Fourteen point five. In Dec. 29’s Alamo Bowl, Northwestern is a 14.5-point underdog, the biggest underdog out of all 34 bowls. With a 9-3 season, Northwestern actually has a better record than their opponent, the Missouri Tigers, but popular perception is that this game will be a blow out in Missouri’s favor. Missouri plays in the stronger conference, the Big 12, features an offense full of national stars and was even a dark horse pick by some at the beginning of the year to win the National Championship.

As the ‘Cats prepare to take on the Tigers in a battle of feline-mascots, journalism schools and spread offenses, let’s break down the match-up. Because while NU may be the overall underdog, the ‘Cats will be able to compete with the Tigers in some areas of the game.

Quarterback

Both quarterbacks are the beneficiaries of spread offenses and had similar interception totals (although NU’s CJ Bacher missed two games). Missouri’s Chase Daniel, despite his small stature, was a Heisman favorite coming into the season, but he was outplayed by the other great quarterbacks in the QB-loaded Big 12. Bacher showed flashes of greatness this season but never returned to the form we saw in last year’s games against Minnesota and Michigan State. He showed more of an ability to run the ball this year, but Daniel is the second leading rusher on the Tiger squad. Both players have quality backups, with Mike Kafka being more likely to see some action under center than Missouri’s Chase Patton. Overall, though, Daniel has the clear edge in this match-up, as he averages 318 yards a game through the air and is less prone than Bacher to throw a pick.

Big Edge: Missouri

Running Back

Tyrell Sutton still has a cast on his left wrist, but is practicing in full pads and should play in the Alamo Bowl. Luckily the cast is on his wrist, not his legs, so he should be close to 100 percent running the ball. The concern will be his ability to hold onto the football as well as make receptions out of the backfield. If injuries continue to be a problem for Sutton, Stephen Simmons will see the bulk of the carries. For the most part, Simmons was ineffective in taking over for the injured Omar Conteh. Derrick Washington of Missouri was a great complement to Daniel this season, rushing for close to 1000 yards at around six yards per carry. This is a tough match-up because a healthy Sutton combined with backup Omar Conteh would get the edge over Washington. But, with Conteh out for the year and persistent concerns over Sutton’s health, Washington and Missouri are able to close the gap.

Edge: Push

Wide Receiver

Tigers receiver Jeremy Maclin is one of the most prolific players in the country. He is versatile, a weapon catching the ball, running the ball, and returning the ball. Maclin averages an absurd 203 all-purpose yards a game. He had 12 receiving touchdowns, one kickoff return touchdown, and two rushing touchdowns. Joining Maclin as a weapon for Daniel is Chase Coffman, the John Mackey Award winner for being the best tight end in the country. Coffman had 920 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. Both Maclin and Coffman were first team AP All-Americans. NU’s wide receiving corps has depth and experience with three seniors in Eric Peterman, Ross Lane and Rasheed Ward. Freshman Jeremy Ebert has also stepped up this season. While Peterman is the versatile athlete who can run, throw and catch, he is nowhere near Maclin’s athleticism, and the Cats don’t have a superback half as good as Coffman.

Big Edge: Missouri

Offensive Line

The ‘Cats’ young and inexperienced line performed well this season, considering the circumstances. Lots of players got shuffled around, but the biggest surprise was the superb play of redshirt freshman Ben Burkett. Senior Keegan Kennedy also had a great season after moving over from the defensive side of the ball. The Cats only gave up 17 sacks, but had trouble opening up holes after Sutton went down. Missouri’s o-line only allowed 15 sacks on the season. With two teams like this, it is hard to analyze the offensive lines, but the Tigers will get the nod. A high-powered offense that can score at will needs a solid offensive line to do so as successfully as Missouri.

Edge: Missouri
Overall Offensive Edge: Missouri

Defensive Line

This was a breakout season for NU’s defense, and it all started up front with the d-line. Corey Wootton had a monstrous season with nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Redshirt freshman Vince Browne, who had four sacks this season before getting injured against Minnesota, will be back for the game. Along with seniors Kevin Mims and John Gill, the ‘Cats led the Big Ten with 33 sacks. Missouri’s defensive line is led by Evander “Ziggy” Hood and Stryker Sulak. Sulak had eight and a half sacks and six forced fumbles while Hood continued the success that has made him a likely pick in the NFL draft. The ‘Cats’ defensive line was improved, but Hood and Sulak both garnered All-Big 12 honors so it is hard to say that any unit has an edge.

Edge: Push

Linebacker

The ‘Cats lost a great senior linebacker in Malcolm Arrington to injury earlier in the season, but Nate Williams stepped up in a big way. Prince Kwateng filled in admirably at linebacker. He also was second on the team with 93 tackles. Missouri’s best player on defense is in the linebacking corps: Sean Weatherspoon. The third team All-American led the Tigers with 138 tackles, 16 of them for a loss. He also had four and a half sacks and three interceptions and was a first team All-Big 12 linebacker. Senior Brock Christopher is also another source of strength in the Tigers’ linebacking corps.

Edge: Missouri

Secondary

A breakout year for the defense meant a much-improved secondary. Sherrick McManis and redshirt freshman Jordan Mabin will have a tough time with Missouri’s receivers, but have played well all year. Brad Phillips had his best season, leading the team with 101 tackles, including a hit that Iowa running back Shonn Greene still feels. And that’s not even including the captain, Brendan Smith, whose interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota turned the ‘Cats’ season around. The Tigers secondary is led by senior William Moore, a first team All-Big 12 strong safety. He had 83 tackles, five and a half for loss this season. Justin Garrett and Castine Bridges received honorable mentions for the all-Big 12 team in the secondary. But Missouri’s defense has given up 285 yards receiving a game this year, 70 more than NU.

Slight Edge: Northwestern
Overall Defensive Edge: Northwestern (slight edge)

Special Teams

Maclin, as stated earlier, is an outstanding return man who has the chance to break it for a touchdown at any moment. For the ‘Cats, they have steady return men with Smith for punts and Ebert and Simmons for kicks, but they are not nearly as dangerous as Maclin. Stefan Demos had a great year punting the ball with his rugby-style kicks, pinning many teams inside their 20. Jeff Wolfert was 17-23 for field goals on the season with a long of 51 for the Tigers while Amado Villarreal was 19-23 with a long of 46. But don’t be mistaken by this year’s numbers; Wolfert is very good. He is 238-250 in his career for PATs and field goals combined — which is closing in on an NCAA record — and he hasn’t missed a PAT all season.

