Penn State at Illinois
TV: 2:30 p.m. Saturday,
WLS-Ch. 7, WIND-AM 560.
Line: Penn State by 7.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: After scoring nine points in two losses, it’s hard to picture Illinois on a scoring spree. Penn State’s stiff defense allows only 10.2 ppg. Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman had three tackles for a loss last week.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Illinois must imitate Iowa and keep pressure on Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark (right), who threw three interceptions against the Hawkeyes. Illinois has 20 tackles for a loss and four sacks through the first four games.
THE NUMBER: 50
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Penalty yards the Illini should aim to stay below.
THE TALK: Now would be a fantastic time for Arrelious Benn to have his annual standout game vs. Penn State. He had four catches for 110 yards, two TDs in ’08.
LOOKING AHEAD: Penn State plays its first road game before an “orange-out,” but it looks like Illinois is headed for another knockout from a more talented opponent.
Penn State 24, Illinois 13.
— Shannon Ryan %% Records: Penn State 3-1, 0-1 Big Ten; Illinois 1-2, 0-1.
Last meeting: Penn State won 38-24 on Sept. 27, 2008, in State College, Pa.
CATEGORY PSU ILLINI
Rushing offense 127.3 (80) 192.0 (35)
Passing offense 247.5 (40) 155.7 (110)
Total offense 374.8 (56) 347.7 (82)
Scoring offense 25.0 (75) 18.0 (108)
Rushing defense 75.5 (11) 132.3 (59)
Passing defense 158.3 (19) 253.7 (100)
Total defense 233.8 (9) 386.0 (90)
Scoring defense 10.3 (6) 28.0 (88)
Washington at ND
TV/radio: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, WMAQ-Ch. 5, WLS-AM 890.
Line: Notre Dame by 12 1/2 .
GETTING OFFENSIVE: Now that tailback Armando Allen is healthy again, why wouldn’t Notre Dame be ground-bound against a young Washington front four? The Huskies rank 106th against the run nationally.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Linebacker Brian Smith and his cohorts better be disciplined against Washington quarterback Jake Locker, the kind of athletic signal-caller who gives Notre Dame fits. (See: Michigan game.)
THE NUMBER: 220
If Locker’s total offense number hovers at or falls below this mark, Notre Dame likely has spent the day in full control.
THE TALK: After three heart-stopping finishes, can Notre Dame muster a cleaner, more emphatic effort with USC on tap in two weeks? Or are the injuries and innate flaws about to catch up with the Irish?
LOOKING AHEAD: Washington is better-coached under Steve Sarkisian but still weak in the trenches.
Notre Dame 28, Washington 17.
— Brian Hamilton
Records: Notre Dame 3-1, Washington 2-2.
Last meeting: Notre Dame won 33-7 on Oct. 25, 2008, in Seattle.
CATEGORY WASH ND
Rushing offense 108.3 (94) 158.0 (54)
Passing offense 250.5 (38) 297.0 (14)
Total offense 358.8 (70) 455.0 (15)
Scoring offense 23.8 (84) 31.5 (40)
Rushing defense 195.8 (106) 130.5 (57)
Passing defense 183.5 (41) 259.3 (106)
Total defense 379.3 (83) 389.8 (94)
Scoring defense 25.3 (74) 22.3 (50)
Northwestern at Purdue
TV/radio: 11 a.m. Saturday, BTN, see radio below.
Line: Purdue by 7 1/2 .
GETTING OFFENSIVE: Quarterback Mike Kafka has been accurate (72.2 percent) and equitable, completing passes to 12 teammates. But he needs to take fewer sacks. Purdue’s Ralph Bolden is tops in the Big Ten at 122 rushing yards per game.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Atrocious tackling has haunted the Wildcats’ defense this season. Purdue can relate. Its crew ranks last in the league in scoring (30.2 ppg), rushing (4.4 ypc) and total defense (421.5 ypg).
THE NUMBER: 67
Notre Dame held Bolden to 67 rushing yards last week and eked out a 24-21 victory over the Boilermakers.
THE TALK: NU coach Pat Fitzgerald stressed to his players Tuesday the importance of adopting the right attitude. The Wildcats are 7 1/2 -point underdogs to a team with one victory. Will that fire them up?
LOOKING AHEAD: This is a huge test for Fitzgerald and his coaches. A season of promise goes down the tubes if the Wildcats lose a third straight to a middling opponent.
