:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65753757/usa_today_13643445.0.jpg)
The penultimate week of the season is here and it is hard to believe this year is almost over. For Purdue fans, like the last two weeks this game will decide if Purdue has a shot at a bowl or not. The Boilers need to pull off a huge road upset in order to stay alive. It is also one of the rare weeks that has all 14 teams active in seven games, so let’s get started with BIG NUDE SATURDAY.
#8 Penn State (9-1, 6-1) at #2 Ohio State (10-0, 7-0) Noon, FOX
This is kind of a de facto Big Ten East championship game. Michigan already has two losses, so an Ohio State win makes next week moot. A Penn State win gives the Nittany Lions the tiebreaker and they would only need to beat Rutgers next week to win the East. All that said, Penn State never deserves good things in football ever again, especially after the whole “Death threats to the QB for losing to Minnesota” thing. Ohio State 34, Penn State 28
#10 Minnesota (9-1, 6-1) at Northwestern (2-8, 0-7) Noon, ABC
Minnesota can clinch the West with a win and a Wisconsin loss, so hopefully we can help them out a bit. They are already likely getting the win here because Northwestern is about to pull a reverse of last year. Last year they were undefeated against the Big Ten West. This year they could go winless against that division. Minnesota 27, Northwestern 10
Illinois (6-4, 4-3) at #17 Iowa (7-3, 4-3) Noon, BTN
Black Heart Gold Pants Preview
This is a really interesting game because Illinois is playing some pretty good football. It is one of the more stunning in-season turnarounds I have ever seen. A win at Iowa might even get the Illini into the top 25 for the first time since 2011. I could absolutely see Iowa going from beating a top 10 and undefeated Minnesota to losing at home to Illinois. In fact, I believe in the Illini. Illinois 24, Iowa 21
Michigan State (4-6, 2-5) at Rutgers (2-8, 0-7) Noon, Fox Sports 1
Michigan State is an absolute mess. Are they enough of a mess to lose at Rutgers? The Scarlet Knights actually scored three whole touchdowns. The offensive outburst got them to 45 points scored in Big Ten play, now just 30 points behind 1981 Northwestern. If Rutgers is going to pull off a win, this is it, because Michigan State might be a dead team walking. Michigan State 21, Rutgers 10
#13 Michigan (8-2, 5-2) at Indiana (7-3, 4-3) 3:30pm, ESPN
It is the biggest home game for Indiana in years, as #9Windiana even has Banner Society founder Spencer Hall in town for a sponsored tailgate. As much as I would like to cancel #9Windiana next week, the Hoosiers are legitimately good. So, of course they are going to beat Michigan and be in the top 25 against Purdue next week. Indiana 34, Michigan 31
Nebraska (4-6, 2-5) at Maryland (3-7, 1-6) 3:30pm, BTN
Yes, this is a Big Ten game, something that was pretty much a laughable thought 10 years ago. No, no one will care about it. Nebraska 24, Maryland 17
Purdue (4-6, 3-4) at Wisconsin (8-2, 5-2) 4pm, FOX
Purdue is going to have to play a virtually perfect game to win this, and that is even if Rondale comes abck and goes full Rondale. When the Boilers dropped the season opener at Nevada I was afraid that it would bite us in the end, and it turns out I was right. That game could be the difference between a bowl game an no bowl game. I have zero faith that Purdue can even slow down Jonathan Taylor after the last two years. He went for 300+ last year and it will probably be more of the same this year. Wisconsin 35, Purdue 13