Wisconsin travels to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers, and Penn State and Ohio State match up for an important conference game this week in the Big Ten.
Northwestern at No. 4 Iowa
The Hawkeyes were given quite a scare last weekend at home to Indiana, and nearly had their national title hopes derailed before blowing by the Hoosiers in the fourth quarter. For Iowa, this is the game before its last mighty regular season challenge at Ohio State on Nov. 14, meaning there is the possibility of the Hawkeyes looking past Northwestern and making this contest much closer than it ought to be. The Wildcats hung tough with Penn State last weekend before the wheels came off in the fourth quarter during a 21-point loss. At this point in the season, with a 5-4 record, Northwestern is battling for bowl eligibility.
No. 21 Wisconsin at Indiana
The Badgers bounced back with a boom last weekend, trouncing Purdue 37-0. Now the Badgers have their eyes set on a January 1 bowl game. With their final three games coming against teams at the bottom of the conference, anything worse than a 6-2 conference finish would be a major disappointment for the Badgers. Indiana narrowly missed its chance to put its stamp on the 2009 season when it blew a 14-point lead last weekend in Iowa City. One has to give the Hoosiers credit for their effort early on against Iowa, but it will be tough for the players to rebound from that type of game.
Western Michigan at MSU
It has been nothing short of a rollercoaster season for the Spartans. They began their season dropping three of four games, including a brutal loss at home to Central Michigan. Michigan State won three in a row, and had a lead on the undefeated Hawkeyes going into the final play of the game. But Iowa pulled it out, and the Spartans lost to Minnesota. They are now back in the middle of the conference.
Purdue at Michigan
Both schools are coming off the heels of atrocious defeats; Purdue getting shut out by Wisconsin after downing Ohio State two weeks earlier, and Michigan getting blown out of the water by Illinois—the conference's worst squad. A bowl appearance for Purdue is now a long shot, with a 3-6 record. Michigan may not make one either, as it plays two ranked teams after this contest.
Illinois at Minnesota
The Fighting Illini momentarily stopped the bleeding to their disastrous season beating Michigan last weekend for their first conference victory. Minnesota is 3-3 after beating Michigan State last weekend.
No. 16 OSU at No. 11 PSU
This is easily the Big Ten's best game, and the one with the greatest postseason ramifications. Both teams still have their eyes on the Big Ten crown. The Buckeyes have the better route to a Big Ten title; if they can defeat the Nittany Lions, then beat Iowa at home next weekend, a Rose Bowl berth may belong to them. If Penn State wins this game and Iowa falls to the Buckeyes next weekend, there will be a three-way deadlock for the title, including with Penn State. Additionally for Penn State, if it wins Saturday and Iowa ends up beating Ohio State, the Nittany Lions will hope the Hawkeyes are selected for the BCS National Championship Game, then Penn State will likely slide into the Rose Bowl. With the game at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions are the slight favorite.
