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Greetings from our Nation’s capital! Yes, to those that have questioned my dedication to Purdue football, I have driven all the way to Washington, DC with a 3-year-old to see Purdue take on Maryland this weekend. I have done this mostly to check it off my list of Big Ten Stadiums I have seen Purdue play in. After this, I have only Nebraska, Iowa, and Rutgers to go.
So this week’s preview will be shorter in sweeter since I am on the road with limited time to write, but it is not like the content is read anyway.
Northwestern (1-3, 0-1) at Iowa (3-1, 1-0) Noon, ESPNU
Black Heart Gold Pants Preview
The Hawkeyes already have a loss to an FCS team, but given the respect that NDSU gets, I think a loss at home to Northwestern would be even more embarrassing. At least the winner can rest assured that they would finish third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Iowa 24, Northwestern 14
Rutgers (2-2, 0-1) at Ohio State (3-0, 0-0) Noon, BTN
Oh God, there is going to be blood. Ohio State 52, Rutgers 10
Purdue (2-1, 0-0) at Maryland (3-0, 0-0) 3:30pm, BTN
Normally this is where I would be optimistic, but optimism fails me after the Cincinnati game. That was Hazell’s last chance to really show this team was better and could beat even mediocre teams and he failed miserably. Maryland was 3-9 a year ago, but is clearly better this season. Purdue was 2-10 and it is a question still if it is better. While Purdue played better on the road last year, it still lost all of those games. I think that happens here too. Also, Purdue has only won once in my first trip to a Big Ten venue, and that was at Northwestern in 2007, making me a stellar 1-9 (I saw Purdue at both the Metrodome and TCF Bank stadium). Maryland 31, Purdue 14
Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) at Michigan (4-0, 1-0) 3:30pm, ABC
I am not sure which deity Wisconsin angered to get Michigan State-Michigan-Ohio State in consecutive weeks this year, but after sitting on MSU’s head in East Lansing last week the Badgers will become the Big Ten favorite with a win this week in Ann Arbor. And you know what? I am going to pick them. There is too much of a Harboner for a Michigan team that really has not been tested yet. Wisconsin 31, Michigan 30
Illinois (1-2, 0-0) at Nebraska (4-0, 1-0) 3:30pm, ESPN2
All the joy that there was in Chambana after Lovie Smith blew out Murray State in the opener, they have looked pretty bad the last few weeks. Our last impression of Illinois was 2017 Purdue coach P.J. Fleck dominating them two weeks ago. They should lose this one, but remember: Nebraska lost to both Purdue and Illinois last year. Nebraska 45, Illinois 17
Minnesota (3-0, 0-0) at Penn State (2-2, 0-1) 3:30pm, BTN
If the Big Ten title game were played with the fourth best team in each division this would be a preview! Unfortunately, it is not. Minnesota can beat bad teams and Penn State is not a good team. They are Saquan Barkley and a crappy offense. Minnesota 24, Penn State 20
Michigan State (2-1, 0-1) at Indiana (2-1, 0-0) 8pm, BTN
Both teams were atrocious on offense last week. Michigan State couldn’t score at home, while Indiana’s Richard Lagow threw a ridiculous amount of interceptions in the loss to Wake Forest. Michigan State should right the ship and win this, but it is about time for the chaos team to cause some chaos. Indiana 31, Michigan State 28