No. 12 Michigan (8-2, 6-0) at Wisconsin (7-3, 3-3)
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: Madison, Wisc.
Line: Michigan by 3
TV: ESPN
What’s at stake: Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has probably heard the question a hundred times before: Is your team focused on this week’s game or is it already looking ahead to Ohio State? With two games left in the season – and Michigan’s resurrection almost complete – the answer Carr has always been prepared to give is, of course, a simple no. Lest we forget, Carr’s teams have “looked ahead” plenty of times before. Take for example the loss to a certain Appalachian State on Sept. 1 before the team was scheduled to play a top-15 squad from the Pac-10 (Oregon).
Overview: Last week before Wisconsin walked into Ohio Stadium, coach Bret Bielema laughed off a last-minute question about a former Badger showboating around the center ‘O’ and dancing near the Buckeye sideline. That crime was in 2003. Later that day, the Badgers were robbed of both momentum and the lead when Ohio State took a fourth quarter advantage and never looked back. For a team that has been both inconsistent, undisciplined and now unable to finish or win on the road, it may be Beilema that’s locked behind bars if the Badgers can’t pull off the upset at Camp Randall.
Prediction:
Michigan 31, Wisconsin 20
Minnesota (1-9, 0-6) at Iowa (5-5, 3-4)
Time: 11:05 a.m.
Place: Iowa City, Iowa
Line: Iowa by 13.5
TV: BTN
What’s at stake: Corn? Accents? I’m grabbing at straws here people. All kidding aside, Iowa is competing for a bowl here. And not just any bowl. The rights to go to the Motor City Bowl, the most prestigious pity bowl this side of the Papajohns.com fiesta. It’s no Sugar Bowl, but hey, the fact that the Hawkeyes are still mathematically in it is more than the poor Gophers can say.
Overview: Warning! Warning! Upset Special! (Sound the alarm!) To me, this is the game Iowa was born to lose. Iowa football, over the last couple years, has always been about getting its fans’ hopes up and then letting down hard (not easy like Bob Dylan). Call me crazy, but I think a hungry Minnesota team led by freshman quarterback Adam Weber pulls a fast one in the fields of Iowa.
Prediction:
Minnesota 42, Iowa 35
Michigan St. (5-5, 1-5) at Purdue (7-3, 3-3)
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: West Lafayette, Ind.
Line: Purdue by 4
TV: BTN
What’s at stake: For Michigan State, this game is a matter of pride. Granted the Spartans fell to the in-state rival Wolverines by the hairs of their chinny-chins this past Saturday, State showed its still hungry for the post season. If coach Mark Dantonio can rally guys like defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic and running back Javon Ringer – both of whom are having great seasons – the soldiers in green could battle against the line for a must-need win.
Overview: Purdue is going to play back on its heels. For one reason or another, many of Joe Tiller’s squads have historically taken the rest of the season easy after laying claim to a bowl bid. With their playoff future not really in doubt (Insight City, baby!), Curtis Painter and the rest of his Boilermaker buddies may find a usually receptive home crowd turn on them by the beginning of the second half if they come out sluggish in this one.
Prediction:
Michigan State 27, Purdue 24
Illinois (7-3, 4-2) at No. 1 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Columbus, Ohio
Line: Ohio State by 14.5
TV: ABC
What’s at stake: Flawlessness. The Buckeyes hope to finish off their third undefeated regular season in the last six years. Hard-nosed defense, ball possession and running the football have been three core principles for Jim Tressel during his tenure in Columbus, Ohio. Don’t expect him to change this philosophy against Illinois.
Overview: He’s at it again. Rashard Mendenhall, a name somehow missing from Heisman considerations, is running with the bulls and giving teams the horns. Tied for third in the nation in total rushing yards with Heisman front runner and future first-round pick Darren McFadden from Arkansas, Mendenhall is making his family proud. Good thing they moved down to Champaign-Urbana to see this special season. Because, at this point, it’s only going to get worse.
Prediction:
Ohio State 41, Illinois 17
Reach Matthew Murray at [email protected].