Edge: Missouri

Coaching

Gary Pinkel has done a great job at Missouri, but this year was extremely disappointing. With two Heisman candidates in Daniel and Maclin, the Tigers were not able to upset anyone in the Big 12 and had an embarrassing upset loss to Kansas to end the year before being blown out by Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship. The defensive coaching staff has put up Greg-Colby-type numbers (NU’s former defensive coordinator). Pat Fitzgerald also came into 2008 with a good, experienced team, but lower expectations. The Cats shocked many in Evanston by first winning all their non-conference games for the first time in more than 40 years, then, despite injuries to Sutton, Bacher, and Arrington, won three of their last four games to win nine games for the first time since 1996. Mike Hankwitz should win some kind of assistant coach of the year award for what he has done for the ‘Cats defense. While Missouri may have the advantage in terms of skill on the field, the coaching staff for NU has done a significantly better job this season getting the most out of its players.

Edge: Northwestern

Intangibles

By being such a big underdog against a phenomenal offense, it is intangibles that the ‘Cats will need to upset Mizzou in the Alamo. The ‘Cats won three of their last four games, including the rivalry game over Illinois to regain the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. They are a team loaded with experienced, focused seniors, many of whom played in the Sun Bowl. They exceeded expectations with a 9-3 season yet are still huge underdogs and looking for respect in San Antonio. Missouri is on the other end of the spectrum as they hobbled toward the finish line. A 40-37 upset loss to in-state rival Kansas and then a beat-down by Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship was a disappointing end to the season for a squad that was supposed to challenge for a BCS bowl. Daniel and Maclin will still be the two best players on the field on Monday night, but a spot in the Alamo Bowl is a letdown for Missouri. For the ‘Cats, on the other hand, it is a thrill to be back in a bowl game and to get to 10 wins and, most of all, to get that elusive first bowl victory since 1949, would mean a lot to the team, the university and the community. The ‘Cats have a lot more to play for than Missouri, and if they show that on the field, they could pull off the upset.

Edge: Northwestern

Prediction

The only way that NU keeps this game close is if they create turnovers and score almost every possession. This needs to be a shootout for the ‘Cats to have a chance, and they will have to keep up with Daniel, Maclin and the high-powered Tigers offense. To win, the ‘Cats must force turnovers and make some big special teams plays. With the intangibles on their side and a much-improved defense, an upset is not out of the question. But Missouri’s offense is better than those of Ohio State and Michigan State, and we all know what happened in those games.

Final score prediction: Missouri 45 Northwestern 35

After a season full of upsets (Iowa over Penn State), blowouts (Ohio State over NU), and instant classics (NU and Minnesota), the final week of the regular season is upon us. Since the Big Ten does not have a league championship game, this is the last game for most of the teams for over a month until bowl season—while for others it will be their last game until next year. There is still a lot to sort out at the top and middle of the conference with bowl bids up for grabs.

Michigan @ #10 Ohio St., 11 a.m., ABC
It has been a while since the outcome of this game looked so predetermined. With the Wolverines in the midst of their first ever eight-loss season and the Buckeyes aiming for the BCS, this game should be a blowout. Michigan had a big upset win over Minnesota two weeks ago that gave Michigan fans hope for a salvaged season, but losing last week to Northwestern showed that the offense will need a lot of work during the spring. Ohio St. beat down Illinois last Saturday and still has a chance at a tie for the Big Ten Championship. Terrelle Pryor and Chris “Beanie” Wells should have a field day against the rival Wolverines at home in Columbus. It will be a rough end to a long season for first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Prediction: Buckeyes 48 Wolverines 17

Indiana @ Purdue, 11 a.m., ESPN2
This is the only Big Ten game this week that has absolutely no bowl game implications. The only storyline in this match-up is that it’s Purdue head coach Joe Tiller’s final game in West Lafayette. The long-time coach has had a disappointing final season but can salvage a little pride with a beat down on the Indiana Hoosiers—another team looking for lots of answers. After making a bowl in 2007, the Hoosiers took steps backward and returned to the bottom of the Big Ten this year. If the real Purdue spread offense we’ve all been used to in the Tiller era picks one game to show up, it should be this one as a nice farewell to their coach.
Prediction: Boilermakers 38 Hoosiers 20

Cal Poly @ Wisconsin, 11 a.m.
Lucky for the Badgers they have cream puff non-conference opponent Cal Poly waiting for them at the end of the season. The Badgers are bowl-eligible at 6-5 but should get an easy win on Saturday to move to 7-5 and gain a better bowl. Head Coach Bret Bielema vehemently defended his scheduling at Big Ten Media Day in July as he was forced to add Cal Poly when another opponent backed out. Because few people expected Michigan to perform well this season, Wisconsin becomes the most disappointing team after starting the year as one of the favorites to win the Big 10. While Cal Poly is 8-1, they are in the Great West conference, so their record doesn’t mean much. The Mustangs may be able to score some points to keep it close early but don’t expect the upset.
Prediction: Badgers 42 Mustangs 28

#15 Michigan St. @ #8 Penn St., 2:30 p.m., ABC
Big Ten fans have been waiting for this game for weeks as it will help determine the Big Ten champ. Replacing Michigan/Ohio St. as the game to watch in the last week of the season, the Spartans can still clinch a tie for the Big Ten championship with an upset over Penn St. This will not be an easy feat, however, as the Nittany Lions will have home-field advantage. Daryll Clark and the Penn St. offense should be licking their chops as they get ready to face a Spartan defense that is prone to giving up big plays. In order to score an upset, the Spartans will need to rely on quarterback Brian Hoyer to establish the passing game as the Nittany Lions will not let Javon Ringer run all over them like Shonn Greene of Iowa did in the Hawkeyes’ upset win two weeks ago. A Michigan St. upset along with an Ohio St. loss would send the Spartans to Pasadena, wrapping up a surprising and successful year. But Penn St. is too good at home, and their ‘Spread HD’ offense should have a big game on Saturday.
Prediction: Nittany Lions 31 Spartans 24

