Western Illinois @ Minnesota preview

After winning just three games in 2011 in coach Jerry Kill's first season, Minnesota figures to equal that total Saturday against Western Illinois. It's the start of a three-game homestand for the Golden Gophers, who very well could open the season with a 5-0 mark if they can avoid a misstep. Minnesota hosts San Jose State the following week and then opens Big Ten play against Iowa.

First-year Western Illinois coach Bob Nielson is no stranger to the Land of 10,000 Lakes, joining the Leathernecks after serving as both coach and athletic director at Minnesota-Duluth. He posted a 100-26 record in 10 years at his previous job and won the 2008 and 2010 NCAA Division II national championships. He was named Division II National Coach of the Year after both of those 15-0 seasons.

TV: Noon. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Minnesota -24

ABOUT WESTERN ILLINOIS (2-0): The Leathernecks have blown out both Hampton (42-9) and Quincy (34-6) in their first two games, losing the shutout on the final play of the game last week against the Hawks. Junior safety Jonathon Rollins leads a strong secondary that has already intercepted seven passes. Redshirt freshman QB Trenton Norvell, who began his career at Cincinnati, completed 24-of-34 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns against Quincy.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (2-0): Despite losing star running back Donnell Kirkwood to an ankle injury early in a season-opening 51-23 victory over UNLV, the Golden Gophers have already scored 12 touchdowns and 95 points in two games. RB Roderick Williams Jr. (148 yards) and starting QB Philip Nelson (122) both rushed for triple digits in last week's 44-21 victory at New Mexico State. Senior DE Ra'Shede Hageman, who is regarded as a potential NFL first-round pick, has eight tackles - including 2 1/2 for loss - and blocked a field goal against UNLV that was scooped up and returned 51-yards for a touchdown by DB Martez Shabazz.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Minnesota junior CB Marcus Jones returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the opening win over UNLV. He was named the Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 65 yards for a TD at New Mexico State.

2. Golden Gophers junior CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who had an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown in the season opener, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at New Mexico State. He will miss the rest of the season.

3. Minnesota is the least-penalized team in the Big Ten with five penalties totaling 42 yards.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 38, Western Illinois 10