Illinois at Ohio St.
Time: 11:10 a.m.
Place: Columbus, Ohio
Line: Ohio St. by 2 1/2
TV: ESPN
Records: Illinois (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten), Ohio St. (6-3, 4-2)
What’s at stake: Illinois is looking to keep pace with Michigan atop the Big Ten, while an Ohio State victory would keep it alive in the race for the conference crown.
Overview: After beginning the season sluggishly, Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari has come alive. He’s boosted himself to a 133.4 quarterback rating, which is third-best in the Big Ten. On the other side of the field, Illinois features Kurt Kittner, the league leader in passing yards. Although Kittner was able to recover from slow starts the past two weeks, another one this weekend could be detrimental for the Fighting Illini, who face the third-best pass defense in the Big Ten. Illinois will be without tailback Antoineo Harris, who was sidelined with a broken wrist last weekend. But that shouldn’t cause too much concern since veteran Rocky Harvey is backing him up.
Indiana at Penn St.
Time: 11:10 a.m.
Place: University Park, Pa.
Line: Even
TV: None
Records: Indiana (3-5, 3-3), Penn St. (3-5, 2-4)
What’s at stake: It’s do or die. The winner of this game still has a chance of becoming bowl eligible, while the loser can start making plans for the holidays.
Overview: Indiana and Penn State are both teams that have been playing well and with a sense urgency as of late. The Nittany Lions are winners of three of their last four games, while the Hoosiers have won two straight. This weekend, Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El will try to add to his all-time career rushing total for quarterbacks, as he faces the Big Ten’s third worst rush defense and second worst overall. Hoosiers running back Levron Williams, who has risen to the top of the conference in rushing (136.6 yards per game), will be eyeing a big game as well. Penn State might again be without freshman quarterback Zack Mills, who injured himself at Illinois last weekend. But the Nittany Lions aren’t in too much trouble, with senior quarterback Matt Senneca coming off the bench.
Michigan at Wisconsin
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Madison, Wis.
Line: Michigan by 4 1/2
TV: ABC
Records: Michigan (7-2, 5-1), Wisconsin (5-5, 3-3)
What’s at stake: Wisconsin is in a must-win situation if it plans on having a shot at making a sixth straight bowl game.
Overview: Michigan quarterback John Navarre is not fully recovered from the Wolverines’ loss to rival Michigan State on Nov. 3. While he was intercepted just one time in Michigan’s first nine games, Navarre has been intercepted five times in the last three contests. Navarre may have his hands full against Wisconsin, which boasts the league’s fourth-best pass defense. The Wolverines have the fifth-best rushing defense in the nation, however, and will look to shut down Wisconsin star rusher Anthony Davis. Michigan’s pass defense, on the other hand, is third worst in the conference and won’t have an easy time with Badgers leading wideout Lee Evans.
Michigan St. at Purdue
Time: 11:10 a.m.
Place: West Lafayette, Ind.
Line: Even
TV: ESPN2
Records: Michigan St. (5-3, 3-3), Purdue (5-3, 3-3)
What’s at stake: Purdue is looking to snap a two-game losing skid, while the Spartans are trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Indiana. Both teams need one victory to attain bowl eligibility.
Overview: Michigan State suffered yet another injury last weekend, this time to starting quarterback Jeff Smoker, who hurt his left shoulder. Although Smoker might still start, he definitely wasn’t 100 percent — throwing two interceptions toward the end of last weekend’s loss to Indiana. Purdue freshman quarterback Brandon Hance has not played well, either. He was just 10 of 22 for 122 yards last week against Ohio State and threw for just 130 yards the week before.
Minnesota at Iowa
Time: 12:05 p.m.
Place: Iowa City, Iowa
Line: Iowa by 12
TV: None
Records: Minnesota (3-6, 1-5), Iowa (5-4, 3-4)
What’s at stake: Minnesota is still gunning for road respectability, while Iowa has bowl eligibility on its mind.
Overview: These two teams were on opposite ends of blowouts last week, with Iowa toppling NU 59-16 and Minnesota falling at Michigan 31-10. Iowa pits the league’s best scoring offense (35.1 ppg) against a Golden Gophers defense that yields more than 400 yards per game. Minnesota will need much stronger production from its quarterbacks — the Gophers are second to last in the Big Ten with 179.2 passing yards per game.
