This week’s highlights include a pair of big rivalry games as Minnesota goes to Iowa for the Floyd of Rosedale and Michigan State hosts Michigan. I supposed Purdue-Rutgers could also be considered a rivalry game,
as both teams are definitely rivals this year with “winning Big Ten games”.
I am also curious to see if Wisconsin can actually score this week. Their offense has been downright Hazellian and Waltersian with consecutive home shutout losses. A third straight shutout would almost certainly cost Luke Fickell his job.
UCLA (3-4, 3-1) at #2 Indiana (7-0, 4-0) – B1G Nude Saturday, FOX
A few weeks ago this looked like a laugher. Then UCLA became one of the hottest teams in the nation. It still should be a relatively easy game for an Indiana team that has been very impressive this year. A Hoosier victory clears the path for a likely appearance in the Big Ten title game, as their final four opponents enter the weekend a combined 1-15 in conference play. Indiana 45, UCLA 17
Northwestern (5-2, 3-1) at Nebraska (5-2, 2-2) – Noon, Fox Sports 1
Northwestern is another hot team, and they are now a win from bowl eligibility. Along with UCLA, they have shown tremendous improvement from the opening weeks of the season. Even the two losses don’t look bad, and the defense was really solid last week. At the same time, Nebraska only managed six points in Minneapolis. I am still not sure what to think of them. Nebraska 27, Northwestern 24
Rutgers (3-4, 0-4) at Purdue (2-5, 0-4) – Noon, BTN
It feels like a kitchen sink game for Purdue. The Boilermakers needed to show improvement under a new regime this year, and if they lose at home to the Scarlet Knights that improvement will be difficult to measure. Yes, Purdue is “better” than last year, but that is mostly a relative term. It is merely losing games by 10-20 points instead of 40-50. Another winless conference campaign does not instill confidence, especially if we go 0-3 in this stretch of very winnable games against Minnesota, Northwestern, and Rutgers. These teams scored a combined 10 points a week ago, so the under looks strong. Rutgers 10, Purdue 7
#23 Illinois (5-2, 2-2) at Washington (5-2, 2-2) – 3:30pm, BTN
Is this the battle for the Citrus Bowl? That bowl game is the highest non-playoff bowl game for Big Ten teams, and with Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State headed to the playoff the winner of this one might have the inside track for Orlando. Illinois did at least something against Ohio State a week ago, and I think that gives them an edge. Washington was completely handcuffed by the Buckeyes. Illinois 20, Washington 17
Minnesota (5-2, 3-1) at Iowa (5-2, 3-1) – 3:30pm, CBS
Here is another Citrus Bowl elimination game. The winner is probably in the top 25 a week from now, and Minnesota has been playing some really good football since trailing Purdue at home at halftime. Iowa has dominated this rivalry, winning 10 of the last 12, but Minnesota broke an eight game losing streak the last time they came to Iowa City. Minnesota 17, Iowa 13
Wisconsin (2-5, 0-4) at #6 Oregon (6-1, 3-1) – 7pm, Fox Sports 1
Wisconsin is really, really bad, and I wish Purdue had a chance to play them and end the lengthy losing streak we have against them. A Power Conference team has not been shutout in three consecutive games since Kansas State in 1995. It would have been Purdue in 2013 if not for a late pity touchdown against Nebraska in a 44-7 loss. 1981 Northwestern was probably the last Big Ten team to do it, as they were shutout in 5 of 6 games sandwiched around a 45-23 loss to Minnesota. Against an Oregon team on the road that, by all accounts, is a bit angry right now it is not looking good. Oregon 56, Wisconsin 0
#25 Michigan (5-2, 3-1) at Michigan State (3-4, 0-4) – 7:30pm, NBC
Quietly, Michigan has control of its own destiny to the reach the Big Ten title game. They have Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern, and Maryland before getting Ohio State at home in a game where they absolutely have a mental advantage over the Buckeyes. Right now an Indiana-Ohio State title game in Indy looks like a lock, but by the end of the day it could be UCLA vs. Michigan. Wild. Michigan 27, Michigan State 13
