NEWS » Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in fron

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Looking at the schedule back in August, Michigan State-Illinois was not a game many people would have guessed would pit a pair of 2-6 teams against each other.When the teams meet on Saturday, theyll bring identical records to the field, along with losing streaks and injury problems that might make them look a lot alike.Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio and Illinois leader Lovie Smith even sound a little alike in diagnosing their seasons so far.Obviously, were not where we thought we would be at the beginning of the season, Dantonio said. We are playing a lot of young players, going through some injuries, different things of that sort.Smith offered similar thoughts on his team this week: We want our team to play to the best of its ability every week. That hasnt happened. ... Weve won two games. Thats who we are right now.Michigan State (0-5 Big Ten) and Illinois (1-4) have some key differences, too. Here are some things to keep an eye on when they meet Saturday:AT QUARTERBACK?Neither team is settled at quarterback.Illinois starter Wes Lunt hasnt played in almost a month and second-stringer Chayce Crouch is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Smith doesnt discuss injuries ahead of a game, but there is a chance that redshirt freshman Jeff George Jr. will see his third straight start. He was 16 of 34 for 56 yards and a touchdown in last Saturdays loss to Minnesota, modest numbers but an improvement from his first start at Michigan.The Spartans lost Brian Lewerke to a broken leg against Michigan, leaving them with fifth-year senior Tyler OConnor and junior Damion Terry.While Michigan State has an edge here in experience, Dantonio doesnt sound so sure.The quarterback position is a little bit in flux there, I would say. When the quarterback situation is in flux whether due to injury or production, you know, theres going to be inconsistency, he said.RUN GAMESBoth Illinois and Michigan State rely on the run, and their production is remarkably similar -- the Illini average 163.1 yards a game, the Spartans 163 .But there are differences, and they favor MSU. The Spartans ran the ball for 217 yards last Saturday against Michigan, a defense thats giving up just over half that on average and is ranked second in the Big Ten. When Illinois went to Michigan two weeks ago, the Illini managed just 77 yards on the ground.MICHIGAN TESTOther aspects of their games against Michigan illustrate the differences between the two-win teams.The Illini, in Georges first start, lost 41-8. They trailed 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and were never in the game. The Spartans were down by 17 at halftime but pulled within a touchdown in the fourth quarter before falling 32-23.I think weve had an opportunity to win every single game weve played, Dantonio said.WHATS AT STAKEThe loser on Saturday will have no possibility for six wins, bowl eligibility and will finish with a losing season. For Illinois, it would the fifth losing season in a row. Michigan State hasnt had a losing season since 2009.LOVIES SITUATIONFormer NFL coach Smith is in his first season at Illinois, hired to rebuild the program. But he spent part of his week denying that there was any truth in an ESPN.com report based on anonymous sources that hes unhappy enough at Illinois to leave after a single season.Am I happy right now with where we are? No, no one on our football team is happy where we are right now, Smith said. My time in Champaign, its a little bit bigger that just where we are right now.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP----More AP college football: www. collegefootball.ap.org Custom Suns Jersey China . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Suns Jerseys China . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.customsunsjersey.com/ .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Penny Hardaway Jersey Large . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Authentic Custom Suns Jersey . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. PARIS -- French defender Jeremy Mathieu is quitting international football to focus on his club career with Barcelona.A day after he was removed from the France squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Mathieu told Saturdays edition of LEquipe newspaper that he lacks the motivation to keep going.France coach Didier Deschamps did not specify why he had removed Mathieu from the squad.The 32-year-old Mathieu, who has five caps with France, missed tthe European Championship this year because of a calf injury.dddddddddddd.Mathieu said he wants to make room for the younger players who will be playing at the 2018 World Cup if France qualifies.France hosts Bulgaria on Oct. 7 at the Stade de France before traveling to play the Netherlands three days later in Group A. ' ' '