Two impressive undefeated teams will look to show their merit Saturday as the No. 14 Washington Huskies travel to Illinois to take on the Illini at Soldier Field in Chicago. Television coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
How to watch Illinois vs. Washington 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
Two undefeated teams get a big test at Soldier Field.
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Few teams looked better than Washington in the opening week, as the then-unranked Huskies handed Boise State their largest loss in the Chris Petersen era, taking the Broncos down in a 38-6 drubbing. Washington has had two weeks to prepare for Illinois, and will look to a high-powered offense that put up nearly 600 total yards against the Broncos for a second straight big win.
Illinois struggled out of the gate, beating Southern Illinois 42-34, but rebounded with a very strong 45-17 win over Cincinnati in their second game. If the Illini hope to make a bowl game this season, a win at home against the Huskies is a near-necessity with a very tough Big Ten slate.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Washington is ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the Coaches’ Poll. Illinois received nine votes in the AP Poll and three in the Coaches’ Poll. This will be the 10th matchup all-time between the two teams. The Huskies hold a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series, and won the last two games -- in 1971 and 1972..
Vegas: Washington is a 10.5-point favorite. The over/under is 58 points. OddsShark has more.
Weather: A high of 70, a low of 54, mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain.
Three names to know
Keith Price. The senior completed 23 of 31 passes against Boise State for 324 yards and two touchdowns while also averaging more than four yards per carry. He's a dangerous weapon who struggled last year, but if he can recover his 2011 form (when he threw for 33 touchdowns), this Huskies team can beat anybody.
John Timu. Washington's junior linebacker was all over the place against the Broncos, recording a team-high 13 tackles. He also led the team in tackles last season, with 91, and will be tasked with containing Illinois's talented quarterback.
Nathan Scheelhaase. Through two games, the senior has completed nearly three-quarters of his passes, is averaging 10 yards per attempt, and has thrown six touchdowns. After a promising 17-touchdown freshman campaign, Scheelhaase's career has spiraled downwards in Champaign, and the Illini are hoping their quarterback is back to form.
Two things at stake
Washington looks to prove they’re for real as a Pac-12 contender, and a win on the road would nearly cement that status.
Illinois has a very tough conference schedule, and the race to six wins could come through home with a big non-conference win.
How to witness
TV: 6 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
Radio: Scroll down here for a list of Washington affiliates. Here’s a list of Illinois affiliates.
Online streaming: BTN2Go.
Further reading
For all your Washington perspective and analysis, head to the UW Dawg Pound. For Illinois, look no further than The Champaign Room.
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