Can Illini pull a 2nd shocker?

Longtime Illinois fans, meaning those bearing Medicare cards, remember Ray Eliot.

Known as "Mr. Illini" for his lifelong devotion to his alma mater, Eliot served as Illinois' head coach for two of their three Rose Bowl victories.

But as the Illini devolved into a second-division Big Ten team and fans complained he worried more about coaching players than recruiting them, Eliot announced in March 1959 that he would retire after one final season.

And in the last two games of his 18-year tenure, Eliot's boys knocked off No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 8 Northwestern. That's the last time Illinois defeated ranked teams in consecutive games.

Until, perhaps, today.

Fresh from an "upset" of 21st-ranked Penn State, Illinois has a golden chance to pull off one of the biggest victories in school annals when No. 5 Wisconsin visits.

The Badgers arrive at reinvigorated Memorial Stadium with a national-best 14-game winning streak -- but their last two came by a combined 7 points at home.

That might explain why the Illini are 2½-point favorites in Las Vegas.

Well, that and the fact Illinois' offensive strength dovetails nicely with Wisconsin's defensive issues. In last week's 37-34 win over Michigan State, the Badgers gave up nine plays of 20 or more yards.

MSU running back Javon Ringer, an explosive multi-threat similar to Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall, rang up 233 total yards on just 17 touches.

"You know, there aren't many balls going over our head," said second-year Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. "That's not the issue. It's the perimeter and tackling."

The Badgers retain seven starters from last year's top-ranked defense, but their newbies have struggled to adjust.

While Illinois senior safeties Kevin Mitchell, Justin Harrison and Justin Sanders own a combined 58 career starts, Wisconsin sophomore safeties Shane Carter and Aubrey Pleasant didn't see real action until this year.

Bielema lauded Pleasant for playing his finest game last week. As for the little brother of former Minnesota Vikings' receiver Cris Carter …

"Shane Carter needs to play better," Bielema said. "He had been doing well and didn't play well and, as a byproduct of that, we don't have overall success."

Can Illinois take advantage of these issues? Heck, coach Ron Zook, a defense-oriented guy, is more concerned about the problems Wisconsin's attack presents.

If the Illini devote too many resources to slowing down tailback P.J. Hill, the nation's No. 6 rusher, then tight end Travis Beckum will exploit those voids with his wide receiver speed.

Beckum piled up a career-high 10 catches and a score last week. He and fellow tight end Andy Crooks teamed up for 10 catches and a score in last year's 30-24 win over Illinois.

"They remind me of the Indianapolis Colts, the way they get into those two tight ends and their power game," Zook said. "Their quarterback (Tyler Donovan) reminds me a little bit of the guys from Missouri because he's so accurate and throws the ball so well."

Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0) at Illinois (4-1, 2-0)

When: 11 a.m. at Memorial Stadium

TV: ESPN; Radio: WIND 560-AM Series: Illinois 35-33-7.

Coaches: Bret Bielema (17-1, second year at Wisconsin); Ron Zook (8-20, third year at Illinois; 31-34 overall).

Players to watch: Two of the nation's top-11 rushers take to the turf in Wisconsin sophomore P.J. Hill (139 carries, 667 yards, 9 TDs) and Illini junior Rashard Mendenhall (95 carries, 612 yards, 8 TDs). QB Tyler Donovan has the Badgers ranked 16th nationally in pass efficiency (76 of 122, 1,008 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INT), while the Illini are 110th out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

The skinny: The Illini seek their first 3-0 Big Ten start since 1990 and first win over a top-5 team since 1989, but the Badgers are the most complete team they've faced. Wisconsin's line has four returning starters, but has been susceptible to a big pass rush, which Illinois has. However, this could come down to whether Illinois' struggling passing attack can exploit Wisconsin's so-so pass defense. If the Badgers' defense doesn't have to respect Juice Williams' arm and can focus on the run, then the Illini will need some luck to upend a ranked foe for the second week in a row.

-- Lindsey Willhite