Ding…ding…ding…it is the bewitching hour. Michigan has skated by thanks to reputation, defense, and projected level of play for their young recruits but that offense is wretched. It is a put up or shut up week for them in Happy Valley, especially after their dreadful game against Michigan State. Sure there are some other games but honestly, all eyes will be in western PA. Like always, all times are central.
Game of the Week:
Michigan at Penn State
Penn State was humiliated a year ago in this game, now they are the home team, the better performing team, and the team with all the marbles to play for. Michigan looks to have a massive uphill climb in this one if their offense can’t get its act together. Thankfully Michigan isn’t completely unarmed. They still have a nice defense and if they can replicate some of what Northwestern did (and frankly they should), they could bottle up Saquon Barkley and have a prayer in this one.
- Saturday, 6:30 pm, ABC
Sleeper:
Hoosiers won this trophy game a year ago and despite zero league wins yet have been playing tough. For the Spartans there is the obvious letdown potential after two emotional wins. The first was against rival Michigan and then the second was surviving that furious comeback by Minnesota in Minneapolis. Spartans should have the defensive chops to pull out the victory, but this is no gimme.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC
Don’t Forget:
Each won a week ago to get to get back on track. Iowa is sitting at 4-2 and even though they probably can’t catch Wisconsin for the division, could still finish with a nice overall record. Northwestern’s win at Maryland got them back to .500 ball at 3-3. This one should be a grind as both have very good defenses and next to no offensive consistency. Worse, the weather is supposed to be extremely windy. The already suspect passing attacks both teams have might be totally sidelined. In that scenario, a bit of light for Northwestern and their stud running back Justin Jackson because Iowa’s all-American linebacker Josey Jewell is out due to injury for this one.
- Saturday, 11 am, ESPN 2
Snoozer:
Terps are probably the most injured team in the league and now they have to travel to Madison to face the physically punishing Badgers? I don’t like the smell of this one.
- Saturday, 11 am, Fox…Not a bad one to tailgate through, especially if you sitting in a white shirt outside Beaver Stadium. This is what we like to call “starting early.”
Upset Watch:
Purdue is 3-3 with winnable games against Rutgers, Illinois, and Indiana left. Even their two toughest tests, Northwestern and Iowa, aren’t exactly murder’s row so a bowl isn’t crazy to think about. With that in mind they are 9.5 point favorites at Rutgers! Are you serious? Scarlet Knights are playing some vastly improved ball and it paid off with a win last week. Boilermakers aren’t a good enough team to expect to just stroll into anyone’s place and walk away with a victory. Classic meltdown by the Boilers in Piscataway feels possible because rebuilding teams are always inconsistent, especially away from home.
- Purdue at Rutgers, Saturday, 11 am, BTN
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois at Minnesota – Gophers have been battling tough but just can’t get over that hump and start winning some league games for first year coach P.J. Fleck. Meanwhile the Lovie Smith era may have hit rock bottom in a pitiful performance against Rutgers in last week’s loss. Illinois has zero to play for and the Gophers still want to go bowling. I expect UM’s new starting quarterback Demry Croft to take advantage of the league’s worst defense, especially at home.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, BTN
Random Musing
Illinois plays for trophies against Northwestern, Ohio State, and Purdue. Not to be out done, Minnesota plays for trophies against Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, and kind of a joke one against Nebraska, which is HILARIOUS I might add and want it to be a permanent thing. Anyway, these are two of the more trophy-happy teams in the league yet nothing is on the line this week in Minneapolis. What a joke. If Illinois can play Ohio State for a turtle and Minnesota can play Penn State for a random bell, surely these two can come up with something, right?
Big Ten and Counting 