Every week, AnnArbor.com sportswriters Dave Birkett and Mike Rothstein preview Michigan's upcoming football game. This week, they debate what happened to Illinois and whether Michigan will become bowl eligible.

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor News

Michael Rothstein: Ever feel like you're in the same boat of watching the same thing week after week. Welcome to the world of Illinois. Or, for that matter, much of Michigan's season, too. This game presents a lot of intrigue for me. I can't believe Illinois is this bad, but apparently the Illini are. It was, by far, my worst pick of the season. Juice Williams has regressed. Arrelious Benn can't get the football and the defense, well, if you think Michigan's defense is bad...

Dave Birkett: I do think Michigan's defense is bad, as a matter of fact, but having watched Illinois play twice, I can safely say the Illini's defense is worse. I'll cut them a little bit of slack in that they lost two of their best defenders (Martez Wilson and Miami Thomas) to injury, but they haven't held an FBS team to fewer than 24 points all year. As for Michigan, I know everyone's a little down now coming off the Penn State game and with three straight Big Ten losses and all the off-field turmoil swirling. But just as everyone got a little carried away with the 4-0 start, people aren't giving Michigan enough credit now. I expect a big bounce back this week.

MR: I understand your entire logic and reasoning. In some cases, I agree with it, too. I don't think Michigan is the worst team in the Big Ten and I absolutely think Illinois is. But just because you're the worst team doesn't mean you have the worst talent level as Illinois has some NFL players on it. My point, though, is this. I don't think Michigan is that much better than Illinois, at least not what I've seen this season. The Wolverines - this is often a characteristic of building teams - have played to the level of the opponent in most of their games this year. And if I'm Rich Rodriguez, that is what scares me. With this year's Michigan team I think the lines (save Brandon Graham) haven't been given enough credit for what they've done and freshman quarterback Tate Forcier, as you said, maybe got a little too hyped too soon (and I'm admittedly guilty on that one). I don't think Michigan was as bad as it looked last week, but I think you're giving the Wolverines more credit than they maybe deserve. That defensive back seven/eight is pretty shaky and quarterback play, well, it hasn't been good.

DB: If Benn had someone who could consistently get him the ball, I'd have no doubt he'd be in for a big game. But Williams hasn't shown he can do that this year and it's a little too early to expect much out of backup Jacob Charest. Technically, Illinois is still in the bowl hunt and the game is at home (in one of the least intimidating Big Ten environments) and on Halloween, so I guess anything can happen. But Michigan's been able to put points on every bad defense it's played this year. With or without Brandon Minor and David Molk, I don't think that's going to be a problem Saturday.

MR: I agree with your assessment, except the Illinois defense has been going against the zone read option in practice for a lot of the year since that's a good portion of what the Illini run as well. So I don't think the adjustment factor will be there. That said, I expect Michigan to score a bunch. I think Illinois will score as well. Losing Minor, if he is, in fact, out, will be critical but if Carlos Brown can stay in the game and not fumble you have to like the Wolverines at least a little bit. I'm taking Michigan, but I'm taking the Wolverines close, 28-21, with a late turnover by Juice.

DB: If that happens, I hope Ron Zook goes all Mike Leach and blames "fat little girlfriends" for Illinois missing out on a bowl game this year. Actually, I think the game will be close, too - for a quarter. When everybody's jumping off the bandwagon I see signs of life ahead. Brown's going to have a big day like all running backs do against Illinois, and Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson both cure their turnover problems, at least for a day. Michigan in a romp, 42-21.