I am leaving for a long weekend in Kansas, so the conference picks are going to come a day earlier than normal. I hope you don’t mind. There are actually a few key matchups this week around the B1G. It is the last game that Nebraska should even be close to losing, which is bad news for us Michigan fans. The Leader’s Division could be clinched this weekend. Also, a number of teams can become bowl eligible or keep their post season hopes alive.
Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2) @ Indiana (4-5, 2-3) Saturday 12:00pm
This game is turning out to be the game of the Leader’s Division. Who would have thought that the Hoosiers would be featured in this. Indiana can keep its hopes alive for going to the B1G championship game, and meanwhile Wisconsin can clinch the division with a win. The Badgers are going to be using another quarterback in this game after Stave broke his collarbone and will miss the rest of the year. If you remember the end of the MSU game, the Wisconsin offense looked anemic with O’Brien under center. Indiana’s offense seems to continue to improve and has become one of the better units in the B1G this season. I think the Badger offensive line will wear down the Hoosier front 7 over the course of the game. Ball and White will end up with touchdown runs, and Wisconsin punches its ticket to their second straight championship game.
Purdue (3-6, 0-5) @ Iowa (4-5, 2-3) Saturday 12:00pm
This game should be one of the worst to watch in quite some time, and will likely only be topped by the snooze-fest of Purdue vs Illinois next week. Both teams are playing poor football right now, and while either team can still make a bowl game it seems unlikely at this point. Purdue looks lifeless right now on both sides of the ball. I don’t like Iowa’s offense to score more than 25, but I don’t think Purdue will crack 20 again. It will be a battle of who wants to lose less, I am glad it is on B10 Network so I don’t have to watch it in Kansas.
Penn State (6-3, 4-1) @ Nebraska (7-2, 4-1) Saturday 3:30pm
This is my game of the week. Like last week I will be rooting hard against the Cornhuskers since Michigan removed themselves from the conference driver’s seat. Penn State will bring one of the best defenses in the league to Lincoln on Saturday to try and slow down the B1G’s best offense. The Mauti vs the stable of Cornhusker running backs is very exciting to me. I think Martinez can make the Nittany Lion secondary look silly a few times this week, but I don’t think they will be running for 300+ yards like they did against the Spartans. If Penn State can slow down the Husker offense, it will be intriguing to see the battle of averages. Penn State boasts a bland offense with a mediocre quarterback and limited weapons, however the Huskers could outdo them with an average defense that likes to blitz a lot even though they don’t have the talent or the speed. I think this game will be close, but in the end Nebraska will find a way to pull out the victory and all but book their tickets to Indianapolis. I like Nebraska 26- Penn State 24.
Minnesota (5-4, 1-4) @ Illinois (2-7, 0-5) Saturday 3:30pm
This should be another unwatchable matchup. Minnesota will try again to become bowl eligible in Coach Kill’s 2nd year. They are going against one of the worst teams in FBS. I like Nelson to continue to improve as a quarterback and make some big downfield throws this week. Also, the impressive Gopher defensive line should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage and pick up a couple more sacks to add to their conference lead. Minnesota in a route.
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