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FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (70,900) -- Champaign, Illinois. Television:BTN. Home Record: MSU 2-1, Illinois 1-1. Away Record: MSU 0-2, Illinois 0-1. Neutral Record: MSU 0-0, Illinois 0-1. Conference Record: MSU 1-1, Illinois 0-2. Series Record: Michigan State leads, 23-17-2.

GAME NOTES: The Michigan State Spartans will try to build off their biggest win of the season, as they face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Big Ten play at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

The Spartans are coming off a season-changing win last weekend, as they upset then 22nd-ranked and rival Michigan, 26-20, in overtime. MSU, which defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor last year for the first time since 1990, has now won two straight over its rival for the first since 1967. It marked the Spartans' first win over an FBS program this season and ended their losing streak, which consisted of three losses by a combined 13 points.

As for Illinois, it is just 1-3 on the year, with its lone win coming over a FCS opponent and all three of its losses occurring against teams currently ranked in the Top 25. Most recently, the team hosted Penn State and was outdone, 35-17, in Champaign. It was the second straight difficult league game for the Illini, which opened Big Ten play with a 30-0 loss at Ohio State.

With regard to the all-time series, MSU holds a 23-17-2 lead over Illinois, although the Illini snagged 23-20 victory in the most recent meeting in 2006.

MSU rolled up 417 yards of total offense, as it overcame three turnovers and a late rally from Michigan for a 26-20 overtime victory. The Spartans gained 197 yards on the ground and that included a 23-yard touchdown run by Larry Caper to win the game in overtime. Caper had a pair of touchdowns in the game while helping MSU exceed its season average of 133.6 rushing ypg. Quarterback Kirk Cousins led the ground game with 75 rushing yards last weekend, but he wasn't as successful through the air, throwing for 152 yards and two interceptions. Cousins, who has thrown for 1,002 yards and seven scores on the year, was slowed by an ankle injury late in the game and Keith Nichol managed the offense for most of the fourth quarter and overtime. Nichol hit on 5-of-8 tosses for 68 yards and would get the call if Cousins' injury is more serious than believed. Blair White and B.J. Cunningham are the team's leading receivers and they combined for 11 catches and 122 yards last weekend. On the season, White leads the team with 29 catches, 399 yards and four scores, while Cunningham ranks second with 24 receptions for 318 yards and three touchdowns.

The Spartans' defense shut down Michigan until the final five minutes, when the Wolverines scored a pair of touchdowns, including one with two seconds left, to force overtime. The two drives accounted for 160 of Michigan's mere 251 total yards, showing how dominant MSU's defense was up to that point. The unit though, atoned for its late-game lapse by intercepting Michigan in overtime and setting the stage for the offense. The Spartans forced a pair of turnovers and recorded three sacks, while holding Michigan to only 28 rushing yards. MSU has been stout versus the run this season and is allowing just 96.4 rushing ypg with only two touchdowns. Greg Jones has played a big part in stopping the run and his 60 tackles are nearly double the next closest player on the roster. Against Michigan, Jones turned in a balanced effort that consisted of eight stops, a fumble recovery and half a sack.

Illinois' offense did very little against PSU for most of the game, as a large chunk of the team's 393 total yards came when the contest was well out of reach. The Illini, surprisingly, have had issues on the offensive side of the ball this season and is managing only 17.8 ppg behind 359.0 total ypg. Quarterback Juice Williams has certainly been a big disappointment for Illinois thus far and he has thrown for just 519 yards, with one touchdown and four picks. The dual-threat gunslinger has 152 rushing yards, but is still not on pace to meet the 719 rushing yards he had in 2008. Despite a pair of turnovers last weekend, Williams at least showed some life by leading the rushing attack with 58 yards and a score and throwing for 263 yards and another touchdown. Still, it wasn't enough to secure his job, as head coach Ron Zook announced that redshirt junior Eddie McGee will get the nod this week. McGee has appeared in three games this season, completing 19-of-30 passes, for 211 yards and one TD.

The defense for the Illini has done little to help compensate for the team's offensive woes, as the unit is surrendering 417.8 total ypg, including 183.8 ypg on the ground this season. Facing Penn State's inconsistent offense last weekend, Illinois was carved up for 513 yards, with 338 of those coming on the ground. The defense was simply pushed around, as Penn State averaged 8.4 yards per carry and scored five times via the run. The Illini forced one turnover to bring its season total to a disappointing six and was also held without a sack. Getting to the quarterback has been an issue for Illinois, which has notched only four sacks thus far. Ian Thomas paces the defense with 32 tackles on the year and he had eight in last weekend's loss.

The Spartans are coming off a big win and they should be able to use their momentum and another solid team effort to prevail over an Illini club that is in desperate need of a spark.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Michigan State 30, Illinois 24