Iowa @ Minnesota, 6:00 p.m., Big Ten Network
Next to the battle of the states in Happy Valley, this game brings the most postseason implications to the table. A win or loss for either team will determine whether they get to play in one of the conference’s elite bowls. The Hawkeyes have a tremendous fan-base on their side, which gives them the chance to jump a team that has a better record. Minnesota, the surprise of the Big Ten this season, does not have that established fan base and needs a win to get to the Alamo Bowl. The Golden Gophers have lost three in a row, but should have star wide receiver Eric Decker back on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes, despite a slow start and an off season full of turmoil, have racked up big wins against Penn St. and Wisconsin. With a win, Iowa should be going to the Outback Bowl in Tampa—assuming the Big Ten gets 2 teams into the BCS. Shonn Greene should have success today against a Minnesota defense that gave up over 200 rushing yards to a quarterback a few weeks back. But Coach Tim Brewster will have the Golden Gophers hungry for this game and inspire the defense to replicate the success the unit had stopping the running game at the beginning of the year.
Prediction: Golden Gophers 24 Hawkeyes 20

Illinois @ Northwestern, 2:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
Before the season started, few would have thought this game would be a must-win for the Fighting Illini. At 5-6, Illinois needs a win to become bowl eligible and to avoid a disastrous plunge from Rose Bowl to no bowl. Illinois has the most talented players in the Big Ten with quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn, but inconsistency has plagued Illinois all season. Losses to Western Michigan and Wisconsin show Illinois’ vulnerability. The Wildcats at 8-3 can end up anywhere from the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day in Tampa to the Insight Bowl in Tempe. Because of Northwestern’s small fanbase, they are usually jumped by teams with worse records but more alumni (ie: Iowa). If the offense performs the way they did in the 2nd half against Michigan, thanks to C.J. Bacher being back in form, Northwestern should send their seniors off with a victory. This is also the Battle for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, a trophy the Cats had won 4 years in a row before losing to Illinois last season. It will be a big test for Mike Hankwitz’s highly improved defense as Illinois boasts the second-best scoring offense in the Big Ten. If the NU offense continues to open up the playbook and fully utilize the potential of Bacher and Mike Kafka, the Cats should be able to rack up enough points to stick with Illinois.
Prediction: Wildcats 34 Illini 31

Last Week’s Record: 5-0!
Season Record: 28-14

Big 10 bowl projections and some rules about the selection process:
The Capital One, Outback, Alamo and Champs Sports can select any eligible team except a team that has two fewer wins or two more losses than another eligible team. So the Capital One bowl could pick an 8-4 team over a 9-3 team but they cannot take a 7-5 team over a 9-3 team. Of course, the bowls only look at overall records (not conference records) and do not have to look at head-to-head matchups. They just pick the best team for their bowl game.
The Insight and Motor City Bowls have no restrictions, so they can take whatever teams are remaining (in other words, the Insight could take a 6-6 team over an 8-4 team).
However, no 7-5 or better Big Ten team can get pushed out of the Big Ten’s bowl lineup by a 6-6 team. In other words, if we have eight bowl-eligible teams and seven bowl spots, and one of the teams is 6-6, that 6-6 team cannot be picked by the Motor City Bowl and push a 7-5 team out of the Big Ten bowl lineup. But if the Big Ten has seven bowl-eligible teams and seven bowl spots, a 6-6 team could be picked by the Insight and push a 7-5 or better team down to the Motor City Bowl.

Now to the predictions…
Penn St.—Rose Bowl (Big Ten Champs)
Ohio St.—Fiesta Bowl (BCS at-large)
Michigan St.—Capital One Bowl
Iowa—Outback Bowl
Northwestern—Alamo Bowl
Wisconsin—Champs Sports Bowl
Minnesota—Insight Bowl

Last week will forever be known as the Big Ten’s week of upsets. A Michigan team that underperformed somehow went into the Metrodome and handed Minnesota its second straight loss. Another Big Ten school, this time Illinois, lost to a MAC team. And of course, in what was one of the best college football games of the year, Iowa made a great fourth quarter comeback in front of its green-clad fans. The Hawkeyes ended Penn State’s title hopes, sparing the nation from watching another Big Ten school get blown out in the championship game. Sadly, Northwestern did not get to partake in the upset celebration.

Indiana @ #8 Penn St., 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
The Nittany Lions suffered a devastating upset loss last week at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes. That loss cost them a chance at the National Championship Game, and maybe the Big Ten title as well. Don’t expect another letdown this Saturday as they face a Hoosiers team that is counting down the days until next season. Poor Indiana can’t even look forward to basketball season as most of last year’s team transferred or left amidst all the turmoil. Expect the Nittany Lions to put up big points at home against a weak Indiana defense to solidify at least a tie for the Big Ten Championship. The only chance the Hoosiers have is if Penn St. is caught looking ahead to a huge match up against Michigan St. next Saturday. But after last week’s loss to Iowa, Joe Paterno will not let that happen.
Prediction: Nittany Lions 48 Hoosiers 17

#11 Ohio St. @ Illinois, 11 a.m., ESPN
Last year, Juice Williams led Illinois to a huge upset in Columbus that got the Illini a trip to Pasadena. Things are different this year. Illinois is just 5-5 and must win one of its last two games to become bowl eligible. The Illini team has been extremely inconsistent, losing to teams like Western Michigan but also blowing out Michigan on the road. The Illini should keep this game close as they almost always play the Buckeyes tough. But, with Terrelle Pryor and Chris “Beanie” Wells the Buckeyes should pull away in the second half of this one to spoil senior day in Champaign.
Prediction: Buckeyes 38 Illini 21

Purdue @ Iowa, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
The Hawkeyes had a program-changing victory last week, upsetting #3 Penn St. on a last second field goal in very windy conditions. With Shonn Greene at tailback, the Hawkeyes should rack up plenty of yards on the ground against a weak Purdue defense. The only chance Purdue has to spoil the Iowa party is if the Hawkeyes are still hung over from their big victory last weekend. I don’t see that happening as Iowa knows that a win is probably the difference between a New Year’s Day Bowl and a trip to Detroit for the Motor City Bowl. Never ever underestimate how powerful motivation not having to go to Detroit can be.
Prediction: Hawkeyes 27 Boilermakers 14

Minnesota @ Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m., ABC
The rivalry games begin this week as these two teams will battle for the Paul Bunyan Axe that Wisconsin has held for four straight years. The Golden Gophers, after a 7-1 start, have had two devastating losses. They lost to a banged-up Northwestern team, and then a Michigan team that will not even go to a bowl game—and both those losses were at home. Wisconsin, on the other hand, won big in Indiana last Saturday and can storm the bowl party with one more victory. The Gophers will be without star wide receiver Eric Decker. Decker’s injury combined with home field advantage for the Badgers means Wisconsin will win this one.
Prediction: Badgers 24 Golden Gophers 20

