How To Watch Northwestern At Illinois, Preview, Injury Report, Betting Odds

The Fighting Illini play host to the Northwestern Wildcats Saturday at Memorial Stadium

Illinois v. Northwestern Preview

It’s Rivalry Week in college football! 

The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Northwestern Wildcats. The Illini are looking to keep the Land of Lincoln Trophy for the third straight year. Here is everything you need to know before the two teams meet in Champaign this Saturday.

Game Time: Saturday - 2:30 PM CT

Where: Memorial Stadium – Champaign, Illinois

TV: Big Ten Network

Betting Lines: Illinois -5.5, O/U 46.5

Injury Report:

- Illinois: RB Kaden Feagin (OUT - Shoulder), RB Aidan Laughery (Questionable – Knee), RB Josh McCray (OUT – Neck), RB Jordan Anderson (OUT- Knee), DB Matthew Bailey (OUT – Shoulder), DB Demetrius Hill (OUT – Knee), LB Malachai Hood (OUT – Achilles)

- Northwestern: TE Jack Fitzgerald (OUT – Undisclosed Reasons), TE Chris Petrucci (OUT – Undisclosed Reasons), WR Jacob Gill (OUT – Undisclosed Reasons), WR Frank Covey IV (OUT – Undisclosed Reasons), DL Duke Olges (OUT – Undisclosed Reasons)

What to Expect:

- After a heartbreaking loss to the Hawkeyes in Iowa City, the Illini will try to re-establish offensive efficiency both in the passing and rushing games. John Paddock once again starts at quarterback for the Illini.

- Northwestern QB Ben Bryant has averaged nearly 200 yards per game through the air, and the Illini secondary has been shaky all season. The Wildcats will inevitably try to expose this part of the Illini defense. Therefore, it will be critical for Johnny Newton and the company to put pressure on Bryant to disrupt his rhythm. The Wildcats have not proven to be too effective rushing the ball, but if the Illini allow Bryant to get going, the ‘Cats may be able to start rushing effectively.

Notables:

- The Illini need to win this game to clinch bowl eligibility in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2010 and 2011 seasons. After a whirlwind of a season, playing in a bowl game would catapult the Illini into the offseason with a lot of momentum.

- It is Senior Day! While it could be the final time the Illini’s 13 seniors play, it will be their last game at Memorial Stadium. However, it will also be the final time junior defensive tackles Johnny Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. play in the Orange and Blue. The duo that makes up the “Law Firm” on the interior each announced that they will forgo any bowl game to declare for the NFL Draft.

- Northwestern recently promoted their interim head coach David Braun to be their permanent head coach. He has already led the Wildcats to bowl eligibility in his first year leading the program after the Wildcats finished 1-11 last season. This will also be the first Land of Lincoln matchup since 2006 in which former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is not leading the Wildcats.

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Sam King is a contributor to Illini Now. He can be reached at sjking258@gmail.com.