The “Don’t stop Beilemaing” Game Thread: Rutgers at Illinois

How To Watch, Stream & Listen

Rutgers (3-4; 0-4) at Illinois (3-5; 2-3)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Kick-off: Saturday, October 30 at 12:00 PM ET

Weather: 57 degrees, mostly cloudy with a 14% chance of rain, 14 mph winds

TV: BTN with Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (color), Elise Menaker (sideline)

BTN Gamefinder

Stream: FOX Sports App

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network (WCTC 14-50-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 381) with Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Julian Pinnix-Odrick (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline); WRSU 88.7 FM - Dennis Geissler & Doug Willig

Current Spread: Rutgers -1.5

Series History: Illinois leads 5-2, Illini defeated Rutgers 23-20 last season

Illinois SB Nation Site: The Champaign Room

Game Preview

We are in a strange time where Rutgers is favored on the road for a second straight week, which is odd in its own right, coupled with a lack of confidence from the fan base that they can actually win. This is such a huge swing game with how the season can finish and be perceived. Illinois is coming off a top ten win at Penn State and have beaten RU four of the last five.

Winning this game would make the final month of the season much more compelling. It would end the six year series with Illinois on a high note. It would give this team some much needed confidence down the stretch. Can they do it?

Slowing down the Illini run game is paramount. Limiting big plays and forcing takeaways is critical as well. On offense, establishing a run game and sustaining drives is so important. Limiting penalties and turnovers is as well.

Will Rutgers look like a rejuvenated team coming off a bye week that is staring for its first Big Ten win of the season? Or will it be more of the same that we saw against Northwestern two weeks ago? It’s time to find out.

Join us in the comment section during the action and follow us on Twitter at @OTB_SBNation for live commentary.