Northwestern @ Michigan, 11 a.m., ESPN2
The Wildcats, at 3-3 in conference, find themselves in that cluster that can end up playing on New Year’s Day or in Detroit in the Motor City Bowl. Because of Northwestern’s small attendance numbers, bowls may look past them, so any win they can get is imperative to getting to a good bowl game. Michigan looked dead in the water until they shocked Minnesota in the Metrodome last Saturday, holding the Golden Gophers to six points. Their starting running back, Brandon Minor, is out for Saturday’s game. The ‘Cats, of course, will also be without both the starting running back and their backup running back. It has not been announced who will start at quarterback—Mike Kafka or C.J. Bacher. Whoever it is, the offensive play calling will need to change to beat Michigan in the Big House—not an easy feat, no matter how badly Michigan has played. The ‘Cats are 2-0 this season coming off a loss, and have only one road loss this season. Michigan also boasts a good special teams unit so the ‘Cats will have to win the field position game. If Coach Fitzgerald and offensive coordinator Mick McCall allow Kafka or Bacher to open up the playbook instead of playing conservatively, the ‘Cats should rack up the points and leave Ann Arbor with a victory. The defense will need to continue the improvement it’s shown all season against Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense. A win would not only be huge for momentum heading into Senior Day against Illinois, but it would impress the bowl committees as well.
Prediction: Wildcats 31 Wolverines 24

Bye Week: Michigan St.

Last week’s predictions record: 3-3
Season record: 23-14

Bowl Projections:
With only two weeks left in the regular season, the bowl selection process is upon us. Here are my bowl projections heading into this Saturday.

Penn St.—Rose Bowl (Big Ten Champs)
Ohio St.—Fiesta Bowl (BCS At-large)
Michigan St.—Capital One Bowl
Iowa—Outback Bowl
Northwestern—Alamo Bowl
Minnesota—Champs Sports Bowl
Illinois—Insight Bowl
Wisconsin—Motor City Bowl

Even without the league’s two top teams playing last Saturday, it may have been the most exciting weekend of the season in the Big Ten. Crazy finishes in West Lafayette and Minneapolis knocked Michigan out of a bowl and put Northwestern back in the top half of the Big Ten. With three weeks left in the season teams are battling for bowl positions while Penn St. remains in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten title.

Wisconsin @ Indiana, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
The Badgers choked away what could have been a huge victory last weekend in East Lansing. They now need to win in Bloomington this weekend to gain bowl eligibility. With a non-conference game against Cal Poly on the schedule, Wisconsin needs one more conference win to pretty much guarantee 6 wins. The Hoosiers followed their upset over Northwestern with a loss to Central Michigan last Saturday. At 3-6, the Hoosiers need a miracle to get to 6 wins this season and will try to play the spoiler role against the Badgers.
Prediction: Badgers 34 Hoosiers 24

Purdue @ #18 Michigan St., 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
While Head Coach Joe Tiller’s final season at Purdue hasn’t gone as planned, last week’s victory over Michigan at least gave him a good memory from this season. A hook-and-lateral touchdown in the final minute put the Boilermakers in front for good in a back and forth game. New quarterback Justin Siller won co-offensive player of the week honors for his performance against the Wolverines and he could pose a problem for the Spartans defense. Michigan St. avoided a disaster against Wisconsin last weekend to remain in the Big Ten title hunt. A win over Purdue will give Michigan St. the chance to play Penn St. on the 22nd for a shot for at least a tie for the Big Ten Championship. The Boilermakers gave up a lot of points to a weak Michigan offense last Saturday and little should change this weekend against Javon Ringer and the Spartans.
Prediction: Spartans 41 Boilermakers 21

Michigan @ Minnesota, 11 a.m., ESPN
The Golden Gophers missed a great opportunity last Saturday to continue their historic turnaround. They were unprepared for Northwestern’s offense with Mike Kafka at the helm and lost on a crazy final play that every Wildcat fan has seen by now. Luckily, they have a chance to bounce back at home against the reeling Wolverines, who played themselves out of bowl eligibility for the first time since 1974. Expect a big win from a Minnesota team. Unlike Michigan, who has nothing to play for, the Gophers are still fighting for some of the top bowls (Outback and Alamo) for Big Ten teams.
Prediction: Golden Gophers 48 Wolverines 21

Illinois @ Western Michigan, 11 a.m.
A big win against Iowa last Saturday put the Illini back into the Big Ten bowl picture. If they can emerge victorious against non-conference opponent Western Michigan the extremely inconsistent Illini should find themselves in a bowl game. With Ohio St. and Northwestern left on the schedule, Illinois can’t afford a slip up against Western Michigan, an inferior opponent. It won’t be a walkover, though, as Western Michigan is 7-2 on the year and 5-1 in a reputable MAC conference. If Juice Williams takes care of the ball he should put up big numbers again and bring the Illini to a bowl for the second straight year.
Prediction: Illini 34 Broncos 17

#3 Penn St. @ Iowa, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Iowa is calling for both a ‘blackout’ at a “Greene out” at Kinnick Stadium as the Hawkeyes look to upset the Nittany Lions. Penn St. is coming off of a bye week in which the #1 Texas Longhorns lost, keeping Penn St. in line to possibly make the BCS National Championship. Iowa lost a close game to Illinois last week and are in jeopardy of missing out on a bowl game. While Iowa is an extremely difficult place to win for an away team, the Nittany Lions won in Columbus two Saturdays ago, proving they can win in hostile environments. Iowa will keep it close thanks to a stellar defensive line, but Penn St. should pull away.
Prediction: Nittany Lions 38 Hawkeyes 20

#12 Ohio St. @ #24 Northwestern, 11 a.m., ESPN2
After the colossal loss to Indiana, this game was looking like an absolute blowout with Northwestern on the losing end. An upset in Minneapolis last weekend, however, restored faith among NU students. C.J. Bacher will start if healthy, but after Mike Kafka’s record-breaking performance (most rushing yards by a Big Ten quarterback with 217), expect to see him get substantial playing time in some capacity. The only way the Cats have a chance at beating the Buckeyes is to throw some wrinkles into the offense and getting Kafka in involved through some designed quarterback runs is one way to do that. Northwestern has showed all season long their defense is vastly improved from one that has given up 112 points to Ohio St. in their last two match-ups. But the Buckeyes still have Chris “Beanie” Wells, one of the best backs in the nation, and star freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Northwestern needs to force Pryor into some freshman mistakes through the air. The Cats have momentum on their side because Ohio St. is coming off a bye week that followed a loss to Penn St. Northwestern should keep this game closer than their last two match-ups, but don’t expect a repeat of the 2004 upset (but still watch the video anyway).
Prediction: Buckeyes 34 Wildcats 17

