Big Ten: Week Seven Predictions

One could say all things went status quo last week with the games. Michigan State is dangerously close to going through a collapse that we thought would have ended with the firing of John L. Smith last year. Illinois showed that they are for real as they beat Wisconsin and Ohio State proved that it is the class of the Big Ten at this moment. Minnesota at Northwestern - The Wildcats surprised me with their overtime victory over Michigan State last week. They are a team right now that does not show up to play each and every week, but when they do they are a decent team. The Gophers are struggling right now as they are winless in the Big Ten. Statistically speaking Minnesota is better than Northwestern in every category but passing yards. This game will be a close on in Evanston but keep an eye on Northwestern's QB C.J. Bacher. Bacher has played two good games the past two weeks against the Spartans and Wolverines, throwing for 5 TD passes last week alone. I think he will be enough to lead the Wildcats in a close win against the Gophers. Northwestern 30-24 Kent State at Ohio State - This will be a mini-bye week for the Buckeyes and should allow them to rest some starters before their tough stretch run. Kent State has a balanced attack as they throw for over 200 yards per game and gain around the same on the ground. But they will not do that against this Buckeye defense. If the Golden Flashes do score it will come against the Buckeyes' second or third teamers. Ohio State has given up 43 points in 6 games so far, that number will be below 50 for 7 games after this week. Ohio State 50-6 Indiana at Michigan State - Just when I think the Spartans have turned the corner they go and lose in by 7 last week to Northwestern. The Hoosiers are playing well, posting a 2-1 mark in the Big Ten with wins over Iowa and Minnesota while their only loss was to Illinois. I've said enough about Kellen Lewis for everyone to realize he is their key on offense. Defensively Indiana has to slow down the Spartans rushing attack behind their two headed duo of Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick. We all know that the Spartans can score points against weaker teams but they struggled in a few games against teams with average defenses. I think the Hoosiers players in Lewis and their talented WR James Hardy are too much for the Spartans to handle. This will be a high scoring game, but Indiana comes out on top. Indiana 38-30 Illinois at Iowa - For the Hawkeyes to have a chance in this game they must keep the Illini under 20 points. Iowa's offense is struggling both throwing and running the ball, but their defense is keeping them in games. Illinois is hot after beating Penn State (who Iowa just lost to) and Wisconsin (who Iowa lost to) in consecutive weeks. But those games were at home, this week they have to play in a tough Kinnick Stadium. Offensively I think Illinois will prove that they are too much for Iowa to handle. They have too many weapons with Juice Williams, Rashard Mendenhall, and Arrelious Benn. Iowa is weak against the run and I predict that Mendenhall will have a day over 150 yards. Illinois defense will use a lot of zone blitzing to confuse Jake Christensen. The Illini will this one convincingly. Illinois 28-10 Wisconsin at Penn State - The Badgers have won 5 of the last 7 meetings between these two schools. This game will likely decide who goes to the Outback Bowl later this year. Penn State is coming off a 27-7 victory over Iowa while Wisconsin lost a close game to Illinois last week. The Badgers will be without WR Luke Swan for the rest of the year due to injury. At Penn State there have been a lot of off the field distractions this week, between Joe Paterno's alleged road rage and a fight that potentially involves football players that took place at the Student Union last weekend. The Nittany Lions are not strong offensively but they are lucky because Wisconsin's defense is not strong either. I think the off the field issue come into play here and Wisconsin wins a close game with WR Travis Beckum catching a late TD to put Wisconsin over the top. Wisconsin 24-21 Purdue at Michigan - The Wolverines are home once again and this week their defense will be tested as Purdue hopes to spread the field and take advantage of the holes in the Michigan defense. Purdue is led by their QB Curtis Painter who has thrown 19 TDs to only 3 INTs this year while Michael Hart is the beat that the Michigan offense drums to. Hart will get the ball over 30 times in the game and with Henne back the Wolverine offense can open it up a little. I don't have much faith in Purdue because in their first and only test this season they laid a big egg. Michigan has been tested and this is a team on the rise. They could've easily hung it up after their first two losses, but they have come on strong. Defensively, I do not think Purdue will be able to contain Hart, he will get over 150 yards. I may be a little naive, but I also think Carr will have some fix for their defense against this Purdue spread offense. Michigan wins a close one at home. Michigan 31-28 Last Week: 5-1 (.833) Overall: 41-10 (.804)