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Conference play gets going in earnest this week across the league. Purdue, Ohio State, Northwestern, and Rutgers have all already played a league game, but most of the rest of the league gets going in Big Ten play this week. There are still a few non-conference games sprinkled about, however. It all starts Friday night with Penn State at Illinois.
Friday
#10 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) at Illinois (2-1, 0-0) 9pm, Fox Sports 1
Illinois hasn’t been that bad, to be honest. Yeah, they aren’t great, but unlike Purdue they didn’t dicktrip at home against a MAC team. They held their own vs. South Florida, too. Sure, they’re probably losing this game by a lot, but the Illini are better than many thought. They enter this game on a 12 game B1G losing streak, but I think they beat someone in conference play. Penn State 41, Illinois 13
Saturday
Nebraska (0-2, 0-0) at #19 Michigan (2-1, 0-0) Noon, Fox Sports 1
What is wrong with Nebraska? I mean come on, they have more raw talent than a lot of teams, but they have been bad. Now the quarterback situation is up in the air. Scott Frost is supposed to be a savior, but it is clearly going to take some time. Michigan, meanwhile, has been rolling since the Notre Dame game. Shea Patterson has been a solid answer, but has it merely been the competition? Michigan 27, Nebraska 13
Buffalo (3-0) at Rutgers (1-2) Noon, BTN
Rutgers is a home underdog to a MAC team and just gave up 55 points in a brutal loss to Kansas. The Big Ten Network is contractually obligated to relegate this game to the 9th overflow channel and show Minnesota-Maryland. Buffalo 24, Rutgers 21
Minnesota (3-0, 0-0) at Maryland (2-1, 0-0) Noon, BTN
This is a fascinating game because Minnesota has had an excellent defense so far and Maryland had a good offense before laying an egg against Temple. The Gophers are coming together and a 4-0 start almost certainly guarantees a bowl game with Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska still to play. I certainly don’t like the look of Maryland after last week. Minnesota 27, Maryland 21
#23 Boston College (3-0) at Purdue (0-3) Noon, ESPN2
What painful way will Purdue lose this week? AJ Dillon is a beast and Anthony Brown has been deadly efficient, but the Boston College defense is susceptible to teams that play with tempo. After what David Blough did last week and the way the offense responded all night I have a good feeling. In fact, I have had a good feeling all week. I think I will let it ride, too. We end a number of losing streaks here. 3 straight at home to start the year, 19 straight to ranked opponents dating back to 2011, and 8 straight non-conference games against ranked teams dating back to at #20 Wake Forest in 2003. It becomes a shootout, but Purdue gets some turnover luck and Brown throws a pair of overdue interceptions. Purdue 45, Boston College 42
Tulane (1-2) at #4 Ohio State (3-0) 3:30pm, BTN
Our long national nightmare is over as Urban Meyer returns to the sideline. Ohio State 55, Tulane 10
#24 Michigan State (2-1, 0-0) at Indiana (3-0) 7:30pm, BTN
This is a very interesting game as Indiana might actually be pretty good. If anything, they have handled all business against lesser competition so far. We can’t say the same for Purdue. Michigan State has been shaky in both games so far but had a week off to work some things out. I do think Indiana has been pretty good defensively though. That is the difference. Indiana 24, Michigan State 21
#18 Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at Iowa (3-0, 0-0) 8:30pm, FOX
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Here is your Big Ten West championship game most likely unless Northwestern turns it around, Minnesota stays hot, or Purdue goes crazy down the stretch. The Wisconsin offense was disappointing to say the least last week. Iowa, meanwhile, has strangled teams defensively and is giving up just 8 points per game. They are the opposite of Purdue so far in that they got 4 straight home games to start and are 3-0. Iowa 20, Wisconsin 17