Nothing says college football Saturday quite like the Metrodome. Photo by shekshots on Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons.

After Northwestern’s devastating loss in Bloomington last Saturday, it’s time for Wildcat fans to start cheering for teams near the bottom of the Big Ten (Illinois, Wisconsin) to fall out of the bowl eligibility range of 6 wins so the Cats can still play in the postseason—even if that means playing in Detroit’s Motor City Bowl. So for Halloween can I suggest wearing some black and gold overalls with a Juice Williams jersey and maybe a Boilermakers hat?

Central Michigan @ Indiana, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
The Hoosiers captured a huge upset victory on Homecoming last week over Northwestern—and they should have quarterback Kellen Lewis back this week. With backup Ben Chappell performing well against the Cats, Lewis might see the field as a wide receiver role or split time with Chappell to give Central Michigan different looks. Central Michigan, led by dual-threat quarterback Dan LeFevour, is in first place in the MAC. The Chippewas have a high-powered offense and I don’t see the Hoosiers’ defense standing tall in consecutive weeks.
Prediction: Chippewas 42 Hoosiers 35

Wisconsin @ #21 Michigan St., 11 a.m., ESPN
The Badgers defense played opportunistic football last weekend aiding in a victory over Juice Williams and the Illini. That defense will need to be even stouter if they want to upset the Spartans in East Lansing. Michigan St., led by running back Javon Ringer, is looking for a chance to play Penn St. for first place in the Big Ten on the last Saturday of the season. At 4-1 in the Big Ten, the Spartans’ schedule is favorable to head into Happy Valley with a Big Ten Title on the line on November 22nd—but they have to beat the Badgers first. Wisconsin is fighting for bowl eligibility in what has been an extremely disappointing season.
Prediction: Spartans 27 Badgers 17

Michigan @ Purdue, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
Before the season not many people thought this would be a battle of two teams at the bottom of the Big Ten. Purdue at 0-4 in conference is still looking for its first conference victory. The Wolverines gave the Spartans a run last week but are still scrambling at 1-3 in conference. A loss would deny Michigan a bowl game for the first time since 1974, while the Boilermakers are not giving Coach Joe Tiller a good farewell party. Both these defenses have had good games this season, but I’m going with the better offense and expect Purdue to get their first Big Ten win.
Prediction: Boilermakers 24 Wolverines 17

Iowa @ Illinois, 2:30 p.m., ABC
This is the biggest game of the week in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes were on a roll before last week’s bye week with 2 big wins over Indiana and Wisconsin. Shonn Greene has been the best running back in the Big Ten and one of the best in the country this season. The Illini’s Achilles heel this season has been consistency. They demolished Michigan and Indiana by a combined score of 100-33, but then lost to Wisconsin last weekend. The Illini, at 4-4, still need 2 wins to reach bowl-eligibility, and with Western Michigan on their schedule, a win at home against Iowa would go a long way. A loss, on the other hand, would add to a disappointing season for last year’s Rose Bowl participant.
Prediction: Illini 38 Hawkeyes 31

Northwestern @ #17 Minnesota, 11a.m., ESPN2
What a difference a Saturday makes. Heading into Bloomington last week, the 22nd-in-the BCS-Cats were looking at a possible match-up with Minnesota with 2nd place in the Big Ten on the line. A New Year’s Day bowl game was becoming a real possibility and there were even rumors around campus of an 8-1 start that would bring ESPN College Gameday to Evanston for the Ohio St. game. Now, all of that is gone. So is star running back Tyrell Sutton, who suffered a season-ending wrist surgery last week at Indiana. C.J. Bacher is questionable for Saturday’s game and it’s been two years since his backup Mike Kafka has led the Wildcat offense. It doesn’t help the ailing ‘Cats that they have to play this year’s feel-good college football story—the Golden Gophers. After going 1-11 last season, Tim Brewster’s Gophers are 7-1. Quarterback Adam Weber and wide receiver Eric Decker have been quite the combination for Minnesota’s spread offense. Without Bacher at the helm, the ‘Cats don’t stand much of a chance. The big intangible in this game is emotion. The Wildcats had a season-deflating loss to an inferior Indiana team last week and lost their two stars to injury. The Gophers have continued to roll in this magical season. The Gophers will be extremely confident while the ‘Cats are just hoping to squeak out one more win this season to guarantee their first bowl since 2005.
Prediction: Golden Gophers 38 Wildcats 28

Bye Week: Ohio St. and Penn St.

Last Week’s Record: 2-3
Season Record: 16-10