The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 9, 1995 - 14A

'Cats take on Hawkeyes

By Chaim Hyman
Daily Sports Writer
As the regular Big Ten season starts
to wind down, two teams remain in the
running for a Rose Bowl bid. North-
western, which has rode over every
national powerhouse team that stood in
its way - without being favored in any
of these games - can only wait and hope
for a miracle. That miracle, of course,
would be Ohio State picking up a loss in
any of their remaining games.
The Buckeyes, still undefeated, have
one bump left in the road to Pasadena.
While Michigan may not seem to be
much ofa threat to a team that has three
Heisman Trophy candidates, the game
is nevertheless a ri-
valry. As the Wolver- Aroui
ines found out last
week, rivalries are not
to be taken lightly.
Northwestern, now
being billed as this
season's greatest s
story, will - regard-
less of the rest of their
season - have their
first postseason ap-
pearance since 1948,L
the only time they were
invited to Pasadena.
Iowa (2-3 Big Ten, 5-3 overall) at
Northwestern (6-0, 8-1)
After getting off to a 5-0 start, Iowa
has lost three straight, its most recent
defeat being a 26-7 thrashing by Illi-
nois. Sedrick Shaw, trying to take hold
ofthe Hawkeyes' school rushing record,
only gained 20 yards on the Fighting
Illini. To a Northwestern defense that
has seen the likes of Michigan's Tim
Biakabutuka and Penn State's Mike
Archie, stopping the Iowa rushing game
should not be a difficult task.
Northwestern's Darnell Autry has
gained over 100 yards for his tenth
straight game.In addition, Autry scored
three touchdowns against the Nittany
Lions last week.
Autry and the Wildcats have proven
themselves against some of college
football's toughest competition. The
Wildcats may have been a good team to
schedule in order to pick up an easy
victory in the past, but Iowa is probably
aware that this is no longer the case.
Northwestern 34, Iowa 7
Michigan State (3-2-1, 5-3-1) at In-
diana (0-5, 2-6)
As the Wolverines found outlast week,
Tony Banks is back. Banks, who came to
Michigan State as the top junior college
quarterback inthe country, led his team to
a 28-25 victory over Michigan.
While the Spartans will be coming
off a victory against their biggest rival,
Indiana will be looking for its first con-

nd

ference win. The Hoosiers will be in the
midst of Parents' Weekend, but a loud
crowd won't be enough to gain a vic-
tory against Michigan State.
The Spartans passed for 318 yards
against a Michigan defensethat is consid-
erably better than Indiana's squad. If
Banks can find his three favorite receiv-
ers, Muhsin Muhammad, Scott Greene
and Derrick Mason, Michigan State
should be able to put this one away early.
Michigan State 28, Indiana 7
Wisconsin (2-3, 3-4) at Minnesota
(1-4, 3-5)
With starting quarterback Darrell
Bevell out in the first half, Wisconsin was
able to lead the'Boilermakers in the third
quarter. The Badgers
the ended up losing that
game last week, but still
managed to prove they
are better than their 3-4
record. In addition,
they proved they were
better than Minnesota,
6 ateam holdingonly one
conference victory.
Minnesota may be
able to boast a run-
ning game with run-
ning back Chris
Darkins, but a Barry Alvarez-coached
defense has been known to dismantle
rushing attacks in the past. The Golden
Gophers' passing game, led by quarter-
back Corey Sauter, has not proved too
prolific either.
If Wisconsin's offense manages to
stay healthy throughout the game, it
should have no trouble putting a lot of
points on the board. With more wins
than any other Badger quarterback,
Bevell should have a successful day
against Minnesota.
Wisconsin 38, Minnesota 21
Ohio State (5-0,9-0) at Illinois (2-3,
4-4)
With national title hopes for the first
time since anyone can remember, the
Buckeyes will not give the Fighting
Illini a fighting chance. ,
Ohio State, with weapons like quarter-
back Bobby Hoying, running back Eddie
George, and receiver Terry Glenn, will
not be troubled by the Big Ten's most
disappointing team this season.
NFL-bound Simeon Rice will have
the unenviable task of leading the Illi-
nois defense in this, game. Rice, the
conference's all-time sack leader, will
have to worry about more than Ohio
States' quarterback if the Illini are go-
ing to pull off this upset.
Currently ranked number two in the
country, the Buckeye's are the obvious
favorite. The only question is: by how
much?
Ohio State 28, Illinois 3


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