14 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 22, 2000 'abe Irthjigm aUQadL STAFF PICKS WEEK 3 SELECTIONS ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. HOME TEAMS IN CAPS. Michigan (-6.5) vs. ILLINOIS MICHIGAN STATE (-4) vs. Notre Dame OHIO STATE (-11) vs. Penn State WISCONSIN (-16) vs. Northwestern NEBRASKA (-41) vs. Iowa INDIANA (-5) vs. Cincinnati FLORIDA (-22.5) vs. Kentucky OREGON (-3) vs. UCLA (visitors) PURDUE (-13) vs. Minnesota EAST CAROLINA (-7) vs. Syracuse Miami (Fla.) (-7) vs. WEST VIRGINIA Clemson (-9.5) vs. VIRGINIA Toledo (-2) vs WESTERN MICHIGAN NORTH CAROLINA (-3.5) vs. Marshall Alabama (-2.5) vs. ARKANSAS Best bet Record last week (Best bets) Record to date (Best bets; Chris Mark Stephanie erder Duprey Francescutti Offen Illinois Notre Dame Penn State Wisconsin Iowa Cincinnati Florida UCLA Purdue Syracuse Miami (Fla.) Virginia Western Michigan North Carolina Alabama Miami (Fla.) 3-12 (0-1) 9-21(1-1) Illinois Michigan State Ohio State Wisconsin Nebraska Cincinnati Florida UCLA Purdue Syracuse Miami (Fla.) Clemson Western Michigan North Carolina Alabama Wisconsin 6-9 (0-1) 14-16 (0-2) llinois Notre Dame Ohio State Wisconsin Nebraska Cincinnati Kentucky Oregon Purdue East Carolina Miami (Fla.) Clemson Toledo Marshall Arkansas Purdue 9-6 (0-1) 17-13 (1-1) Michigan Michigan State Ohio State Wisconsin Nebraska Cincinnati Florida Oregon Purdue East Carolina Miami (Fla.) Virginia Toledo Marshall Alabama Toledo 6-9 (0-1) 10-20 (1-1) MATCHUPS Continued from Page 12 sacks. Advantage: Michigan ILLINOIS ItRSHING VS. MICH GAN RUSHING DEFENSE: Very similar to Michigan's situation, coach Ron Turner htas a deep stable of running hacks. Both Rocky Harvey and Antoinco Harris have averaged alyost 110 yards per game and over five yards per carry this season. Thte offensive line, a huge player in last sea- sons surprise climb out of the Big Ten basement, has held well through the first three games. Meanwhile, Michigan doesn't have captain Eric Wilson or Jake Frysinger on the defensive line. When Wilson went out of the game against UCLA, tthe runbdefense withered away. While it won't be 112 degrees Saturday, the Wolverines need some young line- men to step up. Advantage: Illinois ILLINOIS PASSING VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: Kurt Kittner should be a strong Heisman candidate - too bad lie plays for Illinois. After a stellar 1999 campaign during which he had 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions, Kittner has seven and one, respectively, so far this year. Still, against California, he struggled mightily, completing only four of 16 passes before leaving at the start of the second half with an injured knee. Last years main receiving threat, Brandon Lloyd, is out for the season after suffering a broken leg in the sum- mertime. Sophomore Aaron Moorehead caught a 42-yard scoring pass against the Golden Bears, while sophomores Greg Lewis and Walter Young had suc- cess in Illinois' first two games. On the* other side of the ball, who knows-what the Michigan defensive backfield :will do. The Wolverines seemed lost last weekend, falling down, misjudging balls and giving up key plays late. Even with Cato June out, Carr does have lots of options. Hopefully, some of those options will be able to stop Kittner, who may not be 100 percent, but will.still be scary enough. Advantage: Illinois SPECIAL TEAMS: After UCLA, kicker and punter Hayden Epstein may be Michigan's biggest question mark. The usually solid Epstein looked lost, miss- ing three kicks. Combined with blocked kicks itt the Orange Bowl and against " Bowling Green, one must wotder if Jeff Del Verne will make an appearance. Is the extra job of being both punter and kicker causing enough problems for Carr to make the switch? Probably not yet, but a huge "uh oh" is all one can say if the game comes down to a kick. Illinois may fare no better, as Steve Fitts (also the punter) is giving fits with his I- for-3 (all from 30-39 yards) perfor- mance thus far. How about if we just all0 go for it on fourth down? Advantage: EVEN