Minnesota @ Illinois preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2011 ) Illinois 7, Minnesota 27

Minnesota is striving to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 and has a solid chance at notching that needed sixth victory when it visits struggling Illinois on Saturday. The Golden Gophers began the season with four straight victories to get in position of returning to a bowl game. Illinois has lost six consecutive games under first-year coach Tim Beckman and has been largely uncompetitive as five of the Illini’s seven losses have come by 28 or more points. Illinois has also lost 11 consecutive Big Ten games. Minnesota is 0-6 in Big Ten road games under second-year coach Jerry Kill but has won in each of its last three visits to Illinois.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Minnesota -3.5

ABOUT MINNESOTA (5-4, 1-4 Big Ten): The Golden Gophers have been held to 13 points in each of their four conference defeats. Freshman Philip Nelson makes his fourth career start and has passed for 537 yards and six scores. Sophomore Donnell Kirkwood is only 33 yards away from becoming the first Minnesota running back to reach 700 yards since Amir Pinnix rumbled for 1,272 in 2006. The Golden Gophers rank 10th nationally in pass defense at 168.1 yards per game. Senior defensive end D.L. Wilhite ranks second in the Big Ten with 6.5 sacks and junior nose tackle Ra’Shede Hageman has five sacks.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (2-7, 0-5): Junior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has experienced a rough season that has included missed time because of a concussion and an ankle injury. He has thrown four touchdowns and been intercepted six times. Protection problems have also been an issue with the Illini allowing 32 sacks. Sophomore Donovonn Young has a team-leading 417 rushing yards and junior wideout Ryan Lankford has caught a team-best 31 passes. Junior weak-side linebacker Jonathan Brown has a team-best 9.5 tackles for losses and senior safety Ashante Williams has scored two touchdowns (one interception, one fumble). The Illini have only six interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Minnesota leads the series 34-28-3 and hasn’t lost at Illinois since 2001.

2. Illinois has allowed an average of 41.0 points per game during its six-game skid.

3. Golden Gophers receiver A.J. Barker will likely miss the game with an ankle injury. He has a team-best 30 receptions and seven touchdown receptions.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 27, Illinois 23