Illini likely to run wild against Minnesota

Illinois (2-6, 1-5) at Minnesota (5-4, 3-3)

When: 11:00 a.m. at TCF Bank Stadium

TV: BTN; Radio: WIND 560-AM.

Series: Minnesota leads 32-27-3.

Coaches: Ron Zook (20-36, fifth year at Illinois; 43-50 overall); Tim Brewster (13-21, third year at Minnesota)

Players to watch: This newly intense rivalry (remember, Brewster played at Illinois and wanted to interview when Zook got the job) took a wrong turn last year for Illinois despite a Memorial Stadium-record 503 total yards by QB Juice Williams. He'll run more than throw today - and he'll do it playing off the improved threats that are RBs Mikel Leshoure (350 yards the last three weeks) and Jason Ford (128 yard last week).

Minnesota lost WR Eric Decker, its all-time leader in receiving yards, for the regular season, but QB Adam Weber still threw for 416 yards and 5 TDs last week against Michigan State. TE Adam Tow-Arnett is his new favorite target (8 catches, 81 yards, 2 TDs last week) while sophomore Da'Jon McKnight stepped in for Decker and caught 4 passes for 98 yards. Senior nose tackle Eric Small (Naperville Central HS) makes his 28th career start today. He leads the Gophers with 3 sacks.

The skinny: In last week's 38-13 win over Michigan, Illinois' offense reinvented itself as the run-heavy team that paved the way to the Rose Bowl two years ago. With Juice Williams (21 carries, 97 yards) running more option and keepers than any time this year, the Illini nearly had three 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time in school annals. Since the Gophers have one of the nation's worst rushing defenses (171.9 ypg), look for the Illini to pound sophomores Mikel Leshoure (350 yards the last three weeks) and Jason Ford (128 yards last week) until Minnesota proves it can slow them down.