No. 21 Wis. (7-2, 3-2) at No. 1 OSU (9-0, 5-0)
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: Columbus, Ohio
Line: Ohio State by 16.5
TV: BTN
What’s at stake: Top-ranked Ohio State will put its undefeated season on the line against a streaky Wisconsin squad on Saturday. Following road loses to Illinois and Penn State, the Badgers have now won their last two games. However, Wisconsin will face another major test this week when they travel to the unfriendly confines of Ohio Stadium. Turning the attention to the favorite, the Buckeyes are certainly no strangers to perfection, having completed a 13-0 regular season just last year under the leadership of Heisman quarterback and current Baltimore Raven Troy Smith.
Overview: Boeckman proved to be as cool as the other side of the pillow last week against the Nittany Lions in front of a national audience and a packed home crowd in University Park, Pa. With three touchdown passes and only one interception, Boeckman exceeded all expectations and proved himself a worthy leader of the nation’s best team. Across the field, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has preached patience all year for a team that has been largely inconsistent with its passing game (mainly due to the injury of wide receiver Luke Swan) as well as with the performance of its secondary, which has proven to be as porous as most household sponges.
Prediction:
OSU 31, Wisconsin 21
Purdue (7-2, 3-2) at Penn St. (6-3, 3-3)
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: University Park, Pa.
Line: Penn State by 7
TV: ESPN
What’s at stake: Bowl positioning, to be brief. The team that comes out on top of this game will leapfrog the other in the Big Ten standings and will put itself in position for a much better (read: more en-“rich”-ing) bid. Purdue is suddenly near the head of the Big Ten, having beaten opponents in games in which they were favored and lost to teams (Ohio State and Michigan) that were obviously the more talented squads on the field.
Overview: As has been said many times before, the remainder of Penn State’s season will be determined by the play of its senior quarterback, Anthony Morelli. However, let’s not ignore the fact that the Nittany Lions’ defense has not come through in big games thus far. If the Lions intend on limiting all the facets of Purdue’s game this weekend, “Linebacker U” must step forward and make its tackles. Because, if the Boilermakers try to mimic the elusiveness of the Ohio State offense on Saturday, then Penn State doesn’t stand much of a chance in fighting back from being in an early hole.
Prediction:
Penn State 21, Purdue 17
Illinois (6-3, 3-2)
at Minn. (1-8, 0-5)
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Minneapolis
Line: Illinois by 12
TV: BTN
What’s at stake: Um… a steak? In other words, not much. Illinois has already become bowl eligible and apparently is getting looks from the likes of the Insight and Capitol One Bowls (No way! Yes way!). Minnesota has already made its fans throw up in a bowl (of the toilet kind) and apparently is getting dirty looks from the likes of the women’s swimming team and its own cheerleaders.
Overview: It’s a fact: running back Rashard Mendenhall is a beast. The man from Skokie, Ill., has come out of thin air to become the leading rusher in the Big Ten with 1,137 yards on the year and 12 touchdowns to boot. And if there’s one thing Mendenhall is good at, it’s “boot”-ing other teams’ run defenses. He slices and dices teams worse than Emeril cuts up onions on live television.
Prediction:
Illinois 41, Minn. 21
No. 12 Mich (7-2, 5-0) at Mich. St.
(5-4, 1-4)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: East Lansing, Mich.
Line: Michigan by 4.5
TV: ABC
What’s at stake: The Great Lakes State! The Battle of Michigan will be a good one this year, mark my words. With a 1-4 conference record, there is no other explanation for the talented Spartans’ demise other than self destruction. And after the arrests and arraignments of three of its defensive players, Michigan State is in dire need of some good news.
Overview: Unfortunately, the Wolverines are rolling into town touting a flawless Big Ten record and a new top-15 ranking. Led by the Chad Henne revival and the jaw-dropping catches of wideout Mario Manningham, the Wolverines haven’t exactly missed their Heisman-candiate running back, Mike Hart. But that’s not to say Lloyd Carr and company won’t be happy to see him back in the huddle come Saturday. Oh no, there will be smiles all across the board. Especially after Hart gets through the Spartans’ poor excuse for a defense. Nevertheless, the Spartans will be competitive in this because of their potent offense.
Prediction:
Michigan 27, Michigan St. 24
Reach Matthew Murray at [email protected].