Last week’s record: 4-1
Season Record: 20-11

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

Illinois @ Wisconsin
Who would have thought that this game would be a 4-3 team vs. a 3-4 team, neither of which were ranked? The Illini and Badgers began the season in the Top 25 and now are scrambling to become bowl-eligible. The Illini, however, are in much better shape coming off a romp over the Hoosiers. The Badgers’ collapse continued last week with an embarrassing loss to the Hawkeyes. Considering how many points Wisconsin gave up to Iowa (38), Illini quarterback Juice Williams is probably licking his chops. Wisconsin does have home-field advantage at Camp Randall, and if their defense that has been absent for the past month shows up, they could pull off the upset. But that is a rather large ‘if.’
Prediction: Illini 38 Badgers 20

#24 Minnesota @ Purdue

Purdue is still sputtering after its defeat against Northwestern last weekend. Photo by Julie Beck / North by Northwestern.

The Golden Gophers had a much-needed bye week to get healthy after becoming bowl eligible with an upset win over Illinois. The Gophers, who won only one game last season, are backing up coach Tim Brewster’s preseason declaration that his goal was to take the Gophers to Pasadena. The Boilermakers, in contrast, are sputtering after giving up 48 points to Northwestern last weekend. The Gophers’ liability is still their defense, which works out well for Kory Sheets and Curtis Painter — Purdue’s playmakers. If the Purdue defense that held Ohio State to 16 points shows up, they can get an upset win and get back on track. The Gophers will look to be only the second Big Ten team to win after its bye week this season.
Prediction: Golden Gophers 34 Boilermakers 31

Michigan State @ Michigan
This inter-state rivalry has lost its luster this season as the Wolverines are very much in risk of missing the postseason. At 2-5, Michigan’s one highlight was their comeback win over Wisconsin—a win that isn’t so impressive considering the Badgers’ results since that game. The Spartans had a chance for a big upset in East Lansing last week but failed miserably and got dominated by Ohio State. Look for them to come back with an impressive win in Ann Arbor thanks to running back Javon Ringer. Normally, I’d say the Wolverines could pull off the upset due to the advantage of playing in the Big House—but they’ve shown this year that not even playing in Ann Arbor can help them this season.
Prediction: Spartans 42 Wolverines 24

#3 Penn State @ #9 Ohio State
We’ve been looking forward to this game since the beginning of the Big Ten season, and, since neither team was upset, this is essentially a game for the Big Ten Championship. A win by the Nittany Lions put them in position to make the BCS National Championship game, allowing another Big Ten team, say Northwestern, to reach the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions almost had their first challenge last Saturday as they went down early to Michigan, but a big second half led to another rout for Joe Paterno’s team. The Buckeyes have continued to roll since losing to USC. Their win two weeks ago over Purdue was not too convincing, but they shut up the critics with a huge win in East Lansing last Saturday against a very good Spartan team. The Buckeyes have more momentum and they get to play at home, in the Horseshoe, so I’m going to go with Ohio State in this one.
Prediction: Buckeyes 31 Nittany Lions 24

#22 Northwestern @ Indiana
Here are two teams going in opposite directions. After an inspiring season in 2007, Indiana has lost five in a row and was blown out by Iowa and Illinois the last two weeks. The 2-5 Hoosiers have been without a healthy Kellen Lewis—the key to their offensive success. He is still listed as questionable for Saturday with a high ankle sprain. His backup, Ben Chappell, is not as mobile as Lewis, nor has he gotten much protection. The Cats, in contrast, had a big homecoming win last Saturday over Purdue, proving themselves after their loss to Michigan State. The offense came alive and, with help from a defense that forced five turnovers, NU put 48 points on the scoreboard, bringing back memories from 2005. C.J. Bacher and Tyrell Sutton should be ready to feast on a weak Hoosiers defense. If Lewis is not playing, or not at 100%, the Cats should win big. But Northwestern has been prone in the past to playing down to their competition, so if Lewis is in the lineup, the game will be close. As I’ve said before, even if it’s homecoming, there’s no such thing as a home-field advantage in Bloomington. A Wildcat victory will vault them into the top 20 heading into a treacherous final four games on the schedule. They have succeeded in beating the teams they should beat all year long, and need to continue to do so on Saturday.
Prediction: Wildcats 41 Hoosiers 24

Bye Week: Iowa

Last week’s record: 4-1
Season record: 14-7

On November 4, 2000, one of the greatest college football games of all time took place at Ryan Field. Believe it or not, the Northwestern Wildcats were ranked 23rd in the country at the time and they beat the 12th-ranked Michigan Wolverines 54-51. The Wildcats went on to win a share of the Big Ten championship that season, their third in five years.

I was a 12-year-old die-hard fan and I sat in the stands that night in my Damien Anderson number-20 jersey that I still wear today. Luckily for me, I was a fan in the middle of the Northwestern football renaissance.

In 1949, the Wildcats won the Rose Bowl. Little did Wildcat fans know that it would take 47 years for them to return to a bowl game—and they returned to Pasadena, only to lose to USC. The 1995 season marked the beginning of the renaissance. Head Coach Gary Barnett’s team, led by All-American linebacker Pat Fitzgerald and Heisman candidate running back Darnell Autry shocked the country en route to a Big Ten Championship. Autry made the cover of Sports Illustrated as he helped bring the Purple back to Pasadena. I’ve been along for the ride ever since and finally, 13 years later, expectations are high again for a football team that’s known nationally for its futility.

Heading into the 2008 season, Northwestern has been to five bowls since 1995 (though they still haven’t won a bowl game since the ’49 Rose Bowl). They have won or shared three Big Ten titles and have the sixth best overall record in the Big Ten since 2003. The miracle of 1995 gave way to a program that still owns the record for the longest losing streak—34 games. The ‘Cats went on to the Citrus Bowl in 1996 and then, after some rebuilding years, returned to the top of the Big Ten in 2000.

