Big Ten Football: Top 5 Prime-Time Games to Watch in 2012

The Big Ten just announced its prime-time football schedule for 2012, and not surprisingly, the slate is full of big-time matchups.

Even though the lack of November games means there aren't going to be many games that directly influence the conference race at the end of the season, there are going to be plenty of games that are not only important, but fun to watch. Let's look at the top five.

5. Boise State at Michigan State, Aug. 31

It seems like Boise State takes on a critical road game every year, and every year fans predict it'll be the season that they stumble and get exposed by a big-name program as a product of a weak schedule. And just about every year, Boise comes home with a victory in hand.

Now, I realize this is a broken record, but this might be the year Boise gets upended. Michigan State's defense is the best the Broncos are going to face all year, and for the first time since like 1997, I swear to god, Kellen Moore isn't under center for Boise State. Moore was a judo master at QB, effortlessly adjusting to what the defense attacked him with and exploiting the weakness.

Moore's replacement, Joe Southwick, should struggle to put points up for the Broncos. Michigan State isn't going to have much of an easier go of it, but this should be a four-quarter battle and a great way to kick off the season.

4. Penn State at Iowa, Oct. 20

Michigan State-Wisconsin is probably the hottest of the Big Ten's non-traditional rivalries, but one of the best of the '00s was Iowa's (often-inexplicable) dominance of Penn State. That series peaked with a pair of Iowa upsets in 2008 and 2009, the first of which knocked PSU out of the national title picture; now, the teams are back under the lights in 2012.

Both Iowa and Penn State are off their recent peaks, and both teams are getting used to rather significant overhauls of their systems (moreso PSU than Iowa here, but at least the Nittany Lions still have their defensive coordinator). Penn State hasn't won at Iowa since 1999, but this is its best chance since then.

3. Wisconsin at Nebraska, Sept. 29

This is the first of three Nebraska night games on the season, and Nebraska's first appearance on the list of the Big Ten's five best.

When Nebraska went to Camp Randall to kick off its inaugural Big Ten campaign, the Badgers proved to be rude hosts indeed, flattening the Huskers en route to a 48-17 victory that really wasn't even that close. The game's at Memorial Stadium this time around, and this year, Nebraska's the team that looks more experienced and prepared on offense.

Of course, Wisconsin is still Wisconsin, and Nebraska's going to have to stiffen up across the front four if the Huskers want to keep Bucky under 35 points this time around. At the very least, this game should be more competitive than last year, and if Nebraska snags a win, look for a Huskers push for the Legends Division crown.

2. Nebraska at Ohio State, Oct. 6

This is the second of three Nebraska night games on the season, and Nebraska's second appearance on the list of the Big Ten's five best. At stake here is vengeance, pure and simple.

Ohio State is, of course, ineligible for the postseason. As such, the regular season is their season and here the Buckeyes have an opportunity to avenge last year's loss in Lincoln.

Ohio State led, 27-6, in the second half of that game, and even after giving up a touchdown, looked to be well on the way to sealing the victory when Braxton Miller went down with an ankle injury and Joe Bauserman came in to fling incomplete passes all over the place. Nebraska pounced, the Huskers escaped with a win and the two teams' seasons would go in opposite directions afterwards.

Now it's time for Nebraska to set foot in the 'Shoe, which you'd think would be a good place for a foot but which usually portends doom for visiting teams. Can Ohio State exact its revenge, or will this game be another Buckeye heartbreaker?

1. Michigan at Nebraska, Oct. 27

This is the third of three Nebraska night games on the season, and Nebraska's third appearance on the list of the Big Ten's five best. Yes, the three best night games in the Big Ten this year are all Nebraska games.

In terms of prime-time games that should have a direct impact on division races, this will be a big one. Michigan has a (comparatively) easy Big Ten schedule, but road trips to Nebraska and Ohio State loom large. The Wolverines will likely have to win at least one of those games to punch their ticket for Indianapolis, so whether they get the win here will go a long way in determining their division title chances going into Columbus in November.

Nebraska got smoked in this matchup last season, but it was relatively close for the majority of the first half. Bo Pelini's going to have to figure out how to contain Denard Robinson—it can be done; Nebraska just didn't do it last year—or the Huskers' division title hopes are as good as shot. If Nebraska can get wins out of two of its three night games, though, we might have a new Legends Division winner in 2012.