Big Ten Preview: Week 12

My Picks
Week 11: 4-1
Overall: 66-12

Saturday, November 16

#3/3/3 OHIO STATE @ ILLINOIS | 12:00 | ESPN
The unstoppable force meets the screen door. For the last 19 Big Ten games, the Illini have shown up and lost. For the last 21 games overall, Ohio State has shown up and won. Not very difficult to see where this is going. Tim Beckman can save his job for the next 10 years if he win this game, otherwise, he's probably on the hottest seat in the Big Ten. Oh yeah...something something...Ohio State always plays bad in Champaign...something something. Ohio State 55 Illinois 21

PURDUE @ PENN STATE | 12:00 | BTN
Neither team has a shot at a bowl for entirely different reasons, but either way. Neither team is really very good either. It's a noon game on BTN in November. Nothing I can say here can sex this up. Penn State 15 Purdue 11

INDIANA @ #17/20/22 WISCONSIN | 12:00 | ESPN2
Even I can't believe it, but this may be the game of the week in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is playing for a possible BCS at-large berth and Indiana is playing for bowl eligibility. With only 4 wins and Ohio State and Purdue left on the Hoosier's schedule, this is pretty much a must-win. It could end up being a shoot out like we saw in Ann Arbor when Indiana came to town. I see an upset here. Indiana 43 Wisconsin 42

#14/16/16 MICHIGAN STATE @ NEBRASKA | 3:30 | ABC/ESPN2
On paper, Michigan State should win this game. If they can manage to maintain the focus they showed against Michigan, they should have no problem. But the Cornhuskers know that if they win, they have the inside track to Indy and a thorough beatdown at the hands of Ohio State. Michigan State 24 Nebraska 20

MICHIGAN @ NORTHWESTERN | 3:30 | BTN
Well, one way or another, someone has to win this game. Two teams in similar situations, both underachieved this season, meet for really a meaningless game that can only really effect bowl placement. For NU, who has yet to win a B1G game, they need to win 2 out of their last 3 to make a bowl. For Michigan, they just need to show that their offense, the run game really, has a pulse. This game will come down to coaching and turnovers. Game preview coming shortly. Check back.

Bye: Iowa, #-/25/- Minnesota. Rankings: AP/Coaches/BCS