NCAA Football Preview (Illinois-Iowa)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 6:45 a.m EDT
Illinois (0-3) at Iowa (3-0) 12:30 pm EDT
After three severe blowouts and a bold statement by running back
Tavian Banks, Iowa opens its Big Ten Conference
schedule against which appears to be one of the worst teams in
the league -- winless Illinois.
Iowa opened its season with a 66-0 demolition of Northern Iowa,
then ripped Tulsa 54-16 and continued the roll last week with a
63-20 laugher over Iowa State. After that game, Banks boasted,
"We're ready for the Big Ten. They better be ready for us."
It should not be too much of a challenge for Banks and Iowa
against a defense allowing over 28 points and 142.3 rushing
yards per game. Illinois has lost nine straight games, matching
a similar slide from 1970-71.
The Illini, who also have lost six straight conference games,
have a porous pass defense, allowing 270 yards per game and
eight total touchdowns. Illinois has scored 21 points in the
first quarter but has been outscored 71-22 thereafter.
Banks has been a key in extending Iowa's winning streak to six
games and climbing to the top of the nation in total offense at
619.3 yards per game. He is the country's leading rusher with
214.7 yards per contest and 22 points per game.
Banks has 644 yards on just 67 carries for a phenomenal 9.6
average to go with 10 touchdowns. He also has a touchdown catch
and already has more rushing yards and touchdowns than in 144
carries in his entire junior season.
Illinois better be ready at the start of the game. Banks scored
on a 63-yard run on the first play against Northern Iowa and ran
82 yards for a score on the second play against Iowa State. He
had a 71-yard TD run on the second play of the second possession
against Tulsa.
Banks has taken the pressure off quarterback Matt Sherman, who
is 36-of-56 for 610 yards, eight touchdowns and two
interceptions. He has a rating of 195.79, second in the nation
to Washington's Brock Huard. Tim Dwight has 13 catches for 277
yards and five touchdowns.
In the all-time series, Illinois holds a 35-22-2 edge, including
a 17-12-2 record in Iowa City. The visiting team has won four
of the last five games in the series, including three wins in
the last four meetings by Illinois.
The Illini have a good running back of their own in Robert
Holcombe, who has 419 yards on 92 carries with a pair of scores.
He will be taking handoffs from redshirt freshman Tim Lavery,
who is making his first start. Lavery, who is also a pitcher on
the Illinois baseball team, was a 14th-round draft choice of the
Chicago Cubs in 1996. He is the first left-hander to start at
quarterback for Illinois since Fred Major in 1950.
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