College football previews: Illini, NIU, NU
Here are scouting reports for three games this weekend involving Illinois, Northwestern and Northern Illinois:
Indiana (2-4, 0-3) at Illinois (3-3, 1-2)
When: 7:03 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: WIND 560-AM
Series: Illinois leads 42-20-3.
Coaches: Bill Lynch (9-10, second year at Indiana, 46-63 in 10th FBS season overall); Ron Zook (16-26, fourth year at Illinois; 38-39 in seventh year overall)
Players to watch: Indiana junior QB Kellen Lewis has a bad ankle and might not play. While that would deprive the Hoosiers of their top runner (404 yards, 3 TDs) and well as their top passer (925 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INTs), they have a fine backup QB in Ben Chappell. He has hit 28 of 54 passes for 328 yards, 1 TD and 2 picks. Preseason all-Big Ten DE Greg Middleton, who racked up a national-best 16 sacks last year, has just 1 for 1 yard this year.
Illinois junior QB Juice Williams has posted unbelievable numbers the last two weeks (772 passing yards, 162 rushing yards, 6 TDs), but he has been turnover-prone all year. WR Arrelious Benn has set a career-best for receiving yards three weeks in a row (110, 122 and 181) while catching 22 passes. MLB Brit Miller continues to lead the Big Ten in tackles with 10.2 per game.
The skinny: This is just the Hoosiers' second game away from home, though lately it hasn't mattered where they've played because they've been bad. They're suffering through a four-game losing streak and have just 2 TDs in the last two games. Illinois coach Ron Zook believes his defense is coming off its best game, especially considering 14 of Minnesota's 27 points came off turnovers.
If the Hoosiers intend to shock the Illini just like Minnesota did, they might need a few huge plays from the kicking game. KR Marcus Thigpen returned a kickoff for a touchdown at Illinois two years ago - and all Illini fans know how often their coverage team gives up big plays.
Toledo (2-4, 1-1) at Northern Illinois (3-3, 2-1)
When: 3 p.m. Saturday at Huskie Stadium
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Series: Toledo leads 28-7.
Coaches: Tom Amstutz (57-36, eighth year at Toledo); Jerry Kill (3-3 at NIU; 107-60 in 15th year overall).
Players to watch: Toledo QB Aaron Opelt has two big-time targets in Stephen Williams (41 catches, 406 yards, 5 TDs) and Nick Moore (40 catches, 361 yards). But Moore, who caught 20 passes last week against Michigan, must come off the bench after being charged Sunday with disorderly conduct intoxication. Junior RB DaJuane Collins (436 yards, 4 TDs) had two huge games in Sept., but he has been slowed by an ankle.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Chandler Harnish is back at the controls for Northern Illinois. The Huskies' best combination of passing and running started the first two games, but missed three with a sprained right foot. Freshman RB Me'co Brown has two 100-yard efforts in his last three games. Senior DE Larry English has just 16 tackles this year, but 7 have been for losses.
The skinny: Michigan needs to lose a lot more times to Toledo before it understands how NIU feels about the Rockets. Toledo has won 13 of the last 14 games in this MAC West rivalry, including last year's 70-21 wipeout in the Glass Bowl. The winner of Saturday's homecoming battle probably won't get to 21 points, much less 70. The Huskies are the MAC's stingiest defense with 14.8 points allowed per game, while Toledo's offense has gone 11 quarters without a touchdown.
Purdue (2-4, 0-2) at Northwestern (5-1, 1-1)
When: 11 a.m. Saturday at Ryan Field
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WGN 720-AM, WNUR 89.3-FM
Series: Purdue leads 49-25-1.
Coaches: Joe Tiller (85-58, 12th year at Purdue, 122-87-1 overall); Pat Fitzgerald (15-15, third year at Northwestern)
Players to watch: Purdue senior QB Curtis Painter just became the fourth player in Big Ten history to crash the 10,000-yard barrier, but he hasn't been getting the Boilers to crash the end zone. Senior RB Kory Sheets has had a year and career remarkably similar to Northwestern's Tyrell Sutton. Sheets' 565 rushing yards, 21 receptions and 8 TDs this year give him 2,775 rushing yards, 92 receptions and 40 TDs for his career.
Sutton, meanwhile, owns 603 rushing yards, 24 receptions and 6 TDs this year to give him 3,599 rushing yards, 138 receptions and 30 TDs for his career. Since Purdue's offensive line has injury issues, DE Corey Wootton and DT John Gill could have big days in the Boilers backfield.
The skinny: Northwestern firmly believes last week's loss to Michigan State was directly attributable to its own mistakes. But if the Wildcats continue to be their own worst enemy today (multiple turnovers, poor special teams, etc.), then it's less a blip and more a true read on the team. Fortunately for NU, Purdue has the Big Ten's worst statistical defense (particularly against the run) and hasn't been forcing turnovers. Look for the Wildcats to give Tyrell Sutton every chance to carry them to victory. Purdue's Curtis Painter and WR Greg Orton, meanwhile, will try to exploit redshirt freshman CB Jordan Mabin.