Illinois @ Michigan State preview
Spartan Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Michigan State 24, Illinois 14
Two teams coming off significant road wins clash at Spartan Stadium on Saturday when No. 11 Michigan State entertains Illinois for Homecoming.
The Spartans (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) won 34-17 at archrival Michigan last week while the Fighting Illini (3-2, 1-1) won 33-13 at Penn State.
The Spartans are 6-0 for the first time since 1999 thanks in large part to a ground game that features a trio of backs running behind a sturdy line. Michigan State averages 225 rushing yards per game.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins turned in another efficient performance against the Wolverines, hitting 18 of 25 throws for 284 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, junior safety Trenton Robinson leads a unit that gives up 18.3 points a game, which ranks 26th nationally. Robinson is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after getting seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup against Michigan.
Coach Mark Dantonio, who suffered a heart attack following the Sept. 18 overtime win against Notre Dame, coached from the press box last week and is expected to do so again on Saturday.
The Illini rolled up a season-high 437 yards against the Nittany Lions, with punishing running back Mikel Leshoure grinding out 119 yards on 27 carries. The junior is averaging 5.7 yards a carry and ranks 11th nationally with 119.4 yards per game.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase played his best game yet, throwing for 151 yards and a touchdown and running for 61 yards.
Still, the team ranks just 81st nationally in scoring at 24.4 points a game.
Defense is Illinois’ forte. The team gives up 17 points a game, which ranks 21st nationally.
Linebacker Martez Wilson made 12 tackles last week while linebacker Nate Bussey had eight tackles and the game-turning interception return for a touchdown.
There is some bad blood between these teams. When Ron Zook took over as Illinois head coach in 2005, he lured recruiting coordinator Reggie Mitchell away from the Spartans.
Michigan State has dominated the series lately, winning 10 of the last 11 for an overall 24-17-2 edge. The Spartans prevailed 24-14 last season at Illinois’ Memorial Stadium.
The last time Michigan State opened a season 7-0 was 44 years ago, when the Spartans went undefeated and played to a legendary 10-10 tie with unbeaten Notre Dame in 1966.