Fight Hunger Bowl preview: Illini vs. UCLA
By Associated Press
Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7), 2:30 p.m. Saturday ESPN
Line: Illinois by 2½
What’s at stake: Illinois looks to snap a six-game losing streak in its first game under interim coach Vic Koenning and win for the first time in 12 weeks. A victory also would give Illinois bowl wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. UCLA also has an interim coach, with Mike Johnson taking over after a 49-31 loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship.
Key matchup: Illinois front seven vs. UCLA running game. The Bruins have rushed for at least 200 yards six times this season, including five of their wins. Reaching that mark won’t be easy against All-American DE Whitney Mercilus and the Illini. Mercilus has helped Illinois rank seventh in the nation in total defense. He has forced nine fumbles, one shy of Elvis Dumervil’s FBS record set in 2005, and has 19½ tackles for loss.
Players to watch: Illini WR A.J. Jenkins led the Big Ten with 84 receptions this season and averaged 99.7 yards receiving per game, 14th best in the nation. UCLA TE Joseph Fauria, a 6-foot-8 redshirt junior, leads the Bruins with six touchdown catches and is second with 34 receptions overall.
Fast facts: Illini K Derek Dimke has missed just one kick all season, a 42-yard FG at Penn State that would have tied the game as time expired. He is the most accurate kicker in Illinois history, making 37 of 43 FG attempts and all 87 PATs. ... Mercilus needs two sacks to break Simeon Rice’s school record of 16 set in 1994. ... Kevin Prince has 455 yards rushing, the most for a UCLA QB since Jeff Dankworth had 815 in 1976.