FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (57,078) -- Champaign, Illinois. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Ball State 2-2, Illinois 3-1. Away Record: Ball State 3-1, Illinois 2-1. Neutral Record: Ball State 0-0, Illinois 0-1. Conference Record: Ball State 3-2, Illinois 3-2. Series Record: First- ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The Ball State Cardinals will try to remain in the win column when they battle the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. The Cardinals have won two of their last three games heading into this matchup and the most recent victory came this past weekend, as the Cardinals slipped past Western Michigan, 27-23. Ball State will continue its Big Ten run next weekend when the team travels to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers. As for the Illini, they have lost two consecutive games, falling to Iowa (10-6) and most recently Michigan (27-17). It does not get any easier for Illinois after this weekend, as the team will hit the road to face Minnesota and top-ranked Ohio State. In regards to the all-time series between the two schools on the gridiron, this will be the first-ever meeting.

The Cardinals have been a well-oiled machine offensively, as the team is averaging 163.1 ypg on the ground, while also throwing for 288.8 ypg. All that yardage has added up to an impressive 34.2 ppg. In the recent four-point win over Western Michigan, quarterback Nate Davis took over the game with his arm, throwing for 358 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-48 passing. Dante Love finished the contest with an impressive 11 receptions for 101 yards. Davis has been sensational this season for BSU, as the signal-caller has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 2,286 yards and 20 scores against only three interceptions. As for Love, he has been the main target for Davis, as the wideout has hauled in 55 balls for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. Since losing MiQuale Lewis to a knee injury the Cardinals have been led by Frank Edmonds on the ground and the tailback has done a solid job, rushing for 388 yards and six touchdowns.

The main problem for Ball State this season has been its play defensively, especially against the run, as opponents are gashing the Cardinals for a whopping 214.9 ypg. Overall this unit has been abused for 427.0 total ypg and that has led to 26.1 ppg. This past weekend against WMU, the defense struggled again, surrendering 433 total yards, including a whopping 196 yards on 44 carries. However, despite another poor performance against the run the Cardinals were able to hold on to the victory. A big key to the win was the three turnovers forced by the unit and the four sacks recorded. The team has done a mediocre job in both areas, forcing 17 turnovers, while collecting 14 sacks. Brandon Crawford has been a dominant force on the front line for Ball State, as the lineman has recorded 11 TFLs and five sacks.

The main source of production for the Illinois offense has come from its ground game, which has pounded opponents for 230.1 ypg. Overall this offense is averaging a mediocre 376.9 total ypg which has led to 25.5 ppg. Rashard Mendenhall has easily been the top performer for this unit, as the tailback has rushed for 924 yards and 10 touchdowns on 6.3 ypc. In the recent loss to Michigan, the Illini had a tough time getting the ground game going, as the team finished with only 137 yards on 31 totes. Mendenhall was held to just 85 yards on 18 carries, while backup Daniel Dufrene added 21 yards and one score. The passing attack was stagnant, as QB Juice Williams completed just 8-of-14 passes for just 70 yards and one touchdown. Williams has been a bit inconsistent on the year, as the signal-caller has completed 55.6 percent of his passes for just 786 yards and six scores against six interceptions.

Defensively the Illini have been mediocre at best, as the team is yielding 359.5 ypg, and that has led to 19.6 ppg. The biggest issue for this unit has been its inability to stop the pass, as opponents are averaging 252 ypg. In the recent setback to Michigan, the defense surrendered 343 total yards, with 228 yards coming via the pass, along with three touchdowns. The defense was able to force three turnovers, while also collecting four sacks, but it was not enough to post the victory. Illinois has done well in both areas and heads into this matchup with 17 forced miscues and an outstanding 26 sacks. Will Davis has been a monster on the front line for Illinois, as the lineman has recorded 9.5 TFLs to go along with 6.5 sacks.

Illinois has had some trouble against the pass, so the Cardinals should be able to hang in this contest. However, the bottom line is Mendenhall and Williams should have no trouble running through a Ball State defense that is ranked 110th in the nation against the run.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Illinois 38, Ball State 28