Illinois

If it ain’t broke…

Give the Hoosiers a heavy dose of Rashard Mendenhall, Daniel Dufrene and Troy Pollard. The Hoosier defense will blitz a good amount and had some trouble stopping the run. The Illini should be able to continue to run the ball with their running backs and Juice Williams. Williams should also be able to pass on an Indiana defense that has given up 734 passing yards.

Make Lewis beat you with his arm

Kellen Lewis can do it all. The coaching staff talked all week about how if it has to face a player like Lewis, it wants to force him into the passing game. Lewis is a more than capable runner, and containing him will help the Illini cause immensely.

Indiana

Limit the running game

Illinois is going to run and then run some more at the Hoosiers, and if Indiana can limit the big gains and broken tackles, it may be the best way to force Juice Williams into the passing game. Both quarterbacks have been run-first signal callers so far and taking that away will bode well for either team.

Big games from Thigpen and Hardy

Coach Dan Disch talked about how the Indiana offense is in the same class as the Missouri offense but has more “big play players.” Indiana’s Marcus Thigpen and James Hardy will have to have huge games for the Cream and Crimson if Lewis is forced to pass.

History

The Hoosiers and Illini will meet for the 65th time this Saturday. Illinois leads the border series 41-20-3 but is only one game over .500 (13-12-1) in Bloomington, Ind. The Hoosiers rallied last season from an 18-point deficit and beat Illinois in Champaign on a last second 33-yard field goal by Austin Starr.