Illinois vs. Wisconsin – Game Preview – October 1, 2022 – ESPN

Illinois (3-1, 0-1 Huge Ten) at Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1), Saturday, midday ET (Huge Ten Community)

Line: Wisconsin by 7,

Collection document: Wisconsin leads 44-37-7

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Illinois desires to offer coach Bret Bielema a profitable return to Camp Randall Stadium. Bielema posted a 68-24 document as Wisconsin’s coach from 2006-12 earlier than leaving for Arkansas. Wisconsin is making an attempt to bounce again after dropping 52-21 final week at No. 3 Ohio State.

KEY MATCHUP

Illinois working recreation vs. Wisconsin run protection. Illinois is averaging 209 yards speeding per recreation to rank twenty fifth within the Bowl Subdivision. Wisconsin allowed the fewest yards per carry within the nation final 12 months however is coming off a efficiency through which it allowed two Ohio State gamers – TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams – to hurry for over 100 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Illinois: RB Chase Brown is the nation’s main rusher. He has run for 604 yards on 95 carries and has 5 straight video games with not less than 100 yards. Brown is the primary Illinois participant to hurry for not less than 100 yards in every of a season’s first 4 video games since J.C. Caroline in 1953.

Wisconsin: RB Braelon Allen has rushed for 497 yards and 6 touchdowns on 73 carries. He’s coming off a 165-yard efficiency towards Ohio State. Allen rushed for 131 yards in Wisconsin’s 24-0 victory at Illinois final season.

FACTS & FIGURES

Bielema is the primary coach to take an opposing Huge Ten staff to the college the place he received a convention title as a coach since John Pont coached Northwestern at Indiana in 1973. Pont had led Indiana to a share of the 1967 Huge Ten crown. … Badgers coach Paul Chryst was an offensive coordinator on Bielema’s Wisconsin employees from 2006-11. … Wisconsin has outscored the Illini by a mixed 69-7 the final two seasons after getting upset 24-23 at Illinois in 2019. … Wisconsin has intercepted not less than one cross in 9 straight video games. … Illinois is holding opposing quarterbacks to a 74.2 passer ranking. No different FBS staff is limiting opponents to such a low passer ranking. … Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz made his first profession begin towards Illinois two years in the past and went 20 of 21 with 5 landing passes in a 45-7 victory. Mertz tied the college document for landing passes and broke the college document for single-game completion proportion that evening. Mertz was 10 of 19 for 100 yards with one interception and no landing passes towards Illinois final season.

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