Rutgers 2016 Season Game 7: Illinois

                                                                                                       (AP Photo)

WHO: Illinois (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten) at Rutgers (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; ESPNews (TV); WOR 710-AM, WCTC 1450-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM (Radio)

COACHES: Illinois: Lovie Smith (first season, 1-4); Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-4)

SERIES: The schools are tied 1-1 all-time. Illinois won the first meeting in 2005 in Champaign, 33-30 in overtime. Rutgers won the second contest in 2006 back in Piscataway, 33-0.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost to No. 4 Michigan, 78-0, its worst shutout defeat since 1888. Illinois fell to Purdue at home in overtime, 34-31.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights' offense finds its mojo again. It has been 135 minutes and 45 seconds of game time since Rutgers scored a point dating back to Sept. 4 against Iowa. The Knights have completed five forward passes and tallied 155 total yards since the day, but the nightmarish stretch against Ohio State and Michigan is over now. In enters the Big Ten West's cellar dweller. It's now or never for Chris Laviano & Co.

ILLINOIS WINS IF: The Illini exploit Rutgers' defense on the edge. Securing perimeter leverage continues to be an issue for the Knights, who even struggled to stop outside runs and read-option against the likes of Howard and New Mexico (443 total rushing yards). With pocket-passing quarterback Wes Lunt likely to sit this week, dual-threat man Chayce Crouch is a wild card for Illinois and potential matchup problem for Rutgers.

EXTRA POINTS: High Point Solutions Stadium is hosting Homecoming. Rutgers is 53-29-2 all-time in the event, snapping a three-game losing streak last season with a 27-14 win against Kansas. ... This marks Rutgers' 10th unique Big Ten opponent and would be the program's first victory against the Big Ten West. ... Illinois ranks third nationally and first in the Big Ten for fewest turnovers (four). ... Defensive lineman Sean Adesanya (Rahway) and long snapper Sean Mills (Metuchen) are the lone New Jersey natives on Illinois' roster.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 24, Illinois 20

Game week stories

Rutgers recruit Everett Wormley, Burlington Township crush Ewing football

Captain urges Rutgers to not 'quit on life' entering season's second half, Illinois matchup

Rutgers braces for two Illinois quarterbacks this week

Notes: After three games against top-five teams, Rutgers shows 'outstanding' attitude

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com. Enjoy Rutgers' first primetime game this season.

— Greg Johnson