the senior quarterback threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-37 victory Saturday against Rice. However, it’s the Bulldogs’ balance that makes them such a tough matchup for Illinois. Cameron and four running backs have combined for 578 rushing yards this season. Tevin King is averaging nine yards on his 35 carries and Kenneth Dixon is averaging 6.3 on 32 attempts.
ABOUT ILLINOIS (2-1): Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase sounded confident during practice Tuesday that he’d return after missing the last two games with a sprained ankle. Illinois is also hoping running back Jason Ferguson and center Graham Pocic will return after sitting out last week’s 44-0 win against Charleston Southern with injuries. The Illini were also without safeties Steve Hull and Suppo Sanni and linebacker Houston Bates. Any lack of defensive depth will be a big problem against an offense as potent as Louisiana Tech’s.
EXTRA POINTS
1. This will be Louisiana Tech’s fourth game vs. a Big Ten opponent in program history.
2. The Illini are ranked 72nd in the nation in rushing, averaging 153.3 yards a game.
3. Louisiana Tech is riding a nine-game regular-season win streak, the third-longest active streak in the nation.
PREDICTION: Louisiana Tech 45, Illinois 31.