Illinois @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2010 ) Indiana 13, Illinois 43

THE STORY: No. 16 Illinois and its frenzied defense will be missing some of its bite when the Fighting Illini go on the road for the first time to face the Hoosiers. Starting LB Jonathan Brown is suspended for kneeing an opponent in the groin in last week’s 38-35 win over Northwestern. Indiana is 1-4 but has an average margin of defeat of only 4.75 points and stunned Illinois, 27-14, the last time it hosted its Big Ten rival.

TV: Big Ten Network LINE: Illinois -14

ABOUT ILLINOIS (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten): The loss of Brown for this weekend’s game is big. The sophomore is tied for second on the team in tackles and can rush the passer or drop back in coverage. Illinois depends on that pass rush to turn the tide, leading the conference in sacks (17). More weight will be put on the shoulders of dual-threat QB Nathan Scheelhaase, who scored the go-ahead TD in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter versus Northwestern. The Illini’s running game is ranked 22nd in the country, with Troy Pollard, Donovonn Young and Jason Ford splitting carries.

ABOUT INDIANA (1-4, 0-1 Big Ten): Indiana has been a very dangerous team in the fourth quarter -- too bad the Hoosiers are horrible through the first three. They’ve scored 49 percent of their total points in the final frame, making opponents sweat out the closing minutes. Indiana has a QB controversy brewing between Edward Wright-Baker and backup Dusty Kiel. Wright-Baker sat out last week’s 16-10 loss to Penn State with a sprained ankle, while Kiel struggled in his first career start. Neither QB has been sharp, but it looks as if Wright-Baker will remain the No.1 as long as his ankle holds up. The Hoosiers could also be down a RB with D'Angelo Roberts still recovering from a concussion.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Illinois is off to its best start since 1951, when it last won the national championship. The Illini are among 15 undefeated programs and just one of eight teams with a 5-0 record.

2. Saturday is the 69th meeting between these rivals. Illinois holds the series edge 44-22-2, including a 14-13-1 record in Bloomington.

3. Illinois has forced a turnover in 20 consecutive games, going back to November 14, 2009 versus Northwestern. Illini DE Whitney Mercilus kept the streak alive by jumping on a wayward lateral on the final play of the game against the Wildcats last week.

PREDICTION: Illinois 34, Indiana 10 – Illinois will roll over IU with and without the football Saturday, improving to 6-0 heading into next week’s showdown with Ohio State.