Big Ten Preview Week 12

With the holiday on Thursday, I know your week wouldn't be the same without my Big Ten weekend preview.  So I will bring it to you a day early and you now can rest easy on Thursday and enjoy your Turkey.


Big Ten Game of the Week:

Michigan State at Penn State:  Michigan State fans this week have become Wolverine fans for just one week.  They want Michigan to upset the Buckeyes so they can go to the Rose Bowl.   Which is funny on a number of levels: #1 Michigan State almost lost to Purdue last week #2 Ohio State is a 17 point favorite  #3 MSU hasn't played well on the road after their victory in Ann Arbor.   Sparty take care of business on Saturday and then see what happens.  I would actually like to see the Sabin Bowl 2 in the Capital One Bowl on New Years Day:  Alabama vs MSU rather then watching State get blown out in the Rose Bowl by TCU or Stanford. 

JoPa announced last night he is not ready to move to Florida and is coming back for another year.   Which will get the Penn State fans pumped up.  Beaver Stadium will be full of fans wanting nothing more then to ruin Spartys co-Big Ten Championships hopes in Happy Valley.   BTW:  This rivalry that the Big Ten forced on us, never did play out.   Penn State started to find it feet before they started throwing "picks" in the second half against Ohio State.  MSU on the other hand has struggled to win games against lesser opponents.   JoPa is a two point dog at home.  It wouldn't be that close.  Penn State 28 MSU 14


Indiana at Purdue:  Wow, this is not a good game.  IU hasn't had a Big Ten win this year and Purdue even though playing well last week in East Lansing is on a 5 game losing streak.   I know this is one of the rivalries that the Big Ten wanted to protect, are they sure they want to do that?  Purdue is favored by 3 at home.   This game has a coach with a mustache vs a coach that throws his gum. Stache wins Purdue 17 IU 10

Iowa at Minnesota:  Iowa has had a disappointing year.  The schedule set up for them, they won their toughest conference road game in Ann Arbor and still will end up 8-4 this year.   Iowa clearly had a chance to run the table in the Big Ten and didn't.  Minnesota on the other had also had a chance to run the table in the Big Ten but they beat Illinois two weeks ago.  The Golden Gophers just want the season to end so they can continue their coaching search.  The Hawkeyes just want to book their travel to the Outback Bowl.   Iowa is a 14.5 favorite.  Iowa 42 Minnesota 10

Northwestern at Wisconsin:  This would be a game if Northwestern had their QB.  They don't so it won't.  I'm guessing the Badgers start off slow in this game as they start thinking at the Rose Bowl but pull away for a the comfortable win in the second half.  Wisky is favored by 23 points.  Wisconsin 41 Northwestern 28

 Illinois is off this week and travels to Fresno State next week. 

I will preview the game in Columbus on Friday.