Written by In The Bleachers
| 17 November 2006
We have all been beaten to death will all of the Ohio State-Michigan talk this week, but there are some other games going on in the conference with some meaning. None the magnitude of that game but bowl bids will be on the line. The
podcast discusses the Michigan/Ohio State game but here are the rest of the Big Ten games this weekend.
Iowa @ Minnesota - The Hawkeyes cannot be happy with the way their season has gone. This team was mentioned in the same breath as Ohio State and Michigan earlier in the year and some folks even had them contending for a National Title. Right now they have 6 wins and a loss to the Gophers will put them at 6-6 heading into the Bowl Season. The Gophers are looking to get to 6-6 with a win this week and are hopeful that will land them a bowl invite. They have won their last two against Michigan State and Indiana, but the Hawkeyes are not going to be an easy task. Iowa is on a 2 game losing streak heading to this one. I am going to side with the Gophers here, because I think Bryan Cupito has hit his stride and I think that the Iowa teams has given up on the season. Minnesota 24-20.
Michigan State @ Penn State - This is the last home game for such seniors has Poz, Tony Hunt, and Levi Brown. They are not going to want to go out with a loss. I thought that Michigan State might play a little harder for John L. Smith after the firing announcement but that hasn't been the case. The Spartans are full of injury questions as Javon Ringer is out and Drew Stanton and Matt Trannon are highly questionable. Without them the Spartans have no chance in scoring on the tough Penn State defense. The Nittany Lions looked good in their 47-0 victory over Temple. Yes I know it is Temple but the offense needed a game like that to get their confidence up. Coach Paterno will be coaching from the booth this weekend. The Nittany Lions should win this one pretty easy, and I do not expect Stanton to play. Penn State 30-6.
Buffalo @ Wisconsin - The Badgers have no one to blame but themselves if they do not get a BCS bowl bid. They did not play Ohio State in conference play and their OOC games consisted of Buffalo, Bowling Green, San Diego State, and Western Illinois. Not one school from a BCS conference. This should be a cake walk. PJ Hill Jr will have over 150 yards and the Badgers will roll. Wisconsin 47-7.
Indiana @ Purdue - This should be a pretty good game in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers need a win to become bowl eligible for the first time since the early 90s while a win and a Penn State loss could put Purdue in the Outback Bowl. This has the potential to be a high scoring game with these two powerful offenses, and less than stellar defenses. A week ago I would have picked Indiana but I think Purdue will be the team victorious in this matchup. I really like the Curtis Painter and Dorien Bryant connection and I think it'll score at least once in this game. But beware Boilermakers, the Hoosiers freshman QB Kellen Lewis has big play potential. Purdue 38-27.
Illinois @ Northwestern - The Illini might be on a 6 game losing streak but this young team is not bad, but just has to learn how to put together a 4 quarter game. Northwestern had a nice win against Iowa two weeks ago. Both Ron Zook and Pat Fitzgerald will have these teams back to respectability soon. This is a game for pride, as neither can make a bowl game. I am going to go with Juice Williams and Illinois in this one because they have to win sometime. Plus I believe that Illinois defense is better than the Wildcats'. Illinois 23-13.
