Once 6-0 and standing at the top of the conference standings, Illinois has now lost three in a row and is in desperate need of a win. No. 22 Michigan, coming off a tough road loss to Iowa, is hoping to prove it can win on the road against a formidable Big Ten opponent.

The two teams combined for 132 points in the Wolverines' 67-65 triple overtime victory last season, but both squads feature much-improved defenses this year. Here’s what to expect on Saturday in Champaign:

Michigan pass offense vs. Illinois pass defense

Since the arrival of defensive coordinator Vic Koenning in 2010, the Fighting Illini defense has done nothing but improve. Last season, Illinois finished 61st in the country in passing defense — up 39 spots from 2009. This year, the Illini are giving up just 177.2 yards per game in the air, good for eighth in the nation. Defensive end Whitney Mercilus leads the NCAA with 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles this season, and bandit Michael Buchanan is second in the nation with six sacks.

If there’s one quarterback who has the ability to escape a sack, it’s junior Denard Robinson. But it’s what Robinson has done after escaping pressure that has been an issue this season. Robinson has already thrown 12 interceptions — he threw 11 all of last year. Fifth-year senior receiver Junior Hemingway leads an experienced Michigan receiving corps with 25 receptions, but against a stout Illinois secondary led by junior cornerback Terry Hawthorne, who is second in the Big Ten in passes defended per game, the Wolverines may very well struggle in the air once again.

Edge: Illinois

Michigan rush offense vs. Illinois rush defense

If the Illinois pass defense is good, the rush defense is great. The Fighting Illini lead the Big Ten, allowing just 103 yards on the ground per game. Not only is Mercilus first in the nation in sacks, but he’s third in tackles for loss with 1.83 per game. Linebacker Jonathan Brown is a force in the middle, leading the team with 69 tackles.

Robinson leads the Michigan ground attack, averaging 98 yards per game. After a 20-carry, 170-yard performance against Purdue, redshirt sophomore Fitzgerald Toussaint has finally taken reigns as the starting running back, although he missed much of the second half against Iowa last week with a shoulder injury. He’s expected to play against the Fighting Illini, but he’ll probably need to have the best game of his career if he’s going to be nearly as successful against Illinois as he was against the Boilermakers.

Edge: Illinois

Illinois pass offense vs. Michigan pass defense

Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is the Fighting Illini’s version of Robinson. He’s an average passer, throwing for 187 yards per game, compared to Robinson’s 180. However, Scheelhaase has thrown just five interceptions to Robinson’s 12. Illinois also has one of the best wide receivers in the nation in senior A.J. Jenkins. Jenkins is by far Scheelhaase’s favorite target. He’s caught nearly 50 percent of Scheelhaase’s completions and leads the Big Ten with 114 receiving yards per game.

But other than Jenkins, Illinois is very average in the passing game. That should bode well for Michigan, which is ranked sixth in the Big Ten in pass defense, giving up 192 yards per game. The Wolverines’ secondary, much improved since last year, has benefited from the emergence of freshman cornerback Blake Countess, who has provided some depth and speed. Redshirt junior safety Jordan Kovacs, who returned to the field last week after missing the Purdue game with a knee injury, continues to be a vocal leader, and redshirt junior linebacker Kenny Demens leads the team in tackles with 66.

With a healthy secondary, Michigan sneaks away with the edge in this one, but the Wolverines’ success will come down to how well they can contain Jenkins.

Edge: Michigan

Illinois rush offense vs. Michigan rush defense

Like Robinson, Scheelhaase leads his team in rushing yards per game, though Scheelaase’s numbers are nowhere near as impressive as Robinson’s. Scheelhaase averages 55.7 yards on the ground, just over a yard more than running back Jason Ford. Senior Troy Pollard has not had many carries this season but has made the most of his opportunities, averaging over eight yards on 48 total carries.