Illinois @ Northwestern preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2011 ) Northwestern 35, Illinois 38

As Northwestern prepares for its regular-season finale against visiting Illinois on Saturday, it will be easy for the Wildcats to reflect on what could have been in 2012. Northwestern will finish third in the Big Ten Leaders Division, a position which would have been higher if it didn't blow a pair of double-digit leads in the fourth quarter of losses to Penn State and Nebraska. While the Wildcats won't be playing Wisconsin on Dec. 1 for the Big Ten title, they will likely participate in a New Year's Day bowl game. The Fighting Illini have lost eight straight, including a 20-17 loss to Purdue last week.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Northwestern -18.5

ABOUT ILLINOIS (2-9, 0-7 Big Ten): Tim Beckman's first season as Fighting Illini coach has been a struggle and it probably won't get any better against Northwestern. Illinois, which has lost 13 straight conference games, has the worst offense in the Big Ten at 16.9 points and 301.6 yards per game. It doesn't get much better on the other side of the ball as the conference's second-worst rushing defense must figure out a way to stop the Wildcats' third-best run game. The Fighting Illini must also avoid giving up the big play, which Northwestern thrives on with its explosive running attack. Illinois linebacker Jonathan Brown, who is second on the team in tackles, will miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury.,

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (8-3, 4-3): The Wildcats have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games, including a 23-20 victory at Michigan State last week. Venric Mark, who is fifth in the Big Ten at 105.0 rushing yards per game, is expected to play as is quarterback Kain Colter. Mark was hurt during overtime in Northwestern's 38-31 loss at Michigan on Nov. 10 and played only the first half against Michigan State. Colter left the Michigan State game in the third quarter. Both have "upper-extremity injuries,'' according to coach Pat Fitzgerald. Mark (1,183 yards), who also leads the country with a 21.6-yard punt return average, and Colter (732) account for 78 percent of the Wildcats' rushing attack, which is No. 16 in the country.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Wildcats will play their fifth straight bowl game and sixth in eight years under Fitzgerald. Northwestern appeared in five bowl games before Fitzgerald's arrival.

2. Northwestern has a plus-11 turnover margin, second-best in the Big Ten; Illinois is a conference-worst minus-10.

3. Illinois leads the series 54-46-5, including a 38-35 victory in Champaign last season. The teams, who have met every season since 1927, have played for the Land of Lincoln Trophy since 2008 after vying for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk from 1945-2007.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 38, Illinois 14