The Illinois Fighting Illini host Purdue Saturday at Memorial Stadium with a chance to lock up the Big Ten West.
On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, Bob Asmussen told Regional Radio, both these teams will be looking to bounce back from poor showings last Saturday.
A pass heavy Boilermakers offense faces a much improved Illinois secondary and a pass rush that has been much better in 2022. Illinois ranks first in passing defense (152.6 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense, allowing just 10.44 points per game.
Costly turnovers and empty red-zone trips cost the Illini in their 23-15 loss to Michigan State at home last week.
Losses at Wisconsin and to Iowa in back-to-back weeks have put the Boilermakers in a position where they must win to keep their division title hopes within reach. If Illinois wins Saturday, it would clinch the division with a win over either Michigan or Northwestern; Illinois already holds tiebreakers over Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
