Big Ten Weekend Preview Week 10

Last week had a bunch of not so exciting match ups that turned into some pretty exciting games.  Michigan and Illinois put up a basketball score, JoPa got #400 by coming back from 21 down, and Indiana had an upset of Iowa in their hands but couldn't hold it. 

Let's hope this week is just as exciting with the better match ups:

Big Ten Game of the Week

Penn State at Ohio State:  Penn State has a 3 game win streak under it's belt and Ohio State is doing what it does every year, winning Big Ten games.   On paper Ohio State clearly has an advantage in talent and playing at home.  Vegas agrees and has made them an 18 point favorite.   Matt McGloin is now the starter at QB for JoPa and has the confidence of beating Michigan and a come back win over Northwestern under his belt.  That will help the PSU stay close early but Michigan's and Northwestern Defense isn't close to Ohio State's.  Look for Matt to throw a couple of picks and the final score won't reflect a pretty close game. OSU 31 Penn State 13

Iowa at Northwestern:  This is a strange game for me.  Northwestern seems to play really well each year against the Hawkeyes and I'm not sure what causes that.  On the other hand, Northwestern had Michigan State and Penn State beat and let them both off the hook.  Iowa should have lost at IU last weekend but got a W after a dropped touchdown pass.   Will Northwestern continue to play it's best football against Iowa and will Iowa sleep through another road game?  Vegas has Iowa a 2 score favorite at 9.5 points.   I think this will be a close game but Iowa is clearly the better team.  Iowa 24 NW 20

Minnesota at Illinois:  I feel sorry for the Golden Gophers.  They don't have a Big Ten win and don't have a head coach.  They are also walking into a Gopher trap on Saturday.  Illinois is really mad after their top 20 defense in the country gave up 67 points and all most 700 yards to the Wolverines last week.  The Gophers are the perfect medicine for Zook and company to be bowl eligible. Illinois is favored by 21.  Illinois 42 Minn 17

Indiana at Wisconsin:  Wisky started a bit slow against Purdue last week but found their mojo and got in the winners circle.  IU almost had their biggest win of the season but dropped the ball.  Indiana doesn't play well on the road in the Big Ten and Wisconsin pretty good at home.  Look for 400 yards from Wisconsin on the ground.  Wisconsin is a 21.5 favorite.  Wisconsin 38 IU 21

I thought this weekend had better match-ups then last weekend but the lines are 9.5, 18, 21, and 21.5 points.  I guess I'm wrong.

MSU is off and I will preview the Michigan - Purdue game on Friday.