Illinois 2-3 @ Wisconsin 3-2: This is an interesting game! The Illini are bad … they have given up 87 points in their last two losses; (La Tech 52-24 and PSU 35-7). While the Badgers are a disappointment …. they could easily be 5-0, having lost two games by three points or 0-5 having won two games by less that a TD and in the other …. scoring a late TD … to win by 11. This is not the Wisconsin whose offensive line generates a primal fear in the opposition or whose running game roars up and down the field with a pronounced indifference to front seven’s. The now famous phrase from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when trying to figure out how the posse was able to track them at night, over rock, up and down streams and into the mountains… they repeatedly asked “Who are these guys”? The same question is being considered when thinking of the Badger’s performances this year “Who are these guys”? Across the field, I wonder if the Illini Coaching staff is questioning their logic of going to recruit Penn State players with a seeming indifference to a fellow Big Ten Team’s plight was the right path to follow. Or in retrospect, would they take the high road established by Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald, who simply said “we will not be recruiting any players currently on the Penn State roster”. One thing was/is clear, Coach O’Brien & PSU’s remaining players remembered the perceived Illinois transgression with that 35-7 tail whipping they put on the Fighting Illini this past Saturday! So this weekend we have “Who are these guys” squaring off against “Aah … we probably should not have done that guys”… Like I said …. should be interesting!
Nebraska 4-1 @ Ohio State 5-0: This is the Big Ten’s Best Game of the week. Last year OSU was up 27-6 in the 3rd quarter and seemed well on their way to victory, when their QB, Braxton Miller, went down and out with an injury and the rest of the Bucks might as well went with him. The Huskers scored the game’s final 28 points and pulled out the improbable win, 34-27! The last time Nebraska was at the Horseshoe was in 1966 and they were not treated well…. a 34-7 “get lost pal” by the Bucks doorman! OSU best win to date was last week vs MSU, a 17-16 physical affair that while not flashy was also not a place for the timid! Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers were orchestrating a comeback win against Wisconsin, down 27-10, Nebraska put up 20 unanswered to take down the Badgers, 30-27! This game was similar to the Huskers battle with OSU last year and sets up an early season impact game on who emerges from the Legends Divisions… but not the Leaders Division (remember OSU is not eligible for post season play this year… including the Big Ten Championship Game)! One other note … in the Big Ten, coaches send & receive film to & from their next opponent … apparently Urban is up to some of his old SEC antics as the film MSU got did not have any pre-snap shifts on it and began with the snap of the ball. Needless to say MSU was not happy! As a result, Nebraska requested and has received the OSU – UCF film from Central Florida… Urban is heating it up in the Big Ten Baby!!!
Michigan 2-2 @ Purdue 3-1: This game was a turn over fest last time these teams played in the Big House (2010) with both teams “dropping the rock” 5 times a piece. The Wolves have won 3 of the last 5 meetings, including the last two games, 27-16 in 2010 & 36-14 last year! That said, this is the best looking Purdue team in a bunch of years. Kawann Short is as good a DT as I have seem this year and their overall defense has improved with 21 players from the state of Florida and another 24 from southern states… the Boilers can run … and run fast! These are not 5 star recruits, however, they have played against great speed in high school and are changing the arrival time of Purdue defenders. Make sure you focus in on Michigan’s QB, Denard Robinson, when he takes off and PU ability to close down on him!
Northwestern 5-0 @ Penn State 3-2: This is Penn State’s Homecoming Game… sure fire thing to be an emotional setting … given their troubles.. the faithful are going to be and will expect a huge emotional effort from their Lions! Knowing the public Bill O’Brien… they will get that effort and more. The Nittany Lions enter the contest on a three straight game winning streak and will be in front of 106,000 emotionally charged … white-outed crowd (PSU’S crowds often where white T-shirts to create a white out effect) to see the fourth win in a row. That said, The Cats come in undefeated with four of their five wins against opponents from AQ conferences! Paddy Fitzgerald took the High road with PSU troubles… he refused to kick or take advantage of a fellow Big Ten member who was vulnerable to exploitation! This act did not go unnoticed by O’Brien and you will see a warm greeting before and after this game between these two coaches….. unlike last week with Illinois!
Michigan State 3-2 @ Indiana 2-2: MSU is unhappy (17-16 loss to OSU) and Indiana is sure to hear about it! The second home loss of the season, film-gate, and the drive to Indianapolis begins with a win on Saturday or else! Another misstep and the Spartans may end up as spectators, watching not playing (in), the Big Ten Championship game. Indiana is also coming of a loss, 44-29, to Northwestern in Evanston. MSU has had its way with the Hoosiers, 12-2 in the last 14, three in a row since 2007 and last year’s thumping of IU, 55-3 @ Spartan Stadium. Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma’s former Offensive Coordinator and IU current Head Coach, is probably (secretly, of course) wondering why he left Norman for Bloomington… but never on the way to the bank!
Minnesota 4-1: Has a Bye Week … Next Up for the Gophers Northwestern @ Home
Iowa 3-2: Has a Bye Week … Next Up for the Hawks @ Michigan State
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