Big Ten Picks and Preview Week 7

Not as many big games this weekend, but still an interesting weekend for someone ot earn a ticket to a BCS Bowl Game.

Let's get on with the show............................

Big Ten Game of the Week:

Iowa at Wisconsin: I consider these teams pretty close in skill level. Iowa has the biggest win of the season at Happy Valley and Wisconsin got blown out at the Shoe last week with 2 Pick 6's and giving up another score on special teams, that's 21 non-traditional points if your keeping score at home. Those types of mistakes won't win you too many games.

Wisconsin will face another tough defense that really didn't shut down the Michigan running game much but did get pressure on both Michigan's quarterbacks. This is going to be a close game and Vegas has the line Wisconsin - 3 points. This really points to the fact, Vegas is not quite buying what Iowa is selling yet, since they are they are the #11 team in the nation and Wisconsin is not ranked. Wisconsin 21 Iowa 17

The rest of the league:

Ohio State at Purdue: This is clearly as mismatch on paper. The Ohio State defense has been winning games all year and Purdue as a whole has played hard but keeps finding ways to lose games. This is a classic "Vest" situation and he doesn't' lose these games. If OSU doesn't get blinded sided by the Big Drum, Train Whistle, and Movie clips this will be an easy win. OSU is favored by two touchdowns. The Vest 38 Purdue 10

Illinois at Indiana: The good news is one of these teams is going to walk away with a win. The bad news is for the fans that have to watch this game. This is the equivalent of the Cleveland - Buffalo game in the NFL last weekend. IU played well against Michigan but has gone South quickly with a blow out loss last weekend to Virgina. Zook still is waiting to get his team started this year and are currently one of the Big Ten's biggest disasters just a couple of years removed from the Rose Bowl. The game is at IU but the team has been hit with the flu bug. IU is favored by 2 at home. Zook has to win a game at some point right? U of I 14 IU 10

Minnesota at Penn State: I think this is an interesting game. Minnesota is a decent team and will be Penn State's second toughest opponent of the year. Penn State has not done itself any favors by playing a very weak non-conference schedule. So the big question is: can Minnesota pull the upset? Vegas doesn't think so and has made Penn State a 17 point favorite. I think that's too high. PSU 28 Minnesota 24

Northwestern at Michigan State: The Wildcats play well in East Lansing for some strange reason. Michigan State has gotten back to .500 football with back to back wins over Michigan and Illinois. State lost one of their top running backs and one of their quarterbacks. Northwestern hasn't exactly played good football lately by barley beating a pretty poor Miami of Ohio team last week. Vegas has NW a two touchdown dog. I feeling an upset in this game but will still pick State. MSU 31 NW 24

As always the Michigan - Delaware State game will get it's own preview in Friday's edition of BHB.