Big Ten Football Preview: Week Eight

The chase for the Big Ten title is heating up.

Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan State seem to have separated themselves from the pack, and games between the three schools in the next three weeks will likely decide the champion.

This week sees two of those contenders facing off when Ohio State travels to Spartan Stadium to take on a surging Michigan State team.  The Buckeyes are coming off a less than impressive performance against lowly Purdue, while the Spartans are coming off a dominating win over previously undefeated Northwestern.

That likely won't matter when the teams meet on Saturday.  The teams share more than their identical records.  Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for Jim Tressel at Ohio State, and the two men are great friends. 

For Ohio State, the game against this Michigan team may carry more importance this season than the game against that other team from up north. 

Meanwhile, a Michigan State win over the Buckeyes would not only keep their title hopes alive, but also give Dantonio his first signature win as a Spartan.

PURDUE at NORTHWESTERN (12:00 PM ET)

Purdue is struggling.  Joe Tiller's final season as the head man in West Lafayette may be his most frustrating.  Tiller's senior quarterback, Curtis Painter, who was being touted as a Heisman contender at the beginning of the season, cannot throw the ball with the same accuracy he did last season, and the offense cannot move the ball.

The Boilermaker defense has struggled this season as well, but they actually played well in the two biggest games of the season, against Oregon and Ohio State.  Last week the Purdue defense held Ohio State to only 16 points and no offensive touchdowns.

Northwestern's luck finally ran out.  The Wildcats cannot afford the mistakes they had against the Spartans last week.  Committing three turnovers and allowing big plays because of blown coverage is the surest way to lose a game against a good team.

C.J. Bacher attempted 61 passes in the game against Michigan State.  That is an astronomical number of passes, and with the way Tyrell Sutton was running the ball, it is questionable as to why Pat Fitzgerald focused so intently on the passing game.

Prediction: Purdue, 26-21

WISCONSIN at IOWA (12:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network)

The Badgers have seen better days.  Just three short weeks ago Wisconsin was a top 10 team with hopes not only for a Big Ten title, but a possible national championship game appearance.  Now the Badgers have dropped their last three games (two of which were at home) and are searching for answers.

Allan Evridge seems to be getting the majority of the blame, but this collapse cannot be put on his shoulders alone.  The coaching has been iffy at best, the defense has given up too many big plays on blown coverage, and the turnovers have been numerous and all untimely. 

Iowa played tough for three weeks but lost all three games close.  Finally the Hawkeye offense found its rhythm against Indiana last week behind first-year starters Ricky Stanzi and Shonn Greene.

The blowout win over the Hoosiers may not propel the Hawkeyes to a huge second half, but it will surely give the team a confidence boost and a newfound sense of urgency.

Prediction: Iowa, 24-21

No. 12 OHIO STATE at No. 20 MICHIGAN STATE (3:30 PM ET, ABC)

The Buckeyes are heading into a brutal stretch and are in need of a wake-up call.  The offense just hasn't jelled, and there are major concerns in Columbus.  Beanie Wells is back and running hard, and Terrelle Pryor is electrifying, but it seems as though the Ohio State coaching staff is a little apprehensive about letting the offense loose.

Defensively, the Buckeyes are as stout as ever.  Malcolm Jenkins is playing out of this world and may be the best corner in the country.  James Laurinaitis has been steady but consistently double-teamed, which has led to the emergence of Ross Homan and Etienne Sabino as the next great linebackers at Ohio State.

Michigan State just keeps rolling on the legs of Javon Ringer and the improved play of quarterback Brian Hoyer.  Hoyer is coming off his best game of the season and will need to keep improving with the toughest part of the Spartan schedule coming in the next few weeks. 

The Spartans are playing with great confidence and urgency.  Mark Dantonio, in only his second year, has the Spartans believing they can win the big ones.  They cannot lose focus with Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin still looming.

Prediction: Ohio State, 27-23

MICHIGAN at No. 3 PENN STATE (4:30 PM ET, ESPN)

Michigan has hit rock bottom—or have they?  After a crushing loss to Illinois two weeks ago, Rich Rodriguez issued a pseudo-challenge to his team when called them soft in a press conference.  The Wolverines responded by losing to a 1-4 MAC team that is ranked near dead last in total defense.

When did it become the Sam McGuffie show?  If the freshman accounts for all of your offense, you have problems.  What happened to Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown (who are both more experienced and better backs at this time)?  Michigan and Rich Rodriguez must get this offense figured out, or Michigan's bowl streak will come to an end.

Penn State cruised past the Badgers in a game that seemed to be over before it even began.  The Lions' offense plays with ease: Daryll Clark is brilliant, Derrick Williams is explosive, and Galen Hall and Jay Paterno are now receiving raves from the Penn State faithful instead of criticisms.

The Lions have not had the best of luck against the Wolverines this decade, but Michigan would need a miracle to keep their win streak against Penn State going.

Prediction: Penn State, 38-6

INDIANA at ILLINOIS (8:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network)

Kellen Lewis just isn't making things happen this season the way he did last season.  It isn't all Lewis' fault though—he is not getting much help from the running game, and his receivers are not able to do anything once they catch the ball.  The team needs a spark in a big, big way.

Illinois got a brilliant performance out of their playmakers against the Gophers.  Juice Williams was in total command of the passing game, and Arrelious Benn had 12 catches for 181 yards.  But three turnovers and a lack of run defense were the downfall of the Illini.

Prediction: Illinois, 38-17

Bye: Minnesota