Northwestern 31, Purdue 24.
— Teddy Greenstein
Records: Northwestern 2-2, 0-1 Big Ten; Purdue 1-3, 0-0.
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Last meeting: Northwestern won 48-26 on Oct. 18, 2008, in Evanston.
CATEGORY NU PURDUE
Rushing offense 130.5 (72) 176.5 (44)
Passing offense 286.3 (16) 244.5 (44)
Total offense 416.8 (36) 421.0 (32)
Scoring offense 33.0 (31) 32.5 (36)
Rushing defense 132.0 (58) 177.5 (100)
Passing defense 205.0 (52) 244.0 (93)
Total defense 337.0 (54) 421.5 (108)
Scoring defense 27.5 (87) 30.3 (97)
Western Michigan at Northern Illinois
TV/radio: 2:30 p.m. Sat., CSN, WSCR-AM 670, WLBK-AM 1360. Line: NIU by 6 1/2 .
GETTING OFFENSIVE: NIU leads the MAC and ranks tied for 13th nationally in red-zone offense with 18 scores in 19 trips inside the 20. The Huskies have come away with 12 touchdowns and six field goals.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: In his first year as a full-time starter, safety Tracy Wilson has led NIU in tackles in three of the first four games. Wilson ranks ninth in the MAC with 37 total stops, including 17 solo.
THE NUMBER: 8
NIU will play eight straight MAC games to close out the season.
THE TALK: While Western Michigan holds a 23-11 lead in the all-time series with Northern Illinois, since 1983, NIU has won 10 of the 19 games played.
LOOKING AHEAD: The last three games of this series have been decided by a total of nine points, with NIU winning the last two.
NIU 27, Western Michigan 24.
— Fred Mitchell
Records: NIU 2-2, 0-0 MAC; Western Michigan 2-2, 1-0.
Last meeting: Western Michigan won 29-26 on Sept. 6, 2008, in Kalamazoo.
CATEGORY WMU NIU
Rushing offense 86.3 (113) 188.0 (39)
Passing offense 271.3 (21) 170.8 (98)
Total offense 357.5 (73) 358.8 (70)
Scoring offense 24.5 (81) 30.0 (47)
Rushing defense 157.0 (84) 148.3 (77)
Passing defense 233.3 (85) 220.0 (70)
Total defense 390.3 (95) 368.3 (76)
Scoring defense 22.5 (54) 22.5 (54)
NATIONAL GAME OF THE WEEK
USC at California
TV: 7 p.m. Saturday; ABC regional (not in Chicago market). Line: USC by 4 1/2 .
GETTING OFFENSIVE: Cal’s Jahvid Best dropped off the Heisman map after Oregon held him to 55 yards. USC quarterback Matt Barkley’s throwing shoulder got healthy against Washington State (13-for-22, 247 yards, 2 TDs).
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The Trojans have allowed just three touchdowns in four games. Cal’s “D” did not show up in its 42-3 loss to Oregon. Embattled Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli completed 21 of 25 passes for 253 yards.
THE NUMBER: 18
Spots the Bears dropped in the AP poll after Oregon drilled them. “It doesn’t feel good,” coach Jeff Tedford said of the loss.
THE TALK: The Trojans likely will dedicate this game to running back Stafon Johnson, whose neck and larynx were crushed in a bench-pressing accident Monday. Johnson, the team’s short-yardage specialist, is expected to recover fully.
LOOKING AHEAD: Cal is a bad road team, so maybe last week’s loss shouldn’t have been a surprise. A USC win puts it back in national-title picture.
USC 23, Cal 21.
— Teddy Greenstein
Records: USC 3-1, 1-1 Pac-10; Cal 3-1, 0-1.
Last meeting: USC won 17-3 on Nov. 8, 2008, in L.A.
CATEGORY USC CAL
Rushing offense 216.5 (16) 207.0 (24)
Passing offense 207.5 (67) 211.3 (64)
Total offense 424.0 (29) 418.3 (35)
Scoring offense 28.5 (55) 37.3 (18)
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Rushing defense 59.5 (5) 106.5 (32)
Passing defense 167.5 (29) 229.5 (82)
Total defense 227.0 (6) 336.0 (53)
Scoring defense 10.0 (5) 20.8 (42) %%