We are racing towards the end of the season but there is still a ton of drama. MSU and OSU do battle in a huge contest for the east, Wisconsin faces their biggest test of the year, Northwestern is chasing that 8-9 regular season threshold, and Minnesota, Nebraska, and Indiana have bowl hopes still to play for. Like always, these times are central.
Game of the Week:
Iowa at Wisconsin
Hawkeyes gave Penn State fits, beat Iowa State in a win that looks really good now, and smoked Ohio State. Outside those three games, total clunkers on offense. They are clearly the most bipolar team in the league but they also are clearly Wisconsin’s biggest test of the season so far. Iowa’s defense is consistently good and if their offense is even 25% as good as they were against the Buckeyes, it will probably be the best offense Wisconsin has faced as well. Great opportunity for Bucky to flex their muscles as they make a final push for the “playoffs.”
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC
Sleeper:
This feels like a rough one for the Spartans. Ohio State was embarrassed a week ago and it is pretty rare for Urban coached teams to lose twice in a row. Worse, the game is in the Shoe, where the Buckeyes play so much better. Finally, MSU’s best wins have been aided by monsoon like weather. Sparty clearly likes the slop, but in their one game against a good team in normal weather, they were handled pretty easily by Notre Dame. Despite this feeling, the fact that it is two ranked teams, the east is on the line, and OSU’s dimming “playoff” hopes are on the line, you have must-see TV for me.
- Saturday, 11 am, Fox
Don’t Forget:
Northwestern is by far the hottest non-contender in the league as they have won four straight and are improving their bowl standing with each win. Purdue is 4-5 and need to find a way to win two of their final three to make a surprise bowl game in year one of the Brohm era. With how well Purdue’s defense has played, they should be able to hang around in this one. Might just be a moral victory when it is all said and done, but I think PU can be frisky and keep things close in Evanston.
- Saturday, 6 pm, ESPN2
Snoozer:
Michigan’s defense is fantastic. Maryland’s offense is depleted due to numerous injuries at quarterback. The result will probably be a game in which the Wolverines hit the 30-40 range and Maryland hits the 0-10 range. Those aren’t very fun games to sit through.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, BTN…Or, ya know, do the smart thing and watch Wisconsin’s biggest test so far of the season.
Upset Watch:
The two premier games of the week provide the best upset potential. Michigan State upsetting the Buckeyes would give them a huge lead in the east and all but wrap up their trip to Indianapolis while ending whatever “playoff” hopes Ohio State has. At the same time Iowa can’t derail Wisconsin going to the Big Ten title game but based on Wisconsin’s schedule turning out to be easier than anticipated (thanks, BYU) any loss could end Wisconsin’s “playoff” aspirations.
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois vs Indiana – The Hoosiers are 3-6 (0-6) but have actually had some decent moments of football. The Failing Illini are 2-6 (0-6) and look the part of a team going winless in the conference. Indiana’s wafer thin bowl hopes remain alive when they leave Champaign-Urbana with a victory.
- Saturday, 11 am, BTN
Minnesota vs Nebraska – It is strange to say but the Gophers, who are 1-5 in their last six, appear to be trending in the right direction compared to their opponent this week. After all they are still in some position to make a bowl in P.J. Fleck’s first season. Nebraska is just playing out the string before firing their coach. I’m not sure how much their players care about this season now.
- Saturday, 11 am, FS1
Penn State vs Rutgers – RU is 4-5 so a massive upset in Happy Valley will make a bowl extremely likely but that is far fetched. Penn State will use this as an opportunity to get back on track. They might not repeat as champions but a ten win season and a prestigious bowl isn’t the worst consolation prize ever.
- Saturday, 11 am, BTN
Random Musing:
I am so, so happy the $5 Bits of Broken Chair trophy is back! Now this is a good story on how to create a trophy game…looking at you “Heroes Game” and whatever that butt ugly Nebraska-Wisconsin trophy is.
Big Ten and Counting 