OVERALL: Carr doesn't want to lose this one after last year's humiliating loss. Henson will play, he'll play well - love and harmony will return to Ann Arbor, but not before fans bite their nails a bit. FINAL SCORE: Michigan 27, Illinois 24 Continued from Page 12 The injury appeared serious at first, but the junior practiced yesterday and is listed as probable for tomorrow. Kittner 'doesn't get sacked, which should mean a pretty high completion percentage -- but before his exit last week The Kid completed only four of 16. It will be interesting to see if Kittner's knee injury affects his mobility - the Illini rely on Kittter's scrambling ability to get them out of trouble. Kittner had a two-yard touchdown run last week, but the best rushing quarterback will be on the Michigan sideline. Whether Drew Henson plays is another matter. Michigan coaches have been silent on his possible return, and when asked, all Henson can do is shrug his shoulders. But the junior has regained much of his mobility and chances of him starting under center could be 50/50. That leaves redshirt frosh John Navarre in a familiar position, and what Carr can expect from him, nobody knows. Michigan's inability to convert third-and-short situations was a big fac- tor in its defeat last week. But halfbacks Rocky Harvey and Antoineo Harris make Illinois very effective in these scenarios. The two- headed rushing attack comprises the bulk of Illinois' offensive scheme. Both average about 100 yards per game. With Michigan co-captain Eric Wilson and Jake Frysinger both on the bench with injuries, Illinois could have a huge edge on the ground. Michigan will have to put up similar numbers to the last few weeks if it hopes to survive, and those hopes rest in the Anthony Thomas/Chris Perry tandem. The duo has yet to disappoint, thanks largely to the Wolverines' all-star offen- sive line. But as evidenced last week, Michigan cannot win on rushing alone. "Whoever we have back there," said lineman Steve Hutchinson of Michigan's quarterback scenario, "If we give them time, we know they'll make the plays." On that confidence, Michigan's fate will hinge. f PEN N STATE Purdy, both of whom are trying to come back from injuries. The Nittany Lions Continued from Page 12 will also be well rested, as they have not in the last three games. Potteiger was played since the 1-0 victory over named Big Ten player of the week last Virginia Commonwealth last Saturday. week for his efforts that Even though it is the@ included game-winning TOMORROW favorite this weekend, goals over ninth-ranked ELBEL FIELD Penn State is not comitg Virginia Commonwealth Who: Michigan 3-2) vs. to Ann Arbor expecting and the College of Penn State (6-0) the game to be given to Charleston. When: 3 p.m. tomorrow them. Sophomore goalkeeper Latest: hligan opensthe "I expect it will be like Ryan Sickman heads into BigTenseason agaistNo.2 any other game" Penn the game against the Penn Srate. This is the first State coach Barry Wolverines leading the Big ever Big Ten contest for the Gorman said. "It will be a Ten with a tiny .320 goals- newest varstlyproram. tough match. It's not going against average. Sickman will also be to be easy" playing in front of a supportive crowd - Although the Wolverines may not be* his parents live in nearby Clarkston. ready to compete with a team like Penn Michigan has had all week to prepare State, Gorman said the young Michigan for an explosive Penn State team. This squad has done a good job of developing should be helpful for senior forward at such an early stage in its inaugural Ryan Yoder and senior midfielder Will season. Why? Because it's not how much experience you have, it's about your drive and ambition. SAP Labs gives recent college graduates the opportunity to grow in a career designed for success. Whether your specialty is software development or quality assurance, your solutions enable not only better communication between businesses and their clients, but also between everyone involved in running a successful company. 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