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We’re almost to the end, kids. Purdue gets a surprise FOURTH prime time game this week as we travel to Evanston to face the Wildcats. We also have the de Facto East and West championships with Iowa at Wisconsin and Michigan State at Ohio State. Finally, we get the real Big Ten Sadness Bowl (after Rutgers proved me wrong) with 0-6 Indiana going to 0-6 Illinois.
Michigan State (7-2, 5-1) at Ohio State (7-2, 5-1) Noon, FOX
This one should be really, really good. Shoot, if Michigan State hadn’t stumbled at Northwestern they could be jumping into the playoff argument with a win here. A Sparty win gives them a clean sweep of Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State in the East, meaning they would have to get upset by both Maryland AND Rutgers to lose the division because of tiebreakers. An Ohio State win muddles things depending on what happens against Michigan in the final week. Ohio State 21, Michigan State 17
Rutgers (4-5, 3-3) at Penn State (7-2, 4-2) Noon, BTN
Now that Penn State is safely out of the Big Ten race and the playoff race what better way to continue the embarrassment than a loss at home to Rutgers? It won’t happen though. Trace McSoreley and Saquon Barkley are too good. Penn State 45, Rutgers 14
Indiana (3-6, 0-6) at Illinois (2-7, 0-6) Noon, BTN
CRIPPLEFIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! The two winless teams in conference play face off, but they are winless in different ways. Illinois is just really, really bad. Indiana is good, but has played a tough schedule and has struggled to finish games. They may have even gotten a blessing in having the Florida International game be cancelled, as the Golden Panthers are 6-2. Charleston Southern was not as good. I just don’t see Illinois having enough offense to win this. Indiana 31, Illinois 13
Nebraska (4-5, 3-3) at Minnesota (4-5, 1-5) Noon, Fox Sports 1
Man, I want that final play against Nebraska back with a health Da’Wan Hunte and T.J. McCollum. I think it may end up costing us a bowl game in the end. Nebraska is not good this year, but they have a habit of being better than the other not good teams. They went 3-0 against Rutgers, Illinois, and Purdue. Minnesota lost to Purdue but beat Illinois. Minnesota cannot pass and Nebraska can’t run. This won’t be pretty, but it will be a football-like substance. Nebraska 21, Minnesota 20
Iowa (6-3, 3-3) at Wisconsin (9-0, 6-0) 3:30pm, ABC
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A Wisconsin victory clinches the entire West division with two weeks to go. An Iowa win opens the door ever so slightly, but Wisconsin would still need to lose to Michigan and Minnesota. I still have no idea where that came from last week for Iowa, but it was glorious to watch. That said, Wisconsin has been a machine of late. They grind you into dust. Wisconsin 27, Iowa 17
Michigan (7-2, 4-2) at Maryland (4-5, 2-4) 3:30pm, BTN
I might be starting at quarterback for Maryland this week. No, really. They are down to a walk-on now and a season that started with promise and a win at Texas is in shambles because they cannot keep quarterbacks healthy. Sophomore Ryan Brand will get the start against possibly the best defense in the conference. It won’t be pretty. Michigan 31, Maryland 3
Purdue (4-5, 2-4) at Northwestern (6-3, 4-2) 7pm, ESPN2
Does Purdue have a true upset this season? Yeah, we weren't favored at Missouri, but it turns out they kind of suck. Minnesota and Illinois are bad. Ohio is a very good MAC team, but still a MAC team. The Boilers have been close, but don't have a true upset. Northwestern has walked a tightrope for 3 weeks running and it is time to fall. Purdue 24, Northwestern 21