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It is the final week of the Big Ten season and almost every game has something to play for:
Iowa-Nebraska - A playoff bid for Iowa or a bowl for Nebraska
Indiana-Purdue - A bowl for Indiana (which is nearly as rare as Haley's Comet)
Michigan-Ohio State - Winner gets the B1G title game if Michigan State dicktrips.
Minnesota-Wisconsin - Minnesota needs the Axe for the first time in 10 years to reach a bowl.
Northwestern-Illinois - The Illini need a win for a bowl.
Michigan State-Penn State - A B1G title berth and outside shot at the playoff for MSU.
Rutgers-Maryland - No, this has no stakes and is proof Delaney overstepped his bounds. It is a travesty this is considered a Big Ten game.
Iowa (11-0, 7-0) at Nebraska (5-6, 3-4) 3:30pm Friday, ABC
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Surely Iowa can't blow this one, right? They are on the road, but Nebraska lost to Purdue for crying out loud. Sure, they have already ended one team's undefeated season at home, but Iowa is rolling. They seem to get better every week. With Indianapolis already clinched they have something more to play for, especially after they choked away last year's game in Iowa City. I think they get it done. Iowa 24, Nebraska 17
Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) at Michigan (9-2, 6-1) Noon, ABC
This is the game that we're contractually obligated to be overly excited about every year as Big Ten fans, but who cares? Michigan blew their chance when they couldn't punt or fall on a loose ball and Ohio State somehow couldn't win when playing at home with more talent, so we're supposed to feel sorry about their coaching situation. Buckeye fans are long overdue to have a losing streak, and Michigan has been building toward this game for awhile. Michigan 14, Ohio State 13
Indiana (5-6, 1-6) at Purdue (2-9, 1-6) Noon, BTN
I don't trust John Shoop. I have written a lot about him this week, but he has been mostly responsible for the current state of Purdue football. He has been an abject disaster since day one and if there is one iota of sense within the athletic department Saturday will be the last time he is calling "plays". As long as he is involved in this game Indiana wins easily. Indiana 37, Purdue 17
Maryland (2-9, 0-7) at Rutgers (4-7, 1-6) Noon, BTN
This si not a Big Ten game and no one cares. Rutgers 17, Maryland 7
Penn State (7-4, 4-3) at Michigan State (10-1, 6-1) 3:30pm, ESPN
There is no way Mark Dantonio will let his team lose this game, not when a win and one next week gets them to Pasadena at worst and into the playoff at best. Penn State has pulled off the Joe Tiller post-2004 special of beating a lot of bad teams but losing to every good team they have played. Michigan State 23, Penn State 10
Wisconsin (8-3, 5-2) at Minnesota (5-6, 2-5) 3:30pm, BTN
Minnesota is not a good team even though they blew out Purdue. Their entire team has been disappointing and they will have yet another axe-less year. This is a defensive slog that will be nearly unwatchable. Wisconsin 7, Minnesota 3
Northwestern (9-2, 5-2) vs. Illinois (5-6, 2-5) at Soldier Field (3:30pm, ESPNU)
Northwestern can clinch a 10-win season and a really good bowl game as long as they beat a pretty unimpressive Illinois team. They play some pretty tough football, while Illinois has been pretty uninspired since winning at Purdue. Then again, isn't Purdue the home of Big Ten ennui? Northwestern 23, Illinois 14
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