In 2005, led by freshman running back Tyrell Sutton and quarterback Brett Basanez, the ‘Cats continued the renaissance, making it to the Sun Bowl. Current seniors will remember that season and the excitement that surrounded it, but everyone else on campus in 2008 pairs Wildcat Football with mediocrity.

But 2008 should be different. And if there’s a year for the ‘Cats to return to the postseason, this is the season to do it.

One of the biggest contributors to the beginning of the Wildcat renaissance was then-linebacker, now head coach, Pat Fitzgerald. The 33-year-old is the youngest head coach in the country after taking over following the untimely death of Randy Walker before the 2006 season. Fitzgerald, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year, was the defensive player of the year in 1995 and 1996.

Fitzgerald has become the face of Northwestern football. His impact on the field as a player and now as a coach represent his passion for the university. “He is the perfect ambassador to lead our football program going forward,” says new Athletic Director Jim Phillips. “You can’t undervalue the enthusiasm you have to have for this place, and he exudes that in a significant way.”

Phillips came from nearby Northern Illinois in spring 2007 and his enthusiasm for the Wildcat program seems matched only by Fitzgerald. “Northwestern is a wonderful place. We have high academic aspirations—why wouldn’t we want them athletically in all our sports?” he asks. Phillips calls football the “engine that drives the athletic department” because of its revenue and visibility.

While he has worn many hats in his day (Illinois, Northern Illinois and Notre Dame), he said there is no question where his allegiance lies. “My blood is purple, my ties are purple and I have a severe allegiance to this place that’s giving me this wonderful opportunity,” says Phillips, who grew up 15 minutes away from Ryan Field.

Phillips was known for putting Northern Illinois football on the national map through nationally televised games at his time in Dekalb, and fans are hoping he can do the same here. In the final, nerve-wrecking minutes of this season’s victory at Duke, Phillips paced the sidelines. When the clock hit zero and the ‘Cats had escaped with their second victory of this 2008 season, he gave emphatic handshakes and hugs to the members of the NU football family.

With star players returning for their senior season, an easy non-conference schedule, a Big Ten schedule without perennial powers Wisconsin and Penn State, and two new coordinators, it’s no wonder that expectations around Evanston are high. The marketing posters for Northwestern show pictures of the team in the past decade, leading fans to believe that another bowl game is coming this year.

In the 21st century, the Wildcats’ biggest Achilles heel has been its defense. But this offseason, Northwestern hired Mike Hankwitz from Wisconsin to be the new defensive coordinator. He has plenty of experience and he’s a well-respected defensive mind in college football. His defense stepped up in the non-conference slate so far this season, holding three opponents to single-digit scoring. On the other side of the ball, Fitzgerald hired Mick McCall from Bowling Green to be the new offensive coordinator. McCall will bring back the no-huddle offense that was so successful in Evanston in 2000.

Still, Fitzgerald says his basic expectations haven’t exactly changed. He knows what’s possible, but he still needs to make it happen. “Our fundamental belief is that we should challenge for championships every year,” he said. “We’ve gotten over the hump of whether or not we can win and win championships.”

In 2005, the team was led by a freshman running back—Tyrell Sutton. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year helped lead the ‘Cats to the Sun Bowl but has been plagued by injuries in his sophomore and junior seasons. Without him, the running game stalled, in spite of some good games last season by Omar Conteh. Sutton came out of the Ohio game this season with an injury and the team couldn’t reestablish a run game. But when he’s healthy, he’s proved to be one of the best in the conference.

At Big Ten Media Day in July, some of the best players in the conference walked into the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. The 5’9’’ Sutton—or so he is listed—is not as imposing a figure as the other players, but his performance on the field has earned him respect around the conference. What he lacks in height he makes up for in strength and determination (he’s the active leading rusher in the Big Ten). He’s known for never going down with the first hit. In the opening game against Syracuse this season, Sutton carried defenders an extra five yards at the end of a long run. “For us seniors,” he says, “there is a sense of urgency because this could potentially be our last season.”

The modest running back claims he “had no clue” he was the leading active rusher in the Big Ten or that he came into the season in reach of Damien Anderson’s school records for career rushing yards and career all-purpose yards. He shrugs off the personal attention with a laugh. “We know we should be in a bowl game every single year. We’ve had a lot of games that we’ve lost that we should have won,” he says. His constantly smiling demeanor became serious when saying that the ‘Cats are better than what they were in ’06 and ’07. “There’s no reason we should be sitting at home in December.”

Joining Sutton as the face of the program is senior quarterback CJ Bacher. Bacher set the school record for passing yards in a season and threw 19 touchdown passes in 2007. When he was on, the ‘Cats were winning. But Bacher also threw 19 interceptions and some of those let huge leads became losses. The soft-spoken signal caller describes the urgency and pressure of getting to a bowl game this year. “We’re hungrier than last summer. We want to have a special season as this is our last go-around,” he says. “We have a lot to prove.”

Bacher, like Sutton, doesn’t like to talk about personal accolades. He’d like to see more team successes than broken records. “If we went to the Rose Bowl, that’d be my ultimate goal. My aim is to get this team to the right place and the Rose Bowl is what we are shooting for,” he says.

One of the most unknown players at the press junket was Eric Peterman. The senior wide receiver, who played quarterback in high school, put up big numbers last year, making him a premiere Big Ten wide out. In the opening game against Syracuse, fans saw how respected Peterman has become as the Orange’s defense always had him covered, forcing Bacher to throw to his other receivers.

Peterman embodies what Fitzgerald and Phillips love about Northwestern—strong academics along with strong athletics. He holds a 3.33 GPA as an Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences major and economics minor, and he holds a leadership certificate. He said he was “honored” to be included in the media day.

Like his teammates, Peterman recognizes that this will be his last season at Northwestern, and for most of the team’s players, the end of their football careers. Peterman was also one of the few freshmen who played on the 2005 Sun Bowl team, and he wants to help return the ‘Cats to a bowl. “I expect to win, I expect to go to a bowl game every year and I don’t take lightly to losing,” he says.

“A college football student section is the only place on earth where Greeks, geeks, seniors, freshmen, wannabe millionaires and
soon-to-be-dropouts can stand shoulder to shoulder and throat to throat with one common, noble belief: Dude, we are so going to kick your ass.”

