Thank God the Big Ten games are finally here. Or maybe not. I’ll be live tweeting the game over at the Spartan Football twitter page, and updating the scores on the Spartan Football Facebook page.
We will find out tomorrow whether MSU can put two consecutive losses behind them and take down a pretty average Wisconsin team in Mad-town. The two best games on the slate have to be Iowa making a visit to Happy Valley to take on the No.5 Nittany Lions, and Illinois going to the Shoe to take on No. 13 Ohio State. I’m coming off a solid week last week where I went 9-1, bringing me to 27-5 on the season. But things are about to get more challenging with fewer, and more competitive, games. Let’s take a look at week 4:
Indiana at No. 23 Michigan (Noon, ESPN2)
Line: Michigan -20
Prediction: Michigan wins, 34-10
It’s homecoming for the Wolverines, who scheduled the likely cellar-dweller of the conference. These teams haven’t met since 2006, when Michigan beat the Hoosiers 34-3. The Wolverines are 50-9 against the Hoosiers all times, and Indiana hasn’t won in Ann Arbor since 1967. Indiana has actually put together a pretty decent run defense so far, but I expect Michigan to put the hurt on the Hoosiers through the air, while Indiana has trouble putting points on the board. Michigan wins 34-10.
Minnesota at Northwestern (Noon, Big Ten Network)
Line: Minnesota -1
Prediction: Northwestern wins 31-28
Minnesota played a tough Cal team last week and stayed with them for most of the game. Northwestern, on the other hand, fell to Syracuse who kicked a field goal as the game ended to win the game. Minnesota will need to shore up the run defense, as they gave up 5 rushing TDs to Cal running back Jahvid Best and are ranked 10th in the conference in run defense. I say Northwestern is able to get the run game going, and defeats Minnesota at home, 31-28.
(Minn. WR Eric Decker gets rocked on his TD catch after the jump)
Michigan State at Wisconsin (Noon, ESPN)
Line: Wisconsin -3
Prediction: Michigan State wins 34-24
Full game preview is over here. This will be a close game, but I like how MSU matches up passing the ball. Spartans right the ship, 34-24.
The Zookster after getting a victory shower after upsetting Ohio State in 2007.
Illinois at No. 13 Ohio State (3:30, ABC)
Line: Ohio State -14
Prediction: Ohio State wins 38-24
Illinois has won 3 of the last 4 in the Shoe, with the last meeting resulting in Illinois upsetting number one ranked Ohio State, setting up a trip for the Illini to go to the Rose Bowl. These are two teams that love to run with the quarterback, but this game will be won by Terrelle Pryor throwing the ball late in the game. I’m taking Ohio State 38-24.
Iowa at Penn State (8:00, ABC)
Line: Penn State -9
Prediction: Penn State wins 24-13
Iowa has beat Penn State 6 out of the last 7 games. Remember last season Penn State won an emotional game against Ohio State in Columbus, then fell to Iowa at home on a late field goal. This game has been a popular pick for an upset, but I’m going with Penn State here. JoePA has the #1 ranked rushing defense in the conference and the #2 ranked pass defense. Penn State wins 24-13.
Notre Dame at Purdue (8:00, ESPN)
Line: Notre Dame -7
Prediction: Notre Dame wins 28-20
Purdue showed in their first two games that they could run the ball very well. And then they looked dead against Northern Illinois last weekend. Notre Dame has played two consecutive game that have been very emotional and very tough. There’s a part of me that feels this could be an upset alert. Probably because my roommate is a Purdue grad and absolutely loathes Notre Dame, as he wore a shirt that read “Bring back the potato famine” every night this week. Then there’s anther part of me – let’s call this part “common sense” – that says Notre Dame has too much offense for Purdue. Irish win, but Purdue keeps it closer than many think (or maybe not, considering the spread is just 7 points), 28-20.
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