Hoosier Hysteria!!! Oh yeah, there's a football game too.

55-13. That was the embarrassing score from last season's butt-kicking in Champaign. The IU players were pointing to that game as a source of motivation during the offseason. They talked about the feelings they had while getting blasted by an opponent. It must not have hurt that bad, they let it happen again last week. I really have no idea of what to expect this Saturday. The game comes one day after Hoosier Hysteria and it is the Homecoming game. The Big Ten Network decided to make it their primetime game. IU is 3-3, they have three winnable games left on the schedule (Illinois, NW, PU). That makes this game a must-win if the Hoosiers are going to make a run at a bowl game.

3. Don't let Illinois get on track
The Illini have been horrible this season. They are 1-4 (0-3) with losses to Missouri, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State. Their only win is against Illinois State and the losses have all been by double-digits. QB Juice Williams was benched prior to last week's game against the Spartans. Eddie McGee got the start but was putrid and Williams replaced him in the second half. The Juice is expected to get the call on Saturday night. He torched IU's secondary last season and will be looking at this game as a chance to turn his senior season around. The key for IU is to not let the Illini feel good about themselves. IU needs to get off to a good start. If Illinois jumps out to a lead, they might forget about how much they have struggled this season. Illinois has more talent than IU and if they get their confidence back, it could be another long night in Bloomington.

2. Can Darius Willis Play?
This has become a weekly issue. Darius Willis has a nagging ankle injury that is in desperate need of a bye week. Unfortunately, this is not the NFL and the Hoosiers don't have any bye weeks. IU needs the talented redshirt freshman in the worst year but he is questionable. If Willis can go, I am confident in the Hoosiers ability to run the ball effectively. I think Willis can average 4 to 4.5 yards a carry in this game. However, if he cannot go, Demetrius McCray, Trea Burgess, Bryan Payton and even Zach Davis-Walker are going to have to find a way to run the ball effectively. I am setting the target at 130 yards rushing. I think the Hoosiers get to that mark if Willis plays. If he is unable to go, they will struggle to break 100.

1. Which "D" Will Show Up?
The Indiana Hoosiers defense was impressive during the first four weeks of the season. They contained Western Michigan and Akron and played well enough to win at Michigan. Ohio State carved them up, but that was to be expected. Last week, the Hoosiers were absolutely defenseless against a previously struggling Virginia offense. I think IU needs to hold Illinois under 400 yards of offense and keep them under 24 points. Illinois' star receiver, Arrelious Benn is going to play but he is not 100%. Juice Williams has digressed from where the player he was a year ago. Jason Ford and Daniel Dufrene have not been able to hit the big play this season. The Illini offense is struggling and there is no reason IU can't keep it that way. The big question is whether or not they will show up. If they play like they did at UVA, Illinois will put up 55 again.

Prediction

I decided after the Virginia game that I would not predict another Hoosier victory until I saw them battle back. I would not be surprised if Indiana won this game. However, I don't think Darius Willis will play. When he doesn't play, IU can't run the ball. When they can't run the play, the offense seems to fall apart. Illinois will get on track early and march away with a victory on IU's homecoming, 31-20 Illinois. My prediction does not stand if Darius Willis plays.

This is another very important game for the Hoosiers. They absolutely failed last week's test but they can grab their fourth win this week and give themselves a shot a bowl game. Northwestern is next week and the Purdue game looks winnable. Ron Zook is under fire and the Illini are in the middle of an extraordinary collapse. Two seasons ago, Illinois was in the Rose Bowl and they were recruiting very well. This season, they look like a train wreck and the heat is being turned up on the Zooker. The loser of this game will feel his seat get a little hotter and can kiss hopes of a bowl game goodbye. This is IU's last chance to stay in the spotlight in Bloomington. Hoosier Hysteria is Friday night, a loss on Saturday would turn the IU sports calendar to basketball season.