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All 14 teams in the Big Ten are in action this week. Our Boilers are headed to one of the highest ranked teams in the country with the least experienced head coach, and that is expected to be an upgrade over the previous situation. I admit, I will be distracted, however. Saturday night the Cubs will be 9 innings away from reaching the World Series. They have been in that position only twice in my lifetime and they are 0-6 in that situation, blowing a 2-0 lead in 1984 and a 3-1 lead in 2003.
Honestly, I would trade an unmerciful blowout at the hands of Nebraska for a Cubs win over Kershaw. This Purdue season is going nowhere, and it is not every year the Cubs can go to the World Series.
Let’s take a look at this week’s games:
Rutgers (2-5, 0-4) at Minnesota (4-2, 1-2) Noon, ESPNU
Last year it was a memorable double cripplefight in basketball between these two. In football it appears that the Gophers have a pretty significant advantage. The Gophers will be without Mitch Leidner, but they can still run the ball well and that is what they should do. Rutgers is almost as bad against the run as Purdue is. Minnesota will run until it gets tired. Minnesota 42, Rutgers 10
Wisconsin (4-2, 1-2) at Iowa (5-2, 3-1) Noon, ESPN
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Iowa has had a good week. They got a win over their Most Hated Rivals, got a coach fired, and announced an impressive stadium renovation. Now they come home for the 437th trophy game as Wisconsin rolls into town. The Badgers have played a ridiculously hard schedule to this point and still have to get past Iowa and Nebraska in the West. I think they suffer a letdown after taking Ohio State to the brink. Iowa 24, Wisconsin 23
Indiana (3-3, 1-2) at Northwestern (3-3, 2-1) Noon, BTN
What do we know about Indiana? Their supposed breakthrough win over Michigan State has proven to be not as great because the Spartans are a mess right now. They continue to play good teams tough, but come up just short. Now they get a Northwestern team that is finally playing like we expected them to play. This could be one of the best games of the day and one Indiana needs for bowl eligibility. Indiana 31, Northwestern 21
Illinois (2-4, 1-2) at Michigan (6-0, 3-0) 3:30pm, BTN
More blood. If Purdue can run all over Illinois what is Michigan going to do? At least the Illini proved last week they are better than Rutgers. They can further prove that by actually scoring on Michigan. This will likely be an unmerciful beating. Michigan 59, Illinois 10
Purdue (3-3, 1-2) at Nebraska (6-0, 3-0) 3:30pm, ABC/ESPN2
Last season was dismal except for a gray Halloween afternoon in West Lafayette when Ryker Fyfe had the worst game I have ever seen from a college quarterback. Purdue won 55-45 over the Cornhuskers, but it wasn’t that Shoop had an offensive genius day or anything. The Cornhuskers handed Purdue five turnovers and Purdue took full advantage. Now Purdue heads to Lincoln for only the second time ever and they have an interim coach too. Reportedly, the mood is different and Gerad Parker is going to let it all hang out because we’re a team with nothing to lose. That might help, as will a Nebraska team that has let all three Big Ten opponents hang around. Purdue has also alternated good performances with absolute turd performances this year, and after last week’s terrible first half it is due for a good one. I am not expecting a win, but I think Purdue at least plays inside the 24 point spread. Unfortunately, Nebraska can still run all day. Nebraska 41, Purdue 24
Michigan State (2-4, 0-3) at Maryland (4-2, 1-2) 7:30pm, BTN
Maryland has not looked good since it beat the bloody crap out of Purdue, while Michigan State has not looked good in any way, shape, or form aside from about three quarters at Notre Dame. What does that mean for this game? Who knows. I don’t think we can trust Michigan State at all these days because they are in complete disarray unlike we have ever seen under Dantonio. I think that means the Terrapins right the ship this week. Maryland 28, Michigan State 24
Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) at Penn State (4-2, 2-1) 8pm, ABC
Ohio State has shown exactly zero signs of slowing down after 20 straight road victories. Their last loss in a true road game was at Michigan under Luke Fickell, which was the second road loss in a row because they had lost at Purdue before that. In fact, since the beginning of the 2004 season Ohio State has only lost 11 true road games. Three of them have been at Purdue, the only team to defeat them multiple times in that span. Since they don’t come to Purdue until 2018 and Penn State already beat them in that span (in 2005) they should be good. Ohio State 34, Penn State 20