Michigan State

at No. 12 Michigan

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Place: Ann Arbor, Mich.

Line: Michigan by 11.5

TV: ABC

Records: Michigan State 4-3, 3-1 Big Ten, Michigan 7-1, 5-0

What’s at Stake: The Wolverines need a win to remain tied atop the conference standings with Wisconsin, which has the week off. The Spartans are looking for their first glimpse of the Paul Bunyan Trophy since 2001 and will try to prove they are as worthy a rival as the hated Buckeyes.

Overview: The Wolverines are on a six-game winning streak and have been riding freshman running back Mike Hart to victory in his last two record-breaking weeks. Hart broke the school’s true-freshman single season rushing record last week at Illinois, and he broke the true-freshman single-game rushing record against Minnesota two weeks ago. Michigan State is riding a two-game win streak, and quarterback Drew Stanton has emerged as the conference’s top run-and-pass threat. He is fifth in the conference in rushing with 75.7 yards per game and fourth in passing efficiency with a 128.1 rating.

No. 23 Iowa at Illinois

Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Champaign, Ill.

Line: Iowa by 11

TV: ESPN Plus

Records: Iowa 5-2, 3-1, Illinois 2-6, 0-5

What’s at Stake: With upcoming games against Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Hawkeyes need a win to become bowl-eligible. Illinois coach Ron Turner needs to end the Illini’s 13-game conference losing streak in order to give himself some job security.

Overview: The Iowa defense finally has emerged during the team’s current three-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes have allowed their opponents only 27 combined points in the last three contests. The road has been a bit shakier this season for Illinois, which appeared to take another setback last week in its first shutout loss since 1998. Turner once again has opened up the quarterback position this week, this time allowing sixth-year senior Jon Beutjer to compete for the position after holding him out of it last week.

No. 24 Minnesota

at Indiana

Time: 1 p.m.

Place: Bloomington, Ind.

Line: Minnesota by 18

TV: None

Records: Minnesota 6-2, 3-2, Indiana 2-5, 0-4

What’s at Stake: Although its Rose Bowl aspirations were crushed by two consecutive conference losses, Minnesota still is shooting for a New Year’s Day bowl appearance, a likely outcome if it can win Saturday.

Overview: Surprisingly enough, the Golden Gophers have not won at Indiana in nearly two decades. The last time Minnesota was victorious in Bloomington was in 1985 — although this will be only the seventh time the teams have met there since then. The Gophers lead the conference in scoring, rushing and total offense. While Indiana has struggled with its rushing attack all season, quarterback Matt LoVecchio and receiver Courtney Roby have materialized as a deadly tandem. Roby became the Hoosiers all-time leading receiver last week, and LoVecchio set school passing records three weeks ago against Northwestern.

Penn State

at Ohio State

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Place: Columbus, Ohio

Line: Ohio State by 6

TV: ABC

Records: Penn State 2-5, 0-4, Ohio State 4-3, 1-3

What’s at Stake: Penn State needs to win its remaining games to become bowl-eligible. Ohio State will attempt to build on its first conference win of the season last weekend.

Overview: The scene is pretty bleak for Penn State coach Joe Paterno and his Nittany Lions. Senior quarterback Zack Mills will sit out this game with a concussion suffered in the loss last week to Iowa. The team’s one bright spot may be its defense, which held Iowa to six points last week and ranks second in the conference in scoring defense. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will start Troy Smith at quarterback because starter Justin Zwick is still ailing from a shoulder injury suffered two weeks ago. Starting running back Lydell Ross may also be unavailable due to suspension.

Last Week

Wisconsin 24, NU 12

Michigan 16, Purdue 14

Ohio State 30, Indiana 7 Iowa 6, Penn State 4

Minnesota 45, Illinois 0

Big Ten Overall

Team Record Record

Wisconsin 5-0 8-0

Michigan 5-0 7-1

Iowa 3-1 5-2

Michigan State 3-1 4-3

Minnesota 3-2 6-2

Purdue 2-2 5-2

NU 2-2 3-4

Ohio State 1-3 4-3

Indiana 0-4 2-5

Penn State 0-4 2-5

Illinois 0-5 2-6

courtesy Michigan state media relations

Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton is fifth in the conference in rushing yards per game with an average of 75.7.