Illinois-Wisconsin box
<p class="MsoNormal">Illinois (4-1, 2-0) vs. No. 5 Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0)
<p class="MsoNormal">When: 11 a.m. today
<p class="MsoNormal">Where: Memorial Stadium (58,578), Champaign
<p class="MsoNormal">Series record: Illinois leads 35-33-7
<p class="MsoNormal">Last meeting: Wisconsin 30-24 (2006)
<p class="MsoNormal">Radio: Illini Sports Network
<p class="MsoNormal">TV: ESPN
<p class="MsoNormal">The line
<p class="MsoNormal">Coaches: Ron Zook, 8-20 in third season at Illinois, 31-34 in sixth year overall; Bret Bielema, 17-1 in second year at Wisconsin and overall.
<p class="MsoNormal">NCAA rankings
<p class="MsoNormal">Illinois offense: rushing 6th, 255.6; passing 108th, 157.4; scoring 48th, 30.0; total 48th, 413.0.
<p class="MsoNormal">Illinois defense: rushing 22nd, 95.4; passing 78th, 242.8; scoring 25th, 18.8; total 42nd, 338.2.
<p class="MsoNormal">Wisconsin offense: rushing 21st, 205.0; passing 79th, 207.4; scoring 41st, 32.2; total 50th, 412.4.
<p class="MsoNormal">Wisconsin defense: rushing 42nd, 125.6; passing 69th, 235.0; scoring 46th, 22.4; total 53rd, 360.6.
<p class="MsoNormal">Notable
<p class="MsoNormal">Illinois leads the Big Ten in rushing. Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall ranks third in the Big Ten and 11th in the nation with 122.4 yards per game while standing second in the conference and ninth nationally with 10.8 points per game. The Illini have rushed for 200 yards or more in four straight games. … Wisconsin won the last four meetings between the two teams and seven of the last nine. … Through five games this season, Wisconsin allowed 18 plays of 20 yards or more (seven rushing and 11 passing). In 12 regular-season games last year, Wisconsin gave up 24 plays of 20 yards or more.
<p class="MsoNormal">Quotable
<p class="MsoNormal">"We love hitting, and they love running. I know I'm going to get a little extra pad in my shoulders. It's a great feeling knowing you're going to play Big Ten ball.''
<p class="MsoNormal">- Illini linebacker Brit Miller.
<p class="MsoNormal">Prediction
<p class="MsoNormal">Illinois 27, Wisconsin 23