This is what we love about mid season. Six league games put 12 teams in action with a few seasons on the brink as Illinois’s slim bowl hopes are on the line, Minnesota tries to get their first league win for P.J. Fleck, Indiana gets another crack at Michigan, and Wisconsin hosts a frisky Purdue team. All of that and much more. Like always, times are central.
Game of the Week:
Michigan State at Minnesota
Gophers have been playing well, just not good enough to scratch out a victory in their 0-2 league start. Meanwhile MSU’s offense has been stuck in molasses but their defense is playing lights out, allowing the Spartans to peel off narrow victories against Iowa and then more impressively against Michigan. This has some of the classic post-rivalry win let down potential combined with a team backed into a corner. I’m expecting a fun one up in TCF Bank Stadium,
- Saturday, 7 pm, BTN
Sleeper:
This game has been extremely close the last two years. A tight one in Ann Arbor in which the Hoosiers had a lead before faltering and two years ago it was overtime in Bloomington. With Michigan’s offense struggling mightily, teams have a good shot at pulling off the upset. As for Indiana they have struggled against top-end teams but are still in good position for a bowl sitting at 3-2. An upset here wouldn’t just make a bowl extremely likely, but could put Indiana in position for an 8 or even 9 win season with some luck. Big one on B-town.
- Saturday, 11 am, ABC
Don’t Forget:
Some games pit contenders against each other. Some games put bowl-hopeful teams in a critical win game. Some games are measuring sticks for rebuilds. This is one of those dates. Both teams have second year coaches with a minimal amount of success. For Rutgers, this is one of their best chances at breaking through and getting Chris Ash’s first league win. For Illinois it is a chance to let Jeff George Jr. and the offense mature a tad against a more equally matched opponent.
- Saturday, 11 am, BTN
Snoozer:
One team is really, really good and the other is Nebraska. Those Blackshirts are about to be shredded and that Mike Riley clock is about to tick ever closer to firing time.
- Saturday, 6:30 pm, FS1…Or pop in that VHS of of some vintage NU teams because we know Husker nation loves to live in the past.
Upset Watch:
The only games that have a good chance of an upset are the Minnesota and Indiana games and I already talked about them as the two best games of the weekend so….yup, going to be that kind of week folks.
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Maryland vs Northwestern – NU comes in 2-3 (0-2) so their sleeper status is pretty much done but they need to be a little worried about a bowl berth now. Road trips are never easy but with the number of injuries Maryland has unfortunately suffered, this one is at least a little more manageable. Wildcats need to get Justin Jackson going. On the flip side, with UM starting their third string QB, Northwestern has to slow Ty Johnson.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, ESPN2
Purdue at Wisconsin – Boilermakers have played far better this season than anyone has expected. Going to Madison and getting a moral victory would be amazing. As for Wisconsin, it is honestly survive and advance right now. They really only have Michigan and maybe Iowa left as potential hiccups so if they can avoid an unthinkable upset, they should be fast tracked for Indianapolis.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, BTN
Random Musing
Scarlet Knights have played 20 games since the last time they won a Big Ten game back in 2015. I’d say they’re due. The last conference win for RU was 10/17/2015 at Indiana. This is nearly two full calendar years. I’d say they’re due.
Big Ten and Counting 