Trophy week part one everyone! Hoosiers-Spartans, Badgers-Huskers, and Hawks-Gophers are all playing for some hardware. A great appetizer for next week’s axe and the game. Love this time of year.
Game of the Week:
- Iowa at Minnesota
Forget the title race for a second…this is a rivalry. It is an honest to god old-school rivalry. The trophy is a freaking pig because governors bet a pig back in the leather helmet days. They are also border rivals. Hell, Minnesota’s main chant is “who hates Iowa?” This is a salty game even in normal circumstances. Now factor in the divisional race. If Illinois loses at Michigan, which like, I think we all expect…right? Is anyone picking Illinois? The winner of this game is still alive in the title race. The loser…not so much. Lastly, two great defenses squaring off. I expect a lot of big hits and very few big plays.
- Saturday, 3:00 PM, Fox
Sleeper:
- Wisconsin at Nebraska
The Badger’s insanely long bowl streak is on the line as the 5-5 badgers need to knock off either Nebraska or Minnesota to get there. Both games are trophy games and Minnesota is certainly a rival…but wouldn’t a Husker win here give some juice to the rivalry? A senior day win for Nebraska could be critical if the Badgers don’t get to the postseason. Plus it is the interim bowl. The first interim vs interim Big Ten match-up since Bill Cubit’s Illinois squad took on Tracey Clay’s Gophers back in 2015. Who knows if either guy gets the job but they are both hungry for the full-time gig and will desperately want to win this trophy as something to put on the resume.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, ESPN
Don’t Forget:
- Illinois at Michigan
I know the Illini haven’t been too hot lately but Michigan hasn’t exactly played anybody with a pulse since Penn State a month ago. With the frigid temps this time of year Illinois’s ground and pound game hurts that much more. Play this one 10 times, Michigan probably wins 8 of them – with 6 of those blowouts. The 20% chance of Illinois being game makes it intriguing. Also for Illinois they are still alive in the west despite people being ready to bury them. Lastly, can you think of a more hilarious (and awful) outcome for the Big Ten if Illinois stuns Michigan and then Michigan beats Ohio State. Just because we are adding the LA schools doesn’t mean we need to start cannibalizing ourselves like the Pac 12.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, ABC
Snoozer:
- Penn State at Rutgers
Rutgers showed some improvement this season, including last week’s nail-biter against MSU last week, but they continue to get blown out against ranked teams, losing by 39 to OSU, 35 to Michigan, and 31-0 to receiving votes Minnesota. The Lions should demolish them
- Saturday, 2:30 PM, BTN…Or watch the game of the week, duh!
Upset Alert:
- Indiana at Michigan State
Same exact rationale as last week, MSU is a double digit favorite and really hasn’t looked like one all year. Hoosiers can reverse a lot of wrongs with this season by knocking off a rival and getting that Old Brass Spittoon. Both clubs are inconsistent and erratic, so I go back to my original thesis: why is MSU a 12 point favorite?
- Saturday, 2:30 PM, BTN
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Ohio State at Maryland – A few years ago this game ended about 170-168 after 400 overtimes. Unfortunately UM’s offense hasn’t been clicking at all for weeks now. Ohio State is on a mission and Maryland is, dare I make the joke, turtling?
- Saturday, 2:30 PM, ABC
Northwestern at Purdue – Normally a title race game will excite me but unfortunately for Purdue, they are hosting the unwatchable Wildcats. Purdue should make quick work of the worst team in the league.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, FS1
Bye Week:
No One
Random Musing:
With the start of trophy week, let’s rank my Hawkeyes’ trophies:
- Floyd of Rosedale – the GOAT for Iowa football.
- Cy-Hawk – El Assico has never had a good trophy, but the game matters for state bragging rights
- Hartland Trophy – the Merrill Lynch bull was an unnecessary addition to a game that is a secondary rival for both teams
- Heroes Trophy – utterly worthless. No one cares.
Big Ten and Counting 