:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65497254/1181069655.jpg.0.jpg)
This week we see a pair of teams in the conference on bye. Michigan State has the week off in addition to Nebraska. The Big Ten East will see a contender to Ohio State fall by the wayside with the Penn State-Michigan loser. Indiana can take a major step towards bowl eligibility while we can ask if Rutgers can actually score once again. It all begins tonight in Evanston.
Friday
#4 Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) at Northwestern (1-4, 0-3) 8:30pm, BTN
Ohio State playing a night game at an underachieving Big Ten West foe in the middle of October. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right? While it would be hilarious for Northwestern to pull off a 2017 Iowa or a 2018 Purdue, the Wildcats would need a functioning offense for that. Northwestern hasn’t even scored more than 15 points in a game against a non-UNLV opponent. Ohio State is averaging almost 50 per game. Expect blood. Ohio State 56, Northwestern 10
Saturday
#6 Wisconsin (6-0, 3-0) at Illinois (2-4, 0-3) Noon, BTN
Illinois had a few signs of life in the second half against Michigan last week, but the Badgers have the best defense in America at the moment. They are hanging zeroes like donuts, but Illinois is surprisingly averaging 30 points per game. They just don’t have a defense that can stop anyone. Wisconsin 49, Illinois 24
Purdue (2-4, 1-2) at #23 Iowa (4-2, 1-2) Noon, ESPN2
Black Heart Gold Pants Preview
Yes, I know my record when seeing Purdue in a Big Ten venue for the first time is awful (1-10-1). Yes, I know we’re a multi-score underdog against a ranked team on the road. I don’t care. I am going full kool-aid. I remember how we won in Iowa City two years ago with a beaten up, under talented team. Iowa’s offense has not impressed me at all this season. Their defense is good, but if Purdue scores first it might just be enough to stay in front. Yes, we’re playing a ton of freshmen, but many are not playing like freshmen. Each Brohm team so far has had a memorable upset, and I think it comes this week. (Of course, now that I said this, we’re doomed). Purdue 24, Iowa 17
#20 Minnesota (6-0, 3-0) at Rutgers (1-5, 0-4) 3:30pm, BTN
My new morbid curiosity is seeing if Rutgers will go down as the worst Big Ten team of all-time. 1981 Northwestern is the standard here, scoring 75 points total and getting shut out five times in nine conference games. Rutgers is currently sitting at 7 points and 3 shutouts through four games. Minnesota is pretty good this year and is going to win. Can they get the shutout while their rivals Iowa did not? Minnesota 38, Rutgers 0
Indiana (4-2, 1-2) at Maryland (3-3, 1-2) 3:30pm, BTN
Could we see Indiana at 7-2 and ranked before going to Penn State? The next two weeks may decide that, otherwise there is a very good chance the Hoosiers will enter the top 25 for the first time in 25 years and make Purdue have the longest active streak among Power 5 teams for not being in the top 25. Sure, they haven’t beaten anyone of note yet, but they have been mostly dominant against bad teams. Maryland certainly did not look good last week, either. Indiana 31, Maryland 21
#16 Michigan (5-1, 3-1) at #7 Penn State (6-0, 3-0) 7:30pm, ABC
Here is your marquee game and White Out game. Michigan is definitely getting it done defensively, but Penn State has the weapons to test them that other teams did not. The last time Michigan went on the road against a ranked team it did next to nothing offensively. They even struggled last week against Illinois. To me, that is a red flag. Penn State 24, Michigan 17