FOR SEVERAL YEARS, Joe Paterno argued that the Big Ten Conference's 12-games-in-12-weeks schedule was a torture test that did not allow an opportunity for weary student-athletes to stop and catch their breath. The Penn State coaching icon was adamant in his belief that a bye week would benefit all league teams.

What's that old saying about being careful what you wish for, because you just might get it? Now that conference administrators have allowed for just such a break in scheduling, it appears that certain teams will benefit more from their week off than others.

No. 22 Illinois (2-1), which launches Big Ten play tomorrow night against the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions (4-0) in Beaver Stadium, might be just such a beneficiary. The Illini last played on Sept. 13, when they struggled mightily in scoring a 20-17 victory over a lousy Louisiana-Lafayette team. Illinois' brightest stars on offense, quarterback Isiah "Juice" Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn, turned in pedestrian performances against the Ragin' Cajuns, Williams accounting for a season-low 182 yards in total offense (147 passing, 35 rushing) and Benn for only one reception, for 22 yards.

After that game, Illinois coach Ron Zook said "your best players have to play the best," a pointed reference to Williams and Benn.

"I can't knock [Zook] for saying it," Williams said. "Great players have to play great all the time. Obviously, there were some things we did out there that he didn't like. You can't really get mad at him. He's the coach. He knows exactly what he's talking about. He knows our abilities."

Not only has Zook and his staff had an extra week to study Penn State game tapes, but several banged-up players have been restored to reasonably good health.

"We've got all the bumps and bruises healed up," Zook said, and Williams is inclined to agree that catching a break now has been a good thing.

"It's great to have a weekend where you're not constantly getting hit," Williams said. "It lets the body recover a little bit. You can catch up on things in the classroom. It's great all around. The only bad side is it kind of knocks you out of rhythm."

Penn State doesn't get its bye week until the completion of the toughest stretch of its season. After Illinois, the Lions go to Purdue and Wisconsin and host Michigan before hitting the road again to play at Ohio State. Only then do they get some time off before a Nov. 8 game at Iowa.

"I don't know if [a bye week] is as much of a factor now as it would be later in the season," Penn State tailback Evan Royster said. "Ours is later, when we'll need it.

"And anyway, I don't think it's too much of an advantage [against Illinois]. Yeah, they have a little bit longer to prepare, but we can get everything done we need to get done in the 4 or 5 days we have to practice. We'll be all right."

Paterno isn't sure a bye week, although something that was needed on Big Ten schedules, always gives the more-rested team a competitive edge.

"It can be an advantage sometimes," JoePa said. "It doesn't always turn out to be an advantage, though. We've had bye weeks in the past and didn't always play well the week after. If we get licked, it's usually because the other team played better."

3 things to look for

* Penn State will unveil different plays and different formations it kept under wraps during the nonconference portion of the schedule. At least that's the opinion of Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo. "I'm not totally convinced that Daryll Clark has run all of his running plays," DiNardo said. "I think we'll see more option and more quarterback draws."

* The Lions fumbled five times against Temple and, although they lost only one, it cost them a touchdown. Ball security has been stressed even more this week. "Our scout team is trying to strip the ball more in practice," tailback Evan Royster said.

* Illinois' Vontae Davis is a shutdown corner, but he'll have his hands full with wide receivers Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler and Derrick Williams because, well, he can't cover all of them.

This week's game

No. 22 Illinois at No. 12 Penn State

When: Tomorrow, 8 p.m.

Where: Beaver Stadium, State College

TV: Channel 6. Radio: WNTP (990-AM)

Records: Illinois 2-1, 0-0 Big Ten; Penn State 4-0, 0-0

History: Penn State leads, 12-2, including a 9-2 mark since the Nittany Lions began Big Ten play in 1993. The Illini won last season's game, 27-20, in Champaign, Ill.

Coaches: Ron Zook (fourth year at Illinois, 15-23; seventh year overall, 38-38); Joe Paterno (43rd season at Penn State, 376-125-3).

Illinois update: Junior college transfer Donsay Hardeman, the projected starter at free safety until he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during preseason practice, is expected to get his first playing time of the season, although Travon Bellamy again is listed atop the depth chart at that position ... Space-eating sophomore defensive tackle Josh Brent also is available after missing the previous two games with illness. Said Illini defensive end Derek Walker of the 6-2, 315-pound Brent: "He's kind of an anchor down there, a big fella who clogs up lanes so it makes it hard to run" ... Co-defensive coordinators Dan Disch and Curt Mallory have lots of blitz packages, and the Illini have gotten to the quarterback eight times for 60 negative yards. Team sack leaders are defensive end Will Davis and linebacker Martez Wilson (two each).

Penn State update: Paterno said on his weekly radio show last night that defensive linemen Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma, who have been charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, "probably will play" after being suspended the last three games ... Senior slot receiver Jordan Norwood appears to have settled in as quarterback Daryll Clark's go-to guy, with team-leading totals of 18 receptions and 318 yards. He said that's because most of his catches have been over the middle. "We've been seeing a lot of Cover-2 looks, which kind of opens things up inside," he said. "We'll take what the defense gives us. And if the defense doesn't give us much, we'll create something" ... Starting tight end Mickey Shuler and backup defensive tackle Mike Lucian should be available after suffering sprained ankles against Temple.

Prediction

Penn State 31, Illinois 20.