ESPN's 'GameDay' coming to Wrigley

If Illinois and Northwestern were scheduled to meet at Ryan Field on Saturday, ESPN's “College GameDay” crew wouldn't dream of making Evanston its home this weekend.

But with the Illini and Wildcats playing the first college football game at Wrigley Field since 1938 right around the time of Gabby Hartnett's “Homer in the Gloamin'” “GameDay “will take advantage of the unique backdrop.

Illinois has never been a part of the football GameDay experience, but Northwestern served as the host in 1995 prior to the win over Iowa.

Persa resting:

According to a Northwestern spokesman, quarterback Dan Persa underwent successful surgery Saturday night on his ruptured right Achilles' tendon.

With Persa likely out through spring ball, redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Watkins (Glenbard North) has a big opportunity.

It's hard to overestimate how important Persa was in the Wildcats' offense, but this might do the trick:

Persa either ran or threw for Northwestern's last 12 touchdowns over the last 19 quarters. Not since the first quarter of the Purdue game on Oct. 9, when now-injured running back Jacob Schmidt plunged in for a score, has Persa not been directly involved.

Northwestern's offense has 31 touchdowns for the year. Persa threw for all 15 passing touchdowns and contributed 9 of the 16 rushing scores.

Illinois woes:

While Northwestern worries about getting Watkins up to speed for his first career start, Illinois coach Ron Zook worries about everything except the Wildcats.

Ordinarily by Sunday afternoon, Zook has taken a look at the next opponent by the time he conducts his teleconference with the media.

Not this week. It's all about the Illini after an unexpected 38-34 home loss to Minnesota.

“We've got to get our boat patched up here first, then we'll get on Northwestern,” Zook said. “Obviously, it will be a critical, critical, critical game.”

Illinois needs to beat either Northwestern (7-3) or Fresno State (6-3) in order to claim its fourth bowl bid in the last 16 seasons.

Do oddsmakers know?

Illinois has been installed by Vegas types as a 7-point favorite Saturday. Clearly they don't know how the Land of Lincoln Trophy series goes.

The team with the superior record on game day, which would be the Wildcats (7-3) again this year, has won the last 11 Illinois-Northwestern contests and 16 of the last 17.

The exception to the rule occurred in 1998. That was a midseason game when freshman Kurt Kittner led Illinois to a 13-10 win at Ryan Field.