Iowa at No. 19 Wisconsin
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Madison, Wis.
TV: ESPN
Line: Wisconsin, -3
Records: Iowa (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten), Wisconsin (8-2, 5-2)
What’s at stake: Iowa needs a win to clinch a bowl berth, but Wisconsin is determined to send off coach Barry Alvarez with a victory.
Overview: After being beaten up by Penn State last week, Wisconsin lost a chance at winning the Big Ten title outright. As the Badgers close out their home schedule, the Hawkeyes look to spoil Alvarez’s going away party. Iowa’s recent history against Wisconsin suggests it might be able to pull it off, having won the last three meetings, including last year’s 30-7 route that clinched a piece of the Big Ten title. The win also cost the Badgers a Rose Bowl bid. As Alvarez waves goodbye to the Camp Randall faithful, his players can exact revenge by making Iowa wait another week for the chance to become bowl eligible.
Michigan State at Minnesota
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: ESPN Gameplan
Line: Minnesota, -5.5
Records: Michigan State (5-4, 2-4), Minnesota (6-3, 3-3)
What’s at stake: Michigan State needs to halt its tailspin to become bowl eligible. Minnesota, already bowl eligible, tries to play spoiler while moving up the Big Ten standings.
Overview: With a 4-0 start the postseason seemed like an afterthought to the Spartans. But after going 1-4 in their last five games, Michigan State is on the brink falling short. As Drew Stanton and company try to play in a bowl they’ll be up against the No. 1 rushing team in the nation. After Laurence Maroney left last week’s game with an injury, Minnesota’s backup, Gary Russell, rushed for three touchdowns and 188 yards. Facing the Gopher’s relentless ground game on the road may leave Michigan State hoping to clinch a berth next week against conference leader Penn State.
Indiana at No. 21 Michigan
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: Ann Arbor, Mich.
TV: ESPN 2
Line: Michigan, -24
Records: Indiana (4-5, 1-5), Michigan (6-3, 4-2)
What’s at stake: A loss ends Indiana’s chance at their first bowl game since 1993. Michigan needs to keep its slim conference title hopes alive.
Overview: Indiana needs to run the table to make it to the post-season, but winning in the Big House is not an easy task. It’s also something the Hoosiers haven’t done since 1967. The Wolverines have only lost once, a 14-10 setback in 1987, against the Hoosiers. To break the trend, Indiana will have to solve Michigan’s running game, which rushed for 253 yards last week without starter Mike Hart. Indiana may also be forced to play without wide receiver James Hardy who left last week’s game early with an injury.
Illinois at Purdue
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: ESPN 360
Line: Purdue, -23
Records: Illinois (2-7, 0-6), Purdue (3-6, 1-5)
What’s at stake: The only person with anything at stake is a viewer who might miss out on this comedy of errors.
Overview: According to ESPN.com, this game will only be viewable outside the local markets on the Internet. The game probably belongs with videos of awkward Ball State undergrads saying “Boom goes the dynamite.” These may well be the worst two teams in the Big Ten. Purdue finally got its first Big Ten win of the year last week against Michigan State, and it has a good chance to make it two against the Illini, who appear to have stopped actually playing football months ago. When a team with one Big Ten win is favored by 23 points, it tends to mean something.
