Going to be a little short here since my week was INSANELY BUSY and all my posts got pushed way back. Worst of all, I’m not even going to do my usual cheesy graphics. What a shame. A nearly fully loaded week with 12 teams in action across six league games. Obviously the College Game Day crew being in Madison for that top 10 showdown is dominating chatter around the nation but there are still some really solid under card games. Michigan and Penn State are the two teams off and as always, these times are central.
Game of the Week:
Ohio State at Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s defense has been incredible this year. Ohio State’s offense has been equally incredible this year. Admittedly, UW hasn’t faced any offense as good as OSU’s BUT, equally truthful is the statement that OSU hasn’t faced any defense as good as the Badgers’. The X-factors are that Ohio State simply has better athletes but in Wisconsin’s corner is home field advantage, under the lights (something that makes Camp Randall truly magical), and the possibility of rain to slow the Buckeyes down. Despite being a Badger alum, I know not to pick against the Buckeye talent so I think OSU finds a way to win this game, probably with their aggressive pass defense picking off a ball or two and maybe even housing one. It will still be a bruiser of a game and a delight to watch, I just think OSU comes out on top.
- Saturday, 7pm, ABC
Sleeper:
Nebraska at Indiana
The only other road trip for Nebraska this year was a ho-hum 11 point win at struggling Northwestern. Indiana has already faced some good squads and acquitted themselves well. The turnaround for IU has been their defense. As for Nebraska, they’ve had some banged up players. Tommy Armstrong Jr. was recently in a walking boot but NU was off last week so maybe some of these health concerns will be lessened by the bye.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ABC/ESPN2
Don’t Forget:
Minnesota at Maryland
Minnesota comes in as a desperate team. They have looked painfully flat in an 0-2 league start and sit at just 3-2 overall despite a very easy schedule. Maryland was red hot with a 4-0 start but struggled at Penn State once QB Perry Hills went down with injury. He is listed as day to day so we have no clue what percentage he will be at, if he can go at all, when the Terps host a team dying for a victory.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPNU
Snoozer:
Illinois at Rutgers
The teams are a combined 3-8 (0-5) with next to no path for a bowl game. The loser will be at five losses and just that much closer to a losing season. Hopefully, after the way they got lit up the last two weeks, Rutgers finds a way to win to avoid an 0-9 league disaster.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPNN…or take the kids to the pumpkin patch to get ready for the greatest holiday ever, Halloween!
Upset Watch:
Sadly now that we’re in league play there is no real easy way to make the distinction between being on the right end or wrong end of an upset. That’s always a fun feature of the non-conference but now that we’re in league any upset is potentially season crippling or season defining.
Right and Wrong end:
Nebraska has a top ten ranking now and if Wisconsin loses to OSU, in firm control of their destiny in the west. Some have even said NU is back to national relevance. That feels a little premature, but the talk is out there. As for Indiana, they have improved so much with Wilson but they don’t have that marquee win to prove they can compete with the upper crust of the league yet. Beating MSU two weeks ago helped, but the Spartans aren’t in the same zip code as Nebraska this year.
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Iowa at Purdue – The Boilermakers had their best game of the year against Illinois. They have now started 3-2 to sit above .500 for the first time in a while after five games. Iowa meanwhile has looked like a gymnast on the balance beam flailing their arms to keep balance but are still standing. The OL looked a little better a week ago and with PU’s rush defense Iowa fans have to like their chances at the road victory but this has been a strange year for both teams so far. Maybe the strangeness continues with a Boiler’s victory.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPN2
Michigan State vs Northwestern – Each team won double digit games last year but this year things are not going their way with both clubs at three losses already. Worse, MSU is 0-2 in league. Their chances at defending their crown are insanely low but still exist. A third loss will doom them. NU meanwhile hopes to keep improving offensively like they did against Iowa before the bye week. With all of MSU’s offensive issues if the Cats can put up some numbers, they will pick up the victory to get back to .500 ball.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, BTN
Western Michigan at Akron – The Zips were a very senior heavy team a year ago and rode that experience to their first bowl win in school history. This year the youth movement has somehow gotten Terry Bowden’s gang to 4-2 but they appear to be doing it with smoke and mirrors as they sit at 102nd in defense and 111th in rushing. That is not what you would expect from a very sound ball club. Western survives a trap game and pulls away late.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, CBSSN
Random Musing
Why did I wait so long to do all these posts?!?
Big Ten and Counting 