—Ryan McGee,
ESPN Magazine

Ryan Field has a capacity of 49,256 fans. 16 percent of that encompasses the Northwestern student section, making it second to last in the Big Ten for percent of students who show up. While that stat’s understandable given the undergraduate population is significantly smaller than the rest of the conference, it’s also a number that could be improved.

And this is the season when it might actually happen.

Northwestern is no longer the laughing stock of the Big Ten, yet many students still don’t believe that. They still associate the team with mediocrity—which makes sense given the last two seasons. But with high expectations from the media (many outlets picked the ‘Cats to return to the postseason) and the players, 2008 should give underclassmen a reason to come back and seniors may be reminded of the thrill of 2005.

11 a.m. is too early. The games are cold. I have to take a shuttle. We’re going to get killed. I have homework to do. “There’s a football game today?” Those are a few of the things students say when they don’t make it to Ryan Field on Saturday.

After every victory, the players run to the student section, remove their helmets, and sing the fight song with their classmates. They don’t run to the boosters or their family members, nor do they head to the locker room. “When we look to the stands and see purple, it gets us going,” says Bacher. “We play for ourselves, the program, but most of all for the fans. If we can have them at full force, we’re going to play much better.”

Northwestern is one of the only schools in the BCS conference (Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, SEC, ACC, Pac-10) that allows undergraduate students to attend all football games for free. But the student turnout still isn’t overwhelming, and it’s hard to imagine what it might look like if people had to pay.

The advantage of for the cheering fans is that it is on Saturdays and free. Like performance groups on campus, Wildcat Football is benefited by a large turnout of students. It’s not just a pep rally. “It’s a tremendous home-field advantage. Just like when our students are a part of Waa-Mu or Dance Marathon and they look out and see the room packed,” says Fitzgerald. “That’s who we are. Those are our traditions and that’s our identity as a university.”

Phillips’ approachability as an athletic director is something you can’t get at other Big Team schools. He’d like to see each game become more of a university-wide event, but he also understands the reality of students’ lives doesn’t always allow that. “Maybe there’s a way we can make it a better student experience for them. If that’s the case, we want to hear that.”

Fitzgerald has become a recognizable face in both the Northwestern and Evanston communities, from appearances at Dance Marathon to singing the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field. He was a player in the early 90s when student turnout wasn’t great—but when the renaissance began in 1995, the support was incredible. It’s those off-years, or rebuilding years, that have brought back the idea that the Wildcats are a mediocre football program. “I think the community that was NU at that time was really excited to say: I go to Northwestern,” he says.

On October 2, 2004, the renaissance was still in full stride. The sixth ranked Ohio St. Buckeyes came to Ryan Field—a team the ‘Cats had not beaten in 33 years. I was a junior in high school who wanted to go to Northwestern. As running back Noah Herron ran into the end zone to cap off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, I ran from my seats and onto the field. I ran and yelled with everyone from the student section.

Will the team challenge for national championships? Probably not. Will they challenge for Big Ten championships? Not every year, but once in a while. The most important effect the renaissance has had on the program is that Northwestern is part of the postseason. These new expectations let fans expect the ‘Cats to be playing in December, if not January. Seniors can remember that from 2005, and 2008 shouldn’t be too far from it.

Those expectations don’t always live up to what everyone would like, but it’s worth putting in perspective the significance of the team’s ability to consistently challenge getting into bowl games. In 47 years, from 1949 to 1995, the Wildcats never made it to a bowl game—any bowl game. They racked up the longest losing streak in college football history (34 games) in the 80s—a record that still stands. But since 1995, the team has won or shared three Big Ten championships (1995, 1996 and 2000) and has advanced to five bowl games. When asked about the disappointed 6-6 season in 2008, Fitzgerald simply says, “If we had won six games back in 1993, there would’ve been a purple parade down Central Street.”

And 2008 has already gotten off to the start everyone expected. For the first time since 1963, the ‘Cats have gone undefeated against non-conference opponents (as of this magazine going to press). And for the first time since 1962, Northwestern has started the season 4-0 heading into the Big Ten season. When the Big Ten teams roll into Evanston, all fans are used to seeing the opposing colors dominating the stands, but it might be about time that inferiority complex was flipped on its head.
After all, nowhere else in Evanston can everyone from north and south campus get together to, well, win. There’s not much we do as a pack on this campus, but there’s at least one thing worth looking forward to this fall, as Fitzgerald says, “and that’s football Saturdays.”

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After three weeks of the Big Ten season, Penn St. continues to roll while Wisconsin continues to fade. The Buckeyes are back to the form most people expected them to be in and Michigan is shocking people with their dismal rebuilding season. In week four, the Spartans have a chance to prove themselves to the country while Illinois and Northwestern look to get back on track with games against struggling opponents.

Wisconsin @ Iowa
Since the amazing second-half comeback by the Wolverines three weeks ago, Wisconsin has lost two in a row at Camp Randall. Those two losses were to two of the best teams in the conference, Ohio St. and Penn St, but Wisconsin has still failed to live up to expectations that it would contend for the Big Ten Championship. They travel to Kinnick Stadium this weekend to play an Iowa team on the rise. The Hawkeyes won big last week against the Hoosiers and, with surprise superstar running back Shonn Greene, are looking to get back to .500 in conference play. Expect a defensive battle when these two pro-style offenses face off in Iowa City.
Prediction: Badgers 20 Hawkeyes 17

#12 Ohio St. @ #20 Michigan St.
This is the game of the week in the Big Ten as both the Buckeyes and Spartans are undefeated in conference play. It is also a potential trap game for the Buckeyes, who have a big matchup against Penn St. looming next weekend. Michigan St. is coming off a convincing win in Evanston and with a victory against the Buckeyes, the Spartans would establish themselves as the second-best team in the conference. Javon Ringer and Chris “Beanie” Wells, two of the best running backs in the nation, face off in what should be a great game. The Spartans have the home-field advantage, but the Buckeyes have the defense to prevail.
Prediction: Buckeyes 27 Spartans 21

Michigan @ #3 Penn St.
The Wolverines continued their trend of losing in the Big House this season by falling to the Toledo Rockets last Saturday. Meanwhile, Penn St. is at the other end of the spectrum. They rolled over Wisconsin in Madison last week and moved up to #3 in the country. Like Ohio St., the Nittany Lions could get caught looking ahead to next week’s big match up. I don’t expect Joe Pa to let that happen. Even if it does, a half-interested Penn St. team is good enough to beat the Wolverines.
Prediction: Nittany Lions 38 Wolverines 17

