Going into the game against Penn State a week ago, the Michigan football team was facing a walk-on at quarterback and a defense that has been severely depleted by injuries. Despite all of that, the Nittany Lions handled the Wolverines for the majority of the game before allowing a brief fourth-quarter comeback.

Michigan will be taking on a very different and much better beast Saturday at noon. Illinois boasts a middle-of-the-road offense statistically — its 26 points per game ranks 62nd in the country — but one of the nation's better defenses, which ranks 12th in points allowed.

The Illini at 5-3 have no quality wins but some very quality losses. No team they've beaten has cracked the top 25, but they lost to Missouri by 10 in the first game of the year and to Ohio State by 11 on Oct. 2.

Though they have identical records, Illinois and Michigan are on opposite trajectories. The Illini have won two in a row and are looking to continue their hot streak. Michigan has lost three in a row and are trying desperately to make sure this season doesn't end up like the last.

Michigan pass offense vs. Illinois pass defense

Sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson is coming off a very good bounce-back game against Penn State in which he completed nearly 50 percent of his passes for 190 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He was knocked out of the game briefly and hurt his hip, but it shouldn't bother him this week.

Illinois's secondary has been improving this year, but has a reputation of giving up the big play. Michigan has plenty of wide receivers who are due for some big plays and if they can take advantage of some holes in the Illini defensive backfield Robinson will have a big day through the air.

Edge: Michigan

Michigan rush offense vs. Illinois rush defense

After being declared healthy for the first time in weeks before Penn State, Robinson had a great day on the ground, racking up 191 rushing yards and three touchdowns. While that was against Penn State's depleted defense, there's little doubt he'll be able to run the ball against Illinois because he's Denard Robinson.

The question is whether the Michigan running backs will shoulder any of the load. Last week, sophomore Vincent Smith gained just 25 yards on nine carries and freshman Stephen Hopkins ran for 14 yards on five carries. Their production needs to go up if Michigan wants to have a sustained rushing attack.

The Illinois defense is allowing opponents to gain just 3.6 yards per carry, but Robinson isn't just any opponent.

Edge: Michigan

Illinois pass offense vs. Michigan pass defense

Michigan must have done something to really piss off the secondary gods.

After losing senior Troy Woolfolk in the preseason to a season-ending injury, the Wolverine secondary was already painfully thin. This week we learned that redshirt sophomore J.T. Floyd, Michigan's most consistent cornerback, will be out for the remainder of the season because of an ankle injury in practice, leaving the secondary with one non-freshman starter — senior James Rogers, who started the year as a wide receiver.

The young backfield will have its hands full. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is a dual threat and quite accurate, completing 61 percent of his passes. The secondary will likely have trouble keeping an eye on him and wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, Illinois's best at the position.

Edge: Illinois

Illinois rush offense vs. Michigan rush defense

Michigan's front seven will be dealing with Scheelhaase in the run game almost as much as the secondary will be dealing with his passing. The freshman is the Illini's second-leading rusher behind running back Mikel Leshoure and has two touchdowns on the ground this season.

Junior nosetackle Mike Martin, the anchor of Michigan's defensive line, is listed as probable to play which means he likely won't be at full strength after injuring his ankle early in the game against Penn State. Even so, the Wolverines allowed Penn State running back Evan Royster to run all over them last week as the back accounted for more than 150 yards on the ground.

Leshoure has already racked up 780 yards rushing on the season.