14A The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 21, 2000
Irish accent Big
Ten openers
By Michael Berger
For the Daily
Are you ready for some smash-
mouth football? The Big Ten football
season is upon us and it's up for grabs.
Here is a preview of the first week's
games:
NORTHWESTERN
WiscoNsIN (3-0):
the Wildcats went
to the Rose Bowl'
a few years ago?
Oh, you don't
remember either.
Well, they have
(2-I) AT No. 6
Remember when
Across the
who rushed for 290 yards two weeks
ago against Oregon, will be back.
Wisconsin will pound the ball all,
day long through the Wildcats' inexpe-
rienced defense.
Even though Wisconsin will be
without all-American cornerback
Jamar Fletcher, the Wildcats don't
have a good enough passing game to
hurt Wisconsin. The Badgers will win
their 12th in a row convincingly.
Wisconsin 35, Northwestern 10
PENN STATE (1-3) AT No. 12 OHio
STATE (3-0): John Cooper is a lot hap-
pier these days in Columbus. His team
is looting like it has improved from a
medioci; 6-6 record and the trustees
are not calling for his head on a platter
(yet).
Penn State is off to one of its worst
starts in Happy Valley history.
The Nittany Lions have only rushed
for a 100 yards in a game once this
season. That just isn't going to get it
done in the pound-it-out Big Ten and
against the tough defense of Ohio State
(28th in the nation in rushing defense).
Also Penn State's quarterback
Rashard Casey seems to be bothered
THIS WEEKEND IN
no chance of returning there anytime
soon.
Northwestern gave up more than
240 yards rushing and two touchdowns
to Texas Christian's Reisman hopeful
tailback LaDainian Tomlinson last
Week. That spells trouble for the
Wildcats with the Badgers coming
next.
Even though Wisconsin has been
riddled with suspensions after the
notorious "Peter Warrick, Part I" inci-
dent, running back Michael Bennett,
MICHIGAN ATHLETICS
Presented by: WOMEN'S SOCCER *)
Friday, Sept. 22 vs. Wisconsin 4pm
I " Sunday, Sept. 24 vs. Minnesota 1:30pm
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MEN'S SOCCER o« Fans can sign up for
Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Penn State 3pm half-time contests and
I
by his off-the-field run-in witfl the law
and it shows in his play.
Maybe Joe Paterno should forget
about his superstitions and stop wear-
ing the flooding clam-digger pants.
Even if he does, Penn State will still
lose.
Ohio State 27, Penn State 6
No. 18 NOTR.E DiE Tx No.
MICHIGAN S-ArE (3-0): The Fighting
Irish are coming off of a stunning last-
play victory over Purdue. That was at
home, though. They are 'currently rid-
ing a seven-game road losing streak.
Michigan State gets starting quarter-
back Ryan Van Dyke back after sitting
out last week with a bruised thumb.
Standing behind Van Dyke on the
line at tailback is T.J. Duckett. He may
look like he has a few cheeseburge-
and twinkies under his pads, but don
let appearance fool you.
These two teams are fairly equal at
the skilled positions, but Michigan
State gets the nod because of Duckett
and the home field advantage.
If Duckett rushes for more than 150
yards then the Spartans will be able to
control the clock andtthe game.
MISU_21. Notre Damel7
MNNESOFA (2-1)xr No.21 Pt RDLO
(2-1): Heisman hopeful Drew Brees
attempted only 22 passes last week in
Purdue's loss. That hasn't happened
since 1997. He is due for a big game.
Brees has had great numbers against
the Golden Gophers in the past.
Minnesota has a young nucleus in
quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq and
tailback Thomas Tapeh, but the
Gophers aren't ready to beat a top 25
team. Brees will come out firing a
home because he rarely has sup-p
performances consecutively.
Minnesota will score on offense, but
it will not come close to keeping up
with the scoring barrage that Brees
will put on.
Purdue 42,. Minnesota 14
CIscNNxrI (2-1) AT INDIANA (0-2,
0-0): Has anyone seen Bobby Knight
lately'?
Maybe he could come in and wh*
the defense into shape because
Indiana's secondary is truly poor.
Indiana's quarterback Antwaan
Randle El is as exciting a player as any
in the country, but he doesn't have a lot
of talent around him.
On the other side are the Bearcats,
who gave Wisconsin a scare last week.
The only way that the Hoosiers could
possibly win is with help from the
General. That probably won't happen
Cincinnati 21. Indiana 16
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