This preview is going to be a brief one. . .if you want a longer, more in-depth preview, be sure to check our our own Ted Glover's work over at Off Tackle Empire.
I have a hard time disagreeing with Ted on this one. Baylor's Robert Griffin is one of the most explosive players in college football, but the Illini can counter with a time bomb of their own in running back Mikel LeShoure. Both offenses are capable of putting up a lot of points, but the Baylor defense has given up a ton of points to close out the season. Literally, a ton. . .they lost their last five games of the season by giving up 45, 42, 55, 42, and 53 points. The Illini defense isn't great or anything, but they're sure as heck better than that.
This should be a fairly close match-up, but if the Illini can minimize Griffin's impact in some way, then they should be able to control the ball and get enough stops on defense to come out with a victory.
SB Nation Minnesota prediction: Illinois 34, Baylor 27
SB Nation Minnesota record thus far: 6-6 (counting Maryland's impending victory in the Military Bowl, which I totally had.)