What a slate in the Big Ten this week, folks. In addition to the epic top ten game in Columbus between Penn State and Ohio State, you have a full docket of every league team in action. Joining the ranks of that PSU-OSU throw-down is Michigan State heading to Evanston to take on those scrappy Cardiac Cats. The fun doesn’t end there because the annual bacon bowl pits bitter rivals Iowa and Minnesota in action in Iowa City with Floyd of Rosedale on the line. Also, rebuilding Purdue hopes to help their bowl possibility when hosting Nebraska and Indiana duels with Maryland in a big game for both of those clubs’ bowl aspirations. Like always, times our central.
Game of the Week:
Penn State at Ohio State
7-0 (4-0) Penn State hopes to keep their great “playoff” hopes alive after smoking Michigan but they do not have an easy task ahead: a trip to the Shoe. Ohio State is no slouch either sitting at 6-1 (4-0) and in contention to return to the “playoffs” if they win out, thanks to still having highly ranked PSU, the two Michigan teams that could be ranked for each date, and then the Big Ten title game. The thing to look for in this one is which quarterback can keep their offenses on the field. This is especially true for J.T. Barrett who has had some weird hiccup games in big time situations: i.e. Penn State last year. Of course maybe last year’s game is why OSU is so fueled for revenge.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, Fox
Sleeper:
MSU’s offense has been, um, well they are far from the reason Michigan State controls their own destiny in the East. Meanwhile Northwestern’s defense has been pretty good lately and they have ripped off two straight wins to get some confidence going into this battle with a ranked foe. Between MSU’s up-and-down O and NU’s resurgent D, there is a pretty intriguing upset potential in this one. Especially if the Wildcats limit their mistakes and the backfield of Thorson throwing and Jackson running can find a way to be balanced against a good Spartan D.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, ESPN
Don’t Forget:
Each team enter at 4-3 and both have to feel pretty salty about it. Iowa’s offense no-showed against Northwestern last week. Two weeks ago that the same unit no-showed against Michigan State. Three weeks ago they played with a ton of heart against Penn State only to have the upset bid end at the wire. Their only win in the last four games came against terrible Illinois. UM saw their 3-0 start go up in flames with a 7 point loss to Maryland, a terrible effort on the road at Purdue, and had comeback come just short against Sparty. Their first win in weeks finally came just last Saturday against, you guessed it, Illinois. Lots of pride on the line in Iowa City and some bowl implications also in play. The loser will only be 4-4 but neither has faced Wisconsin and both have some other nasty games (e.g. Iowa hosts Ohio State and Minnesota goes to Ann Arbor) so this year’s installment of the rivalry packs a little extra dose of meaning.
- Saturday, 5:30 pm, FS1
Snoozer:
Hey man, Rutgers comes in hot with back-to-back wins. The problem is their offense could barely get anything going in last week’s “thrilling” 14-12 victory over Purdue. Michigan’s offense might not be anything to wave a stick at, but Rutgers scoring more than 10 points would be a bit of a surprise.
- Saturday, 11 am, BTN…You know, I normally insert something mildly funny here to do instead of watching the snoozer, but RU’s defense hasn’t been wretched. This might be a good week to have the snoozer game on in the background of your tailgate or have it on while sleeping in and occasionally check the score. Told you it was a good week in the league!
Upset Watch:
Not to much in the way of attractive upset items coming from the other three games this week so I’ll just remind everyone that Michigan State has been playing with a bit of fire. Unless their offense flips a switch in Ryan Field, Northwestern will be able to hang around in that game. I’m not sure NU has enough on offense, either BUT keep an eye on this one while enjoying that Ohio State game because Fitz’s gang will hang around.
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois vs Wisconsin – The Illini are officially the worst team in the league. Wisconsin should have a field day running all over that lousy defense. 200+ rushing yard feels almost guaranteed. Plus Wisconsin needs style points according to every talking head to remain in contention for the “playoffs” so if Paul Chryst listens and gets his team to do it, they might be able to pour it on. Of course with Hornibrook as the signal caller, maybe Badger fans should just anticipate some more surviving and advancing.
- Saturday, 11 am, ESPN
Indiana at Maryland – Two teams desperate for a win to keep their bowl hopes alive square off in College Park. The Hoosiers are sitting at 3-4 but a hard luck oh-for in league play. Meanwhile the Terps opened 3-1 but injuries as well as road trips to Ohio State and Wisconsin have soured their hot start and are sitting at 4-3. The match-up to watch in this one is dynamic Maryland back Ty Johnson going against an Indiana defense that has been keeping IU competitive while their offense tries to get their act together.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, BTN
Nebraska at Purdue – The vastly improved Boilers take on a Nebraska team that has all but fired their coach. A win for PU would get them to four wins and make their bowl hopes much better. NU technically can finish strong and make a decent bowl game but with the Mike Riley situation swirling and an inconsistent team on the field, who knows how much their fans care about the rest of 2017.
- Saturday, 6:30 pm, BTN
Random Musing:
It took a few years for Hayden Fry to turn around Iowa but since his first win in the annual Floyd of Rosedale game in 1982, Iowa has gone 23-11 in the series to greatly close the gap in the overall series that Minnesota dominated in the 40s, 60s, and 70s. An Iowa win Saturday will push Iowa’s 1982-on trend to 24-11, a .685 winning percentage.
The Minnesota football program has struggled since its 1940s glory days but they have made bowl games and had some memorable upsets but if there is one area that has been painful lately it is trophy games. Wisconsin has won the Axe 13 straight years and 20 of the last 22. The Little Brown Jug against Michigan is an even bleaker picture.
People around the nation that follow college football thought Minnesota hit a home run with the hiring of P.J. Fleck and I’m one of them. Admittedly this debut season has been a little erratic in terms of the record but he and his team have their first trophy game this week. The folks in the land of 10,000 lakes would be ecstatic for this new staff to start 1-0 in these prideful trophy games for old Ski-U-Mah.
Big Ten and Counting 