Badgers 29-Point Favorites In Saturday Big Ten Game At Illinois

The odds-makers don’t give Illinois much chance of hurting the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers in Saturday’s Big Ten Conference game.  Coach Paul Chryst’s team is a 29-point favorite and has thrashed the Illini nine straight years.  Illinois coach Lovie Smith – a respected former N-F-L defensive coordinator and head coach – was given a two-year extension to his contract before the season, but it hasn’t worked out so far.  Illinois started with a pair of wins but is mired in a four-game losing streak coming into this weekend.  Smith’s teams have lost 26-of-30 conference games during his four years.