Saturday at noon No. 11 Ohio State (8-2), a ten-point favorite, will travel to Champaign to play Illinois (5-5). Last season Illinois defeated Ohio State 28-21. Ohio State leads the series 60-30-4.

Motivation should not be a cause of concern for Ohio State’s defense. I’m sure visions of Illinois’ quarterback Juice Williams converting third down after critical third down will be dancing through their heads. In last year’s game Williams completed 12/22 passes for 140 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 70 yards.

Saturday’s game pits strength against strength. With the combo of Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn –60 receptions, 947 yards and 3 touchdowns- Illinois leads the Big Ten in passing (277.9 yards per game) and total offense (447.6 ypg). Ohio State counters with the Big Ten’s best passing defense (164.4 ypg) and a unit that is holding opponents to 13 points per game.

The View
Ohio State is two victories away from another Big Ten title. If the Buckeyes can reclaim the Illi-Buck Trophy, Ohio State fans should be rooting for Penn State to lose one more game and Oregon State to win out. Playing in the Rose Bowl against Oregon State is more palatable than facing USC or any SEC team in a venue south of the Olentangy.

Ohio State 33, Illinois 20


Random Notes
Ohio State
The Good
Ohio State has the Big Ten’s best pass defense and is ranked 8th in the country holding teams to 164.4 passing yards.
The Buckeyes are holding opponents to 13 points per game (6th in the nation).
Ohio State is has a plus-13 turnover margin.
The defense is giving up an average of 269.8 yards per game.
Opposing offenses are only averaging 105.4 rushing yards per game.

The Bad
The passing offense was better against NU, but still ranks last in the Big Ten and 104/119 teams.
The offense is ranked 89th in total yards.
Kickoff return team is averaging 19.8 yards per return, 96th in the nation.
The defense is next to last in the Big Ten in tackles for loss and 94th in the country.
The offensive line is still allowing 2.3 sacks a game.

Illinois
The Good
Illinois’ offense leads the Big Ten in passing offense (277.9) and total offense (447.6).
The defense leads the Big Ten in sacks (32) and tackles for loss (77).
The Illini average 22.6 yards a punt return second in the Big Ten.

The Bad
Illinois has a turnover margin of minus four.
The Illini are ranked 98th in net punting.

Players
Quarterback
Ohio State- Terrelle Pryor 84/129 (.651), 1,076 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT

Illinois- Juice Williams 182/319 (.591), 2,769 yards, 20 TD, 14 INT

Rushing
Ohio State- Beanie Wells 814 yards, 5.4 ypc, 6 TD
Ohio State- Terrelle Pryor 450 yards, 4.4 ypc, 5 TD

Illinois- Daniel Dufrene 575 yards, 4.1 ypc, 0 TD
Illinois- Juice Williams 577 yards, 5.6 ypc, 5 TD

Receiving
Ohio State- Brian Hartline 392 yards, 18 rec., 21.8 ypr, 2 TD
Ohio State- Brian Robiskie 356 yards, 33 rec., 10.8 ypr, 7 TD

Illinois- Arrelious Benn 947 yards, 60 rec., 15.8 ypr, 3 TD
Illinois- Will Judson 401 yards, 21 rec., 19.1 ypr, 2 TD

Defense
Ohio State- James Laurinaitis leads the team with 101 tackles.
Ohio State- Malcolm Jenkins and Kurt Coleman each have 3 interceptions.

Illinois- Brit Miller leads the Big Ten with 110 tackles and leads the Illini with 6 sacks and 15.5 TFL.

Team Stats
Ohio State Illinois
Rushing- 176.2 Rushing- 169.7
Passing- 154.4 Passing- 277.9
Total- 330.6 Total- 447.6
PF- 26.6 PF- 31.4
PA- 13 PA- 26.2