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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a rebuilding season for Illinois, even the homecoming opponent is coming to town with a winning record and payback on its mind.For the second time in three season Illinois (2-5, 1/3 Big Ten) has lined up Minnesota as its homecoming opposition. Last time the Illini upset a Golden Gophers team that competing for a Big Ten West title, winning 28-24 on a late fumble returned for a touchdown.Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner was there, and he says it was one of the first things coach Tracy Claeys stressed to the Golden Gophers (5-2, 2-2) this week. Not that Claeys needed to, Leidner said.Guys are hungry and excited to go down there and redeem ourselves, the redshirt senior said.The Gophers are coming off a comeback win of their own, 34-32 over Rutgers, a team Illinois beat by 17.But after last weeks 41-8 los at Michigan, the Illini arent talking about their win two seasons ago or the win over Rutgers two weeks ago.We lost big, first-year coach Lovie Smith said. This isnt a week to talk about any of us, improvement weve made.QUARTERBACK QUESTIONSSmith refuses to discuss injuries with reporters, leaving everyone outside his team guessing the this week and last about who would start at quarterback with injuries to usual starter Wes Lunt (back), backup Chayce Crouch (shoulder). Third-string quarterback Jeff George Jr., the son the former NFL QB, started at Michigan and could see the field again this week. If so, Smith thinks the redshirt freshman will show he learned a lot from his 4-15, 95-yard day at Michigan.I think, traditionally, yes, you get that, Smith said. When you get out in the game you learn an awful lot about how life really is under center.HAVING HARDINThe Gophers will benefit from cornerback KiAnte Hardin being back in the starting lineup. The sophomore was out last Saturday against Rutgers, one of five players barred from TCF Bank Stadium because of a restraining order later requested by an alleged victim of a Sept. 2 incident who works at the stadium on game days. Hardin, whos tied for the team lead with two interceptions, also missed three games earlier this season during a team-issued suspension during a police investigation that produced no arrests or charges.Because the Gophers are on the road, though, Hardin will be free to play against the Illini.One of our 11 best players, and we count on him when hes available to us, Claeys said.LINING UPThe Gophers started three junior-college transfers on the offensive line last week with left tackle Donnell Greene, right guard Vincent Calhoun and right tackle Garrison Wright. Only one starter, center Tyler Moore, was in the lineup last season. But the group has not only helped pave the way for a productive rushing attack led by Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, but it has allowed only five sacks, the fewest in the Big Ten and eighth-fewest in FBS.Every single week before the game, on Friday, we get a tips and reminder sheet, left guard Jared Weyler said. And every single week, one of those bullet points is no sacks and no hits. We take a lot of pride in protecting Mitch.RUNNING PREFERREDIn a season of run-heavy offenses in the Big Ten, Minnesota and Illinois are among the teams most reliant on the ground game. The Gophers average 212.4 rushing yards a game and Illinois averages 173.7.RED ZONE PROSPECTSMinnesotas scoring defense hasnt been bad, giving up 22.9 points a game. But when Illinois finds itself in the Gopher red zone, the Illini have to like their chances. The Gophers red zone defense is the worst in the Big Ten, giving up scores on 19 of the 20 trips. Thirteen of those have been touchdowns.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP---Online:Associated Press college football coverage: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org/ Air Max Rea Sverige .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Air Max Skor Online . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. http://www.airmaxsverige.com/ . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Air Max Rabatt . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Air Max Sverige . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are working to avoid giving the Cincinnati Bengals additional motivation before their Week 2 matchup on Sunday.On Wednesday, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said the Steelers wont be looking for payback despite the Bengals role in the injuries of Pittsburghs top-three playmakers last season. Bengals Linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who is suspended for three games for a continued pattern of egregious play, pulled down Steelers running back LeVeon Bell on the play that ended his season with a knee injury, and he put big hits on Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown in the Bengals AFC wild-card loss.Thats not who we are, said Roethlisberger about retaliating. Its a physical football game and a physical division. Thats what we expect, a physical football game -- clean.Roethlisberger wouldnt bite on the evolution of the Steelers-Bengals matchup, which featured more than $100,000 in player fines, pregame scuffles, social media sparring and player-to-coach beefing.Whether its the Browns, the Bengals or Ravens, to us they are all big division rivals, Roethlisberger said.The closest thing to a scintillating quote in the Steelers locker room on Wednesday came from defensive end Cam Heyward, who called Steelers-Bengals the second-biggest rivalry in the AFC North. Many Steelers still consider the Raveens, armed with two Super Bowls, their primary rival.ddddddddddddThe Bengals and Steelers create physical matchups, but the two are still developing a history, Heyward said.Its not a slight on the Bengals. The Ravens have won Super Bowls, weve won Super Bowls, Heyward said.Asked about the animosity between both teams, Heyward said: What animosity? We got the win last year. At the end of the day, thats all were trying to do.In similar fashion, the Bengals have stayed mostly tight-lipped about Pittsburgh. Cornerback Adam Jones, whose scuffle with Steelers assistant Joey Porter earned the Bengals a costly 15-yard penalty in the final seconds of the playoff game, has declined comment about Pittsburgh.Roethlisberger expressed respect for the Bengals, calling their defense very, very good and Burfict a great player. Burfict dislocated Roethlisbergers shoulder on a playoff sack, and when Roethlisberger returned to the lineup for the games final drive, Burfict disrupted his passing attempt to Brown with a vicious helmet-to-helmet shot on the star receiver. Brown suffered a concussion and missed the Steelers divisional playoff loss to the Broncos.One of the best defenses in the league, Roethlisberger said. ' ' '