Indiana @ Illinois
The Hoosiers, after posting a winning record in 2007, have not found the offense that made them successful last year. They are 0-3 in the Big Ten after getting annihilated against a mediocre Iowa team. Illinois is also having problems repeating their successes from last year. Last Saturday they lost at home on homecoming to Minnesota. But, Ron Zook won’t let the Illini get upset at home two weeks in a row and Juice Williams and wide reciever Arrelious Benn should have a field day with Indiana’s defense.
Prediction: Illini 42 Hoosiers 20

Purdue @ Northwestern
This is a huge game for the Wildcats. They couldn’t handle being in the spotlight last week and turned the ball over too much to have any real shot at a victory. The Cats face a Boilermakers team that is 0-2 in the Big Ten. Purdue is struggling on offense for the first time in the Joe Tiller era and Curtis Painter is not having the senior season many expected, having thrown five TD’s and six INT’s. Northwestern has turnover issues of its own. CJ Bacher threw two more picks last week to bring his season total to eight. Bacher must limit the turnovers if the ‘Cats are to become bowl eligible and send their fans home happy this homecoming.
Prediction: Wildcats 24 Boilermakers 21

Bye Week: Minnesota

Last week’s Record: 3-3
Season Record: 10-6

Iowa @ Indiana
The Hawkeyes almost upset the Spartans last week in East Lansing as Shonn Greene continued to run over Big Ten defenses. Indiana comes off a tough loss in Minneapolis. Despite having one of the most athletic players in the country in quarterback Kellen Lewis, the Hoosiers sit at the bottom of the Big Ten and don’t appear to be leaving anytime soon. Iowa’s defensive line proved against Northwestern that they are very physical and will make things tough on Lewis. This game should be close but the Hoosiers won’t get enough stops on defense.
Hawkeyes 20 Hoosiers 14

Toledo @ Michigan
This is the only non-conference game of the week and a good way for the Wolverines to get over their loss to Illinois. Expect to see the Michigan offense we saw in their win against Wisconsin. While this is not the Michigan of Desmond Howard or even Braylon Edwards, they still will not lose to two non-conference opponents in the Big House.
Wolverines 38 Rockets 21

Minnesota @ Illinois
Gophers coach Tim Brewster heads back to his alma mater to face an Illini team coming off a big win in Ann Arbor. The Gophers are 5-1 but their only win-of-note is Indiana, the bottom-dweller of the Big Ten. This game will display two very good offenses, but Illinois has the superior defense. The Gophers contained Kellen Lewis last week, but will be unable to do the same with the Illini. Quarterback Juice Williams has a lot more weapons at his disposal than Lewis did and won’t have to rely solely on his feet to make big plays.
Illini 41 Gophers 28

Purdue @ #11 Ohio St.
The Buckeyes are back on track with Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor in the backfield. They had a huge victory last week in Madison that reminded the rest of the conference why the Buckeyes were the preseason favorites. The Boilermakers hung around with Penn St. for a little while last week, but couldn’t get much of an offense together. Look for them to have an even harder time against Ohio St.’s stifling defense. That, coupled with the fact the game is in Columbus, should lead to a relatively easy win for the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes 31 Boilermakers 10

#6 Penn St. @ #24 Wisconsin
Even though the Badgers have fallen in the Top 25, this is still the Big Ten game of the week. Wisconsin is still very hard to beat at home and its defense will be a good test for the Nittany Lions Spread HD. Penn St., with a win, becomes not only the Big 10 front-runner, but a national title contender as well. Look for the Nittany Lions to capitalize on the opportunity.
Nittany Lions 24 Badgers 14

#19 Michigan St. @ #22 Northwestern
Both of these teams’ surprising starts have made this one of the premiere games in the country. The Cats are rested because of their bye week but will have to continue their superb defense in order to stop Javon Ringer—a legitimate Heisman candidate. If CJ Bacher can have the type of game he did last year against a weak Spartan secondary, NU will improve to 6-0.
Wildcats 27 Spartans 24

Last Week’s Record: 4-1
Season Record: 7-3

Iowa @ Michigan St.
Against NU, Iowa showed that that they can run the ball and that Ricky Stanzi is not a bad quarterback. Iowa’s defense shut down Tyrell Sutton last week but will get a tougher test this week against Michigan St.’s Javon Ringer. Nonetheless, Iowa’s stout run defense is up to the challenge and will enable the Hawkeyes to pull of the road upset.
Hawkeyes 20 Spartans 17

Indiana @ Minnesota
The Gophers did what I expected last week against Ohio St.—they scored a few touchdowns but gave up a lot of points. To establish themselves as bowl contenders the Gophers will have to beat the Hoosiers. Indiana erased any doubt last week that they possess anything that even resembles a defense. This will be a major problem for them against Adam Weber and the Minnesota offense. Compounding their problems, Indiana is battling injuries. This should be a high scoring game, but I expect the Gophers to come out on top at home.
Gophers 38 Hoosiers 31

Penn St. @ Purdue
The Nittany Lions and their Spread HD looked very good last week against a ranked Illini team. Wide reciever Derrick Williams showed why he was so highly-touted coming out of high school, catching six passes for 75 yards. The Boilermakers, on the other hand, are sputtering right now after losing at Notre Dame. Curtis Painter is still one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten, so Purdue will put up points. But, I don’t see them stopping Penn St. enough to win.
Nittany Lions 42 Boilermakers 24

Illinois @ Michigan
This battle might develop into a nice rivalry now that Ron Zook has brought competitive football back to Champaign. The Wolverines made it clear last week that they are still a force to be reckoned with, especially at the Big House. However, their defense does not match up well against the sort of spread attack run by Juice Williams and Illinois. It is homecoming in Michigan, but Illinois will get their first conference victory.
Illini 30 Wolverines 21

#14 Ohio St. @ #18 Wisconsin
This is the Big Ten’s and perhaps the nation’s marquee game of the week. The Badgers choked last week at Michigan after completely dominating the first half. I doubt they can get their spirits back to beat a motivated Buckeye team trying to reestablish itself as one of the nation’s elites. If Ohio St. wins this weekend and Penn St. wins in Madison next weekend, it will lead to a very intriguing Ohio St.-Penn St. match-up for what will likely be the unofficial Big Ten championship. But, again, that involves the Badgers losing at home, something they have not done since Bret Bielema took over as head coach.
Buckeyes 27 Badgers 24

Last Week’s Record: 3-2