Big Ten Preview: Week 9

My Picks
Week 8: 4-1
Overall: 55-9

Saturday, October 26th

#25/21/23 NEBRASKA @ MINNESOTA | 12:00 | ESPN
Had Minnesota lost at Northwestern last week like they were supposed to, this game wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Now all of the sudden, Minnesota is one win away from sending Jerry Kill to a bowl game. Like I said earlier in the week, I'm glad we played the Gophers when we did.

The Huskers are off a bye week and it looks like Martinez will play, but may not start. If he doesn't, freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr will get the nod for his 4th start in a row. For reasons I can't explain, I just don't see Minnesota doing Michigan maybe the biggest favor of the year by knocking off the Huskers, but it should be a good game. Nebraska 24 Minnesota 21

NORTHWESTERN @ IOWA | 12:00 | BTN
Man, I don't even know. If you just look at the direction each team is trending...Iowa continuing to play better football – having just given the Buckeyes a big scare in the horseshoe last week, and Northwestern resembling a smoldering tire fire, this game is anyone's guess.

The Wildcats seemed to have the two-QB system figured out with Siemian and Coulter...but with Coulter injured, it would seem they went from having 1.5 quarterbacks to having zero. And now that Venric Mark is also injured, NU is like a little lost puppy. The pre-season media darlings of the legends division are on the cusp of being 0-4 in B1G play. Iowa 24 Northwestern 14

MICHIGAN STATE @ ILLINOIS | 3:30 | ABC/ESPN2
Speaking of doing Michigan a favor...we're looking at you Illinois. This is the classic trap game for Michigan State. Playing a (somewhat?) inferior opponent on the road a week before the biggest game of the season...that's a recipe for disaster.

Sparty Schadenfreude™ levels will reach defcon 2 if this one's close going into the 4th quarter. The MSU offense waited until 8:55 in the 4th quarter to score it's one and only touchdown against Purdue at home a week ago. Who are you Michigan State? I really don't get you sometimes. And for that, I think you'll win this one no problem...because of course you will. Michigan State 31 Illinois 9

PENN STATE @ #4/4/4 OHIO STATE | 8:00 | ABC
While I'd love to come on here and reveal some obscure unknown reason why Penn State can totally hang with Ohio State, I just don't see it. Ohio State 46 Penn State 24

Bye: Indiana, #24/23/22 Michigan, Purdue, #22/24/24 Wisconsin