What a season in the Big Ten and the league is delivering us a final weekend to remember. Tons of teams chasing bowls. The east to be decided in the Shoe. Rivalry games. Trophy games. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. As always, all times are central but keep in mind Iowa and Nebraska play FRIDAY!
Game of the Week:
Michigan at Ohio State
Impossible to hype this one any more than what every other outlet is doing so I’ll just run down why it matters: a) division title, b) league title implications, c) Michigan’s “playoff” hopes, and d) Ohio State’s slimmer “playoff” hopes. If Michigan’s defense plays lights out it is tough to see the Buckeyes having enough in the tank to knock off Michigan due to their own defensive struggles.
- Saturday, 11:00 am, Fox
Sleeper:
The Old Oaken Bucket takes on extra meaning this year. The winner will be 6-6 and the loser will be 5-7. As Tom Allen and Brian Brohm try to build their programs in year two a bowl still matters. IU is looking for their first one under Allen and Purdue would love to go back-to-back bowls as their young team would benefit greatly from the extra weeks of practice. Plus who doesn’t want to watch Rondale Moore?
- Saturday, 11:00 am, ESPN 2
Don’t Forget:
A pair of trophy games, one a real rivalry even, takes place this Friday and Saturday. For Iowa they are looking to finish the season strong. 8-4 is a clear underachievement but would be nice to send the seniors out as well as get to a bowl some place other than New York City so maybe traveling fans can enjoy nice weather this bowl season. The Huskers most likely wouldn’t make a bowl at 5-7 but have been playing with a lot of pride lately and would love to avoid an eight loss season. Up in Madison the Gophers need to win their first Axe since 2004 to make a bowl game as they currently sit at 5-6. The Badgers are trying to get Jonathan Taylor to New York City as a Heisman candidate so while their season has also been an underachievement, they still have some motivation for JT and like Iowa would want to send those seniors out winners at home.
- Iowa vs Nebraska, Friday, 11:00 am, Fox
- Minnesota at Wisconsin, Saturday, 2:30 pm, ESPN 2
Snoozer:
Rutgers at Michigan State, aka, a team with the inability to score hosts a team with the inability to win.
- Saturday, 3:00 pm, Fox
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.
Ohio State upsetting Michigan isn’t a real upset. Minnesota over an up and down Wisconsin team, eh, sort of. Maryland clinching a bowl against 12th ranked Penn State in Happy Valley? Now that’s an upset. The Nittany Lions have been way overshadowed by Michigan and Ohio State but have an 8-3 record, are a borderline top ten team, and looking to send all time great Trace McSorley out with a win. UM is looking for a positive end to a rocky season that saw a player pass away, a coach get fired, and an interim coach lead them to a 5-6 mark through 11 games. The UM offense is clearly better and since interim coach Matt Canada was hired to be the OC, I think giving him a crack at the rebuild is a logical step even with a loss but beating PSU and going bowling makes the job his to lose.
- Maryland at Penn State, Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois at Northwestern – Technically a rivalry game but Northwestern has won the last three, five of the last six, and 11 of the last 15. NU has clinched the west and just opened an amazing football complex and Illinois just lost 63-0 to Iowa. It feels like this is no longer big brother vs little brother but one kid going off to college versus the other kid who just flunked out of middle school. Maybe the Illini play with some pride but with them out of bowl contention and NU’s defense being so talented, I’m worried that the Orange Crush will sleepwalk through the game and look more like an Orange Julius.
- Saturday, 2:30 PM, BTN
Random Musing:
A part of me loves the traditional noon kickoff for The Game but a part of me really hates listening to the game every year as I drive back to Chicago from Iowa after Thanksgiving. Maybe I could get behind self driving cars if it meant I could watch this game live instead of having to listen to the radio like some 1940s chump.
Big Ten and Counting 