All fourteen teams in action over seven league games that is the calm before rivalry week next weekend. Ohio State faces the biggest test when they go to East Lansing to take on a Michigan State club that is playing in their bowl game. Nebraska and Wisconsin also face a tune up before their huge tilts next week with both vying for a trip to Indianapolis. Meanwhile a few clubs are trying to lock down bowls but face up hill battles in each of their games. Like always, these times are central.
Game of the Week:
Michigan State vs Ohio State
Buckeyes have good reason to be looking past with The Game in a week but they have one last hill to climb. MSU is getting healthier and based on their test with Michigan still game to try and derail a rival’s season. Worse, and stop me if you have heard this before, nasty weather is a possibility. Some of MSU’s best wins in the Dantonio era seem to be in sloppy conditions. Maybe they get one more on senior day and throw the playoff and Eastern race in even further chaos.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPN
Sleeper:
Indiana at Michigan
Yup, me buying into those pesky Hoosiers yet again this year. With snow in the forecast and Michigan playing John O’Korn due to injury the Michigan offense could face plenty of struggles. On the other hand the Hoosiers are a turnover prone team and with that Michigan defense, there is a strong shot I am dead wrong and the Wolverines roll.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ESPN
Don’t Forget:
Minnesota vs Northwestern
Northwestern’s offense can be extremely fun to watch with Thorson flinging passes to Austin Carr and Justin Jackson’s running but that line has been chewed up against more physical teams. Minnesota certainly qualifies as one of the more physical teams in the West. While hopes of winning the division are extinguished for Minnesota, they can get another eight win season under the Kill/Clayes staffs which is big for the building Gophers. For Northwestern they are sitting on five wins and trying to lock down that bowl.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, BTN
Snoozer:
Penn State at Rutgers
Penn State can keep their dream season going by taking out the trash against Rutgers and ending against season-long disappointment Michigan State. Do you seem them dropping this golden opportunity?
- Saturday, 7pm, BTN…or you know, do some Thanksgiving prep, plenty of things can be cooked in advance.
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:
Based on how they have looked lately this may be silly but Maryland knocking off Nebraska might not be the craziest thing to ever happen. First of all, NU’s starting qb Tommy Armstrong has been ruled out with a hamstring injury meaning Ryker Fife will now be running the show. Secondly, UM ends with Rutgers so they can probably get to a bowl at 6-6 even if they lose this one. Knowing they have the cushion, can’t you see D.J. Durkin mixing a few things up and calling a really aggressive game to try and steal this game?
- Maryland at Nebraska, Saturday, 11am, ESPN
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois vs Iowa – Coming off that huge upset win over Michigan, the now bowl eligible hawks can notch victory #7 when they travel to free-falling Illinois. Weather is supposed to be freezing cold thanks to an insane wind. That should favor the team better in the trenches that can run the ball. Both of those factors point towards Iowa.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN
Purdue vs Wisconsin – Nothing from the previous weeks show Purdue has much of a chance in this one. For Wisconsin they need to remained focus. The worst thing is to be complacent, play sloppy, let a team hang around, and put the game in the hands of the refs late. That is how upsets happen and dreams are crushed. Just execute on the road one last time then they can home home to face their arch-rival with Indianapolis on the line.
- Saturday, 11am, ABC
Western Michigan vs Buffalo – Game day comes to Kalamazoo! With Corso, Herbie, and the gang visiting the first time the undefeated Broncos should demolish 2-8 Bulls. Weather might be an issue but they already faced that test a week ago at Kent State so our honorary Big Ten members should roll.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ESPNU
Random Musing
While fans in West Lafayette and Madison don’t think about it, the Purdue-Wisconsin series is an old one. It dates back to 1892 and Saturday will be the 84th meeting. Wisconsin dominates it, 46-29-8 and has been racking up the wins lately. Badger fans are quick to point out the 12 straight against the hated Gophers but they have been enjoying the Boiler’s lately. They have ripped off the last ten and based on the win probability, should pick up number 11 this year.
Big Ten and Counting 