I understand why four teams are idle most weeks but it is a shame as we race towards the end of the season there is a week in which upstart Maryland and rugged Nebraska stay home and we are left with yet another flat week in the league. Oh sure there is one massive game, potentially epic, and a big showdown in the west but the other three games? No thank you.
Game of the week:
Ohio State at Michigan State
I’m not sure how I can hype this thing up any more. It is a rematch of the fantastic Big Ten title game from last year, the winner is almost guaranteed a spot in this year’s championship game and the winner (more so MSU) has a real shot of the CFB tournament at the end of the year.
Sat, 8 / 7 Central, ABC / WatchESPN app
Sleeper:
Iowa at Minnesota
The bitter rivals seldom play a meaningful game as the Gopher history has often been flat during Iowa’s strong seasons and vice versa. That changes this weekend. Both still have to play Wisconsin and Nebraska so winning won’t guarantee they represent the West but the loser will most likely be out of contention. It isn’t often that a league championship is on the line when these two play so this will be a rare treat. Oh, Floyd of Rosedale is also one of the most unique trophies in the game – so there is always that.
Sat, 12 / 11 Central, ESPN 2 / WatchESPN app
Don’t Ignore:
Wisconsin at Purdue
Both teams are playing their best ball of the season right now. Wisconsin is coming off three straight victories since the odd loss to Northwestern and the last two have been beat-downs (52-7, 38-0). A win will keep them with just one league loss, matching idle Nebraska and the winner of Floyd. Meanwhile, Purdue has had an interesting month of football. They got their first league win since the 2011 season but followed that up with three bizarre losses. The first was a tight one to MSU that no one expected would be close. The second was a heartbreaking 1-point loss to Minnesota and the third was against Nebraska when they moved the ball well but just had some poor turnovers. This is clearly an improved team and with Wisconsin’s up and down passing game an upset could come into play if, in theory, you stop the Badger rushing game. That is easier said and done, but I am curious to see if the Boilermakers can build off a strong, albeit 1-3, October (I know, I know the Purdue-Nebraska game was Nov. 1) and have another tightly contested game.
Sat, 12 / 11 Central, ESPNU / WatchESPN app
Snoozer:
Michigan at Northwestern
Two awful teams who cannot move the ball. I’ll pass.
Sat, 3:30 / 2:30 Central, ESPN 2 / WatchESPN app…or listen to “Shake it Off” on a 3 hour loop, your call.
Upset Watch:
Right End – Ohio State with an upset? Well it would be in this case. They are on the road and a slight underdog to Michigan State. While not a traditional upset, this would also be a full-circle game for the Buckeyes as their loss to Sparty ruined any chance of a national title last winter.
Wrong End – It would be a very wrong end game if the Badgers were to stumble to the double digit underdog Boilermakers but Purdue has been playing a lot better, UW isn’t quite the same on the road and the very real possibility they are looking past Purdue to that huge game in a week versus Nebraska.
Elsewhere:
Penn State at Indiana, Sat, 12 / 11, BTN – The only thing of note in this game is PSU’s bowl hopes will stay alive with a win.
Random Musing:
Can you imagine the heat on Iowa AD Gary Barta and coach Kirk Ferentz if Iowa were to lose to Minnesota? I want my Hawks to win, but a tiny, perverse part of my brain wants to see the powder keg explode out of curiosity.
Big Ten and Counting 