You know in golf when Saturday is “moving day” because you need to move up the leader board to be in contention Sunday or you are just going to play out the string and get your paycheck? Well this week has some moving day feel to it as Michigan can keep ahead of Ohio State, the winner of the Iowa-Purdue game will keep the heat on Northwestern, and Wisconsin can remain in contention by navigating around Rutgers. As always, all times are central.
Game of the Week:
Penn State at Michigan
Michigan has the tiebreaker over Michigan State and Penn State has two losses so no, this isn’t a decisive Big Ten East game but it is another good test on the Michigan march towards Indy. As for Penn State, with hopes of a title donzo, playing spoiler over a rival and making a push for a ten or eleven win season is not nothing.
- Saturday, 2:45 pm, ESPN
Sleeper:
After blowing the Penn State game, Iowa is still in position to win the division but have very little margin for error. Purdue is also mathematically alive for the division but thanks to a slow start, they still need to string some wins together to make a bowl. The bottom line is both teams had high aspirations this year and while those dreams are gone yet, they are hanging in the balance so expect two hungry clubs squaring off in West Lafayette this weekend.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, ESPN 2
Don’t Forget:
Look, this one doesn’t impact Northwestern at all. They are alive in the division race but have too many losses to make the “playoffs.” You know what that means: playing with house money. They have nothing to lose and thus, zero pressure for them against the undefeated Irish who have everything to play for.
- Saturday, 6:15 pm, ESPN
Snoozer:
Hey look, the league’s worst time visits the league’s most disappointing team. Count me out.
- Saturday, 11:00 am, BTN…Or do what I am doing, drive down to West Lafayette and start tailgating.
Upset Watch:
Well we’ve reached that point where there are so many league games there is no longer any point of doing a right end or a wrong end distinction. For the rest of the way (until bowl season of course), the Upset Watch will feature just one game, unlike weeks one through four.
Let’s circle back to that Northwestern game with Notre Dame up at Ryan Field. The Irish are ranked fourth in the nation and in amazing shape to make the “playoffs.” This is problematic for power five champs because the Irish making the final four shrinks the pool. This is also super problematic for the loser of the SEC title game because Alabama and Georgia would still have an outside shot of the final four even after losing…unless of course Notre Dame has a spot at the table. So a NU upset would make the “playoff” picture mighty interesting by (most likely) knocking the Irish out.
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois vs Minnesota – Two rebuilding programs that desperately need a win to help their dimming bowl hopes. In terms of Xs and Os Illinois is one of the league’s best rushing teams and the Gophers have been a total mess on defense so this one should be decided by the number of stops Minnesota gets.
- Saturday, 2:30 pm, BTN
Maryland vs Michigan State – Another exciting under-card game thanks to the Xs and Os. Michigan State’s defense is quite good overall but outstanding against the rush. Maryland’s running attack is also quite good. As they say, something has got to give.
- Saturday, 11:00 am, ESPN 2
Nebraska at Ohio State – The Big Ten scheduling nailed this week as this game also features some fantastic Xs and Os match-ups. Ohio State’s defense has been giving up big play after big play this year while the Cornhuskers are far from a polished team yet but man they can move the ball well. A little bit of upset potential in this one, folks.
- Saturday, 11:00 am, Fox
Random Musing:
I have been to West Lafayette once before and Iowa lost, giving Ross-Ade Stadium a 0-1 mark. The only stadium I am 0-2 at is the Rose Bowl (thanks Wisconsin and Iowa) so there is a chance Purdue’s home digs joins the granddaddy of them all as the stadium that I have the worst record at as a fan.
Big Ten and Counting 