After losing its Big Ten opener to Northwestern in truly ugly fashion, Wisconsin gets a second crack against another Big Ten West team from the Land of Lincoln on Saturday. Illinois comes to Camp Randall Stadium 0-2 in Big Ten play and after a double-digit loss to Purdue, so it’s a safe bet that two angry football teams will be on display in Madison.
How to watch Illinois vs. Wisconsin: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Two teams not currently enjoying Big Ten West play meet in Madison on Saturday.
Wisconsin is dealing with continual struggles on offense (from every facet not Melvin Gordon-related) due to a combination of weak quarterback play and a surprisingly sub-par offensive line. The quarterbacks in particular have been the most controversial aspect; Joel Stave suffered through the yips for all of September before being reactivated last week and relieving Tanner McEvoy in the second quarter of Saturday's game. Stave ended up throwing three picks (not all entirely his fault), however, so the Badgers have decided on a two-quarterback system moving forward.
Illinois is still Illinois, losing by 11 points to Purdue while allowing 551 yards in the process -- all at home. The Fighting Illini weren’t necessarily expected to fare much better, but a tough schedule still looms after this game, including Ohio State (on the road), Penn State and Northwestern.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: Noon ET
TV: ESPN2 (Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway, Paul Carcaterra)
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Illinois is 3-3 (0-2 Big Ten) and unranked. Wisconsin is 3-2 (0-1) and also unranked.
Vegas: Wisconsin opened as a 24-point favorite and is now a 26.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 58.
Weather forecast: Sunny, high of 57 and low of 39.
Two things at stake
For Wisconsin, any hopes of a Big Ten championship game berth and the last shred of hope for Gordon’s Heisman candidacy. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig would also end up firmly on the hot seat with a poor showing vs. Illinois -- the Illini rank 115th with 482.3 yards allowed per game and 107th with 35.5 points allowed per game.
For Illinois, not much considering the odds. Tim Beckman’s typically in need of some good fortune, and a win at Camp Randall would certainly provide that.
One big matchup
Wisconsin’s passing game vs. Illinois’ defense: Again, Melvin Gordon will be Melvin Gordon -- even against nine- and 10-man boxes. Wisconsin just needs a quarterback capable of reliably moving the chains and forcing defenses to apply a modicum of respect to the passing game. As of Wednesday, Gary Andersen hadn’t announced a starter, so it seems likely that both Stave and McEvoy will see reps, unless one starts and is surprisingly effective.
To date, the Badgers’ passing game ranks 116th (149.8 yards per game) and the Illini’s passing defense ranks 62nd (232.8 yards allowed per game).
Further reading
For more on Illinois, head on over to The Champaign Room. For more on Wisconsin, check out Bucky’s 5th Quarter.
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