This is it, the regular season finale. I swear this season has flown by. All 14 teams are in action across 7 league tilts. The east still has some math to figure out, four teams are all trying to get a sixth win to lock down a bowl – even Rutgers might nab a 13th game if they go 5-7 and there aren’t enough bowl teams per reports. Personally that is a joke and if I were the RU athletic director I would politely decline that berth then fire Kyle Flood the next day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and as always, these times are central.
Game of the Week:
Michigan vs Ohio State
“The Game” renews as these major rivals square off with (possibly) the eastern crown up for grabs. If Michigan State loses to Penn State, the winner in Ann Arbor will head to Indy. Even if that doesn’t happen, the winner may still make it to the Rose Bowl depending on how the Big Ten title game goes. Michigan has a chance for a 10-win debut season for Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State will try and finish strong after last week’s disappointing loss. The rosters are filled with talented players and for the first time in a while for this series, the game actually has some teeth to it.
- Saturday, 11am, ABC
Sleeper:
A Michigan State win puts them in Indy. Standing in their way is a Penn State team that we all though could compete. Instead their offensive line has repeated last year’s awful performance and they just can’t score on a consistent basis. Still, they are 7-4 and a win in the finale will improve their bowl lot, recruiting, and send the seniors out with a marquee win, something that has alluded PSU the last few years. Nassib and the defense is tough enough to give MSU some fits so this thing isn’t a done deal for the Spartans.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ESPN
Don’t Forget:
Iowa and Nebraska is the most meaningful game out west. Huskers are 5-6 so a win locks down a bowl, otherwise they will be in that gray area of 5-7 and may or may not get an invite. Iowa sits at 11-0 on the year and very much in control of their CFP destiny. If they win out, they’re in. A stumble in Lincoln or in Indy and they’re out. Simple as that. Nebraska’s shaky defense looked better their last time out against Illinois and Tommy Armstrong Jr is one of the better qbs in the league so a Husker win is certainly in play. Adding to the intrigue is Mike Riley has had 13 days to get his club ready for this one thanks to the bye.
- Friday, 2:30pm, ABC
Snoozer:
Yes, that is a knight drawing down on a huge turtle. There is no good way to sugar coat this one. 4-7 (1-6) Rutgers hosts 2-9 (0-7) Maryland in a battle between two teams that seem to have packed up shop weeks ago.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN…Maryland has a basketball game that night, might as well start tailgating for some hoops action early, right?
Upset Watch:
Right End – Minnesota has not beaten the Badgers since 2004. In fact, since taking four straight in the 1980s, Wisconsin has dominated the rivalry 21-6. A Gopher win will be a huge turnaround for the Kill/Clayes era and get Minnesota to 6-6, locking down a bowl. Considering how tough their schedule was with crossovers against OSU and Michigan, as well as TCU in the non-con, that would be no small feat.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, BTN
Wrong End – For Iowa to end their undefeated start at the 11th (or I guess 12th hour) to a border foe/rival would be incredibly bittersweet. The fact that Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst insulted Kirk and his program last year when firing Bo Pelini would also make a second straight loss to the Huskers quite frustrating.
Elsewhere (Alphabetically):
Illinois vs Northwestern – is a UI home game being played in Soldier Field. An Illini win gets them to a bowl game but NU has a shot at history. They can get their third 10-win regular season (and fourth overall) with the win. That would make the 2015 Wildcats easily the fourth or fifth the best team in school history.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ESPNU
Indiana at Purdue – Ah, the Old Oaken Bucket. This fun rivalry gets a little extra juice thanks to a Hoosier win putting them into a bowl game. Purdue has had a few flashes this year (near misses versus MSU, Northwestern) and knocked off Nebraska but Indiana should feel like they deserve a bowl after solid games against Iowa, Michigan, MSU and OSU but deserve ain’t got nothing to do with it. A sixth win will make it official.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN
Random Musing:
Here’s the old tail of the tape for The Game thanks to Winsipedia:
All time: Michigan leads 58-46-6
Longest Streak: Michigan – 9 (1901-1909), OSU – 7 (2004-2010)
Current Streak: OSU – 3
Overall Win Percentage: Michigan – .730, OSU – .722
National Championships: Michigan – 11, OSU – 8
Conference Championships: Michigan – 42, OSU – 38
Bowl Games: OSU – 45, Michigan – 43
All Time Wins: Michigan – 924, OSU – 873
Bowl Win Percentage: Michigan – .465, OSU – .455
All Americans: OSU – 79, Michigan – 78
Heisman Winners: OSU – 7, Michigan – 3
Draft Picks: OSU – 418, OSU – 348
First Rounders: OSU – 69, Michigan – 42
Weeks in AP Poll: OSU – 851, Michigan – 804
Weeks #1 in AP Poll: OSU – 105, Michigan – 34
Michigan leads in 7 categories, OSU leads in 8….but here’s a deciding factor to keep in mind. Ohio State never benched Tom freaking Brady.
Big Ten and Counting 