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This is the final bye as Rutgers goes to Army for the last non-conference game and Nebraska sits one out waiting to end Iowa's undefeated season. Let's get on with the seven games this week around the B1G.
Purdue (2-8,1-5) at Iowa (10-0, 6-0) Noon, ESPN2
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Purdue hasn't beaten a ranked team in 4 years, a ranked team on the road in five years, a top 5 team in 16 years, and a top 5 team on the road in (probably) five decades. Now they get to face a top 5 team on senior day with the likelihood of a damn snowstorm coming through to dump 4-7 inches of snow, all while the current coaching staff is in place. Welp, if Purdue pulls this off we had better pray that it snows for every remaining game under Darrell Hazell. Iowa 34, Purdue 7
Rutgers (3-7) at Army (2-8) Noon, CBS Sports Network
Rutgers is a very bad football team that managed to make an amazing comeback for their lone conference win because Indiana completely and utterly collapsed at home. Army is just bad and probably should no longer be playing at the FBS level. Good times! Rutgers 31, Army 17
Indiana (4-6, 0-6) at Maryland (2-8, 0-6) Noon, BTN
CRIPPLEFIGHT!!!!
The last two teams that are winless in conference play square off in College Park. Amazingly, even if Indiana loses THEY CAN STILL REACH A BOWL GAME JUST BY BEATING PURDUE. I will at least respect Indiana if they can get there the man's way: by actually beating six bad teams, kind of like how Danny Hope did it. Maryland has been a dead team for awhile and even Indiana should be able to close against them. Indiana 37, Maryland 20
Illinois (5-5, 2-4) at Minnesota (4-6, 1-5) Noon, ESPNNews
It is a battle of teams that came to Ross-Ade Stadium in games I expected Purdue to win and they kicked the living crap out of us. Of them, I think Illinois is better, but that is not saying much. They are still 0-5 against teams not named Purdue in the Big Ten. They must win out to reach a bowl game, while Illinois only needs another win. Illinois has a bit of a defense and has been playing better against non-Purdue teams. Illinois 27, Minnesota 24
Michigan (8-2, 5-1) at Penn State (7-3, 4-2) Noon, ABC
Penn State is a pretty paper thin 7-3. Exactly who have they beaten? Three non-conference patsies along will Indiana, Illinois, Rutgers, and Maryland. Those four teams have three conference wins between them and two of those wins are over Indiana and Purdue. Michigan has at least played a few good teams and I think they will show it here. Michigan 30, Penn State 17
Northwestern (8-2, 4-2) at Wisconsin (8-2, 5-1) 3:30pm, BTN
This could be a fun game. Purdue played a strong defensive game against both, so we don't have a lot to judge. Wisconsin needs Purdue to win in order to have a shot at the Big Ten title game, and even then it will take wins over Northwestern and Minnesota combined with Iowa losses to Purdue and Nebraska for them to reach Indianapolis. So, in other words, it is not going to happen. I do think they win this game for a better bowl position, however. Wisconsin 24, Northwestern 21
Michigan State (9-1, 5-1) at Ohio State (10-0, 6-0) 3:30pm, ABC
Here you go. It is the de facto East Division title game. An Ohio State win can put them in Indianapolis if Michigan also loses to Penn State. Michigan State can jump back into not only the Big Ten title picture, but the playoff picture with a win. Unfortunately, they have a banged up quarterback and they are playing a road game. Ohio State is just better. Ohio State 34, Michigan State 21