The News-Gazette sports staff will take a crack at predicting the winner of the Illinois game each week. Don't agree with them? Let them know by email at sports@news-gazette.com
Bob Asmussen | Football beat writer
Go to the start of the season. Would you have ever guessed the teams would be in their current state? Illinois was 2-0 and had South Florida on the ropes in the third game. Northwestern started 1-2, losing to, gulp, Duke, and, double gulp, Akron. The winner of today's game gets a cool trophy. And the hat goes to .