CHAMPAIGN - On paper, it should be easy.

But history and common sense say that when Illinois goes to Minnesota on Saturday night in search of football victory No. 7, it probably won't be.

Just in case, Illini football players said Monday they are taking no chances. They expect the 1-8 Golden Gophers to be plotting a way to ruin someone's season, and no one should be surprised if rookie head coach Tim Brewster has a special motivational speech cooked up for his team.

After all, Brewster was Illinois' starting tight end when it went to the Rose Bowl after the 1983 season, and he was passed over for a shot at the Illini coaching job three years ago when Ron Zook was the choice to replace Ron Turner.

"He played before I was born," Illini linebacker J Leman said Monday. "I know he was a pretty good tight end here and caught a lot of balls. That's as far as my knowledge goes."

Of more importance to Leman and his teammates is being sharp against a struggling Minnesota team that is dangerous in its desperation to win another game.

Minnesota's losses have come against opponents such as Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic and North Dakota State. The only victory was a triple overtime decision against Miami (Ohio) back on Sept. 8.

"They are definitely looking to spoil someone's season," offensive lineman Martin O'Donnell said. "We've been in that position before. It's the kind of thing where you look at every week as an opportunity to ruin someone's year. We know they are going to come out and fight."

Illinois has some motivating factors of its own.

For one, veteran players like Leman and O'Donnell remember what happened the last time Illinois went to the Metrodome. "We lost 45-0 (in 2004)," O'Donnell recalled. "It was embarrassing. I know we'll be motivated to go there and play well. It's not something you forget."

For another, even though Illinois became bowl-eligible with its sixth victory last week against Ball State, the glut of bowl-bound teams places added importance on winning a seventh game.

And there's an insistence that no one dressed in orange and blue will look beyond Minnesota to the Nov. 10 game at No. 1-ranked Ohio State, a contest that ABC will televise at 2:30 p.m.

"It's not hard to focus at all," quarterback Juice Williams said. "I haven't even thought about Ohio State yet. My main focus is on Minnesota and trying to figure out some things we can do against their defense."

Teams have done all kinds of things against a Minnesota defense that is ranked last out of 119 Division-I football teams. That includes a ranking of 103rd against the run (allowing 204.4 yards a game) and 119th against the pass (332.22 yards per game).

Minnesota did play competitively for a time last week at Michigan, leading 10-0 early and 10-6 late in the second quarter before the Wolverines got untracked.

Minnesota's upset hopes would seem to hinge on its ability to throw the football. Redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Weber has passed for 2,145 yards and 19 touchdowns and pass defense has not been Illinois' strength.

"I've said it before, but when it comes to Big Ten games, stats and records mean nothing," Leman cautioned. "We were 2-10 last year, and I felt we were a really good ball club. That kind of stuff can be deceiving."

Defensive honor

Illinois' Will Davis has been named to the Ted Hendricks Award watch list for the nation's top defensive end.

Davis has 31 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.