Which Big Ten teams will stand after the dust clears?

After weeks of anticipation, the first full set of Big Ten games kicks off this Saturday.

The Big Ten's play in the early part of the season has marked it as one of the premier conferences in the nation.

Big Ten teams were very successful in preconference matches, with an overall record of 26-11.

Even more impressive were the five ranked teams that went undefeated, accounting for 12 of those wins.

But now's the time for the Big Ten's big boys to start fighting each other.

FILE PHOTO So far this season, Michigan State has dominated its opponents behind a stellar offense and a defense that has only allowed 12.5 points per game. The Spartans look to continue the trend this week against Minnesota.

Who will survive the battles, and who will remain standing after the dust has cleared?

No. 2 Penn State at Illinois:

Boy, things don't look like they're getting any better for first-year Illinois coach Ron Turner.

First, Turner and his Fighting Illini were unable to pick up any victories in a mediocre non-conference schedule. Then they traveled to Iowa and dropped their conference opener by four touchdowns.

But do they get a break? There's no rest for the weary, and that includes the Illini.

Now they must play the No. 2 team in the nation, which is coming off a bye week, continuing their streak of thrashings.

The Illini's offense is cause for concern, scoring only 13.3 points each contest, but that's not their biggest problem.

The defense has more leaks than generic paper towel, and it's showed. Its best outing was their season opener, when they surrendered only 24 points to Southern Mississippi.

Turner is quickly learning he's going to have to build from scratch after former coach Lou Tepper left the program.

What' s worse for the Illini, the Penn State offense is just starting to heat up. New starting quarterback Mike McQueary is finding his favorite target, Joe Jurevicius, more often, and Curtis Enis is starting to perform up to potential.

It looks like the offense is hitting on all cylinders. In their first three games, the Nittany Lions have averaged 47.7 points per game, and the starters have been able to rest for most of the second half.

They might be able to do that in this one, too.

Penn State 45, Illinois 10

No. 11 Iowa at No. 7 Ohio State:

The game of the week takes place in Columbus, where two sets of expectations clash.

Both Iowa and Ohio State have jacked up their statistics with big wins over lesser competition, but now is the moment of truth.

Who will draw first blood in the Big Ten season?

Iowa's Tavian Banks has been making his case for Heisman Trophy recognition so far, and he's got statistics to back it up. Banks has run rampant over Iowa's not-so-grueling first four opponents: Northern Iowa, Tulsa, a Troy Davis-less Iowa State and conference foe Illinois.

But now the real test comes for Banks and the Iowa offensive line.

Can they go down to Buckeyes country and silence their critics?

Aging Iowa head coach Hayden Fry may have his best chance ever to make a return trip to Pasadena.

Obviously, the Buckeyes are pleased to be undefeated heading into the Big Ten gauntlet but admit their performances were less than impressive.

Specifically, they did not look sharp in their opener against Wyoming, and they gave Arizona a chance to win after supposedly putting the game away.

Ohio State coach John Cooper is still fighting Michigan ghosts after last year, and his team hasn't been able to settle into a groove yet.

One of these teams is a fake - let's find out who.

Ohio State 30, Iowa 24

Minnesota at No. 12 Michigan State:

The Golden Gophers stride into East Lansing a week after losing a shootout to Conference USA's Houston Cougars, 45-43. The Gophers gave the Cougars their first win of the season. Minnesota turned the ball over three times, and Houston was able to capitalize.

The Spartans have cleaned up, going 3-0 in this young season, and they have done it in a high-powered fashion.

Just when Michigan State was starting to be criticized for playing a weak schedule, the Spartans went down to South Bend and played Notre Dame to perfection.

They feature a solid running game, starring super sophomore Sedrick Irvin, with a solid, experienced offensive line in front of him.

The Spartans' defense has also risen to the occasion when needed, allowing only 12.7 points per game.

On the Minnesota side of the ball, the Gophers feature an exciting pass attack.

NFL quarterback prospect Cory Sauter hasn't had many victories to show for his career, but the Gopher has a ton of yards. Tutu Atwell is the record holder for most receptions at Minnesota, and Sauter's favorite target.

Look for those two to hook up if the Gophers are to have any success Saturday.

Minnesota's only chance of winning this one lies in the Gophers' defensive line.

If they can gain penetration on Irvin, they have an outside shot.

But if the Spartans' running game is successful, it's doubtful you'll see Michigan State quarterback Todd Schultz throw more than 10 passes all day.

Michigan State 44, Minnesota 20

Wisconsin at Northwestern:

Both Wisconsin and Northwestern had high expectations entering the season, but only one of them has delivered. Northwestern coach Gary Barnett turned down potential NFL job offers, and now he may be regretting it.

Barnett's Wildcats have looked awful, compiling a 2-3 mark.

Northwestern earned a solid win in its first game against Oklahoma, showing signs of possible contention in 1997.

But things turned sour quickly.

The Wildcats lost on the road to Wake Forest, at home against Rice and then in their Big Ten opener at Purdue.

Perhaps Northwestern's problems stem from the quarterback controversy that Barnett has had to deal with.

Both of his fifth-year seniors, Chris Hamdorf and Tim Hughes, have performed inadequately.

Adrian Autry is trying hard to fill the shoes of the NFL-departed Darnell Autry (no relation) at running back.

But without blocking help from his offensive line, Autry won't get far against the Badgers.

Wisconsin opened up 1997 with a blowout loss to Donovan McNabb and Syracuse, 34-0.

But after beating Wisconsin, the Orangemen have lost three out of their past four, causing criticism to be heaped upon the Badgers.

The Badgers' best solution to prove the critics wrong was to rack up some wins. And the Badgers did just that - but not against the the most prestigious of competition, beating up on three smaller schools before the Big Ten season.

But then the Badgers looked rattled in defeating Indiana by a single point in Big Ten play.

This week will be their first road test of the season.

Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez has lost confidence in quarterback Mike Samuel, so look for sophomore running back Ron Dayne to eat up the ball on offense. Dayne, a big, beefy back, has amassed three 100-yard games already in 1997.

If Dayne has any success, so should the Badgers. Get ready to hear the jeers in Evanston.

Wisconsin 27, Northwestern 17

FILE PHOTO
Ohio State has helped the Big Ten to one of its best starts in history. This week, the Buckeyes host Iowa in the conference's premier matchup.

10-02-97