The Wisconsin Badgers take on the Illinois Fighting Illini today in a game on the Big Ten college football schedule which sees one team in the midst of a winning streak, and the other team coming off a tough loss and looking to rebound. Malik Turner was the Illini’s second top receiver with 80 yards on four catches.
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Bart Houston came off the bench to throw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and Wisconsin beat Illinois 24-13 on Saturday.
This might be the week that Wisconsin running back Corey Clement returns from hernia surgery. Freshman Ke’Shawn Vaughn will again play for the injured Ferguson. He and Illinois just weren’t able to convert in the red zone, the few times they got deep into Badgers’ territory.
Wisconsin improved to 6-2 with the win, reaching bowl eligibility and sticking around in the Big Ten West race, but there are many lingering injury concerns. The Illini still remain two wins away from the requisite six to make it back-to-back bowl appearances.
Wisconsin will be back home next Saturday to play Rutgers. Vaughn took over when Ferguson left the win over Nebraska and now has 95 carries for 407 yards and three touchdowns.
Wisconsin has won nine of the last 10 meetings against Illinois, including five straight.
Without Melvin Gordon in the backfield this season, Wisconsin has passed more this season. The Badgers lost starting quarterback Joel Stave to an apparent concussion after he was sacked in the 1st quarter.
A fast defensive start and a late interception wasn’t enough for the Illinois.
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Wisconsin is holding opponents to only 10.9 points per game, ranked third nationally. The Hawkeyes chewed up nearly half the fourth quarter on a 13-play drive that included 11 rushes and ground down an Illini defense that still lacks depth. Wisconsin Badgers recorded 219.8 passing yards and 188.3 rushing yards while allowed 209.5 passing yards and 82.8 russhing yards with turnover differential of -0.8. “It’s cool how they’ve rallied around their new coach and their team”.
