PREDICTIONS FOR BIG TEN WEEK #7 FROM BLOWOUTS TO NAIL BITERS

The Big Ten race is heating up and week 7 focuses Big Ten fans on Madison for the match up of the week as The Badgers host the undefeated Hawkeyes of Iowa.  These are my week 7 predictions for The Big Ten.  Notice the games are arranged from the largest spreads of victors to the closest nail biters.  They are not arranged according to viewing preferances.  Enjoy and discuss.  

1.  MICHIGAN over DELEWARE STATE:  Michigan is gaining experience and their young talent is beginning to produce. Their near miss at Iowa sends a strong message that the Wolverines can play with anyone in the Big Ten. Look for a blow out as Delaware State feels the wrath of two close conference losses by Michigan.

2. OHIO STATE over PURDUE:  While The Buckeye's offense is taking valid flak, and their defense is becoming to emerge as one of the nation's finest. Look for Ohio State to dominate at Purdue.  The Offensive line is becoming healthy and Tressel knows with his defensive dominance that he can open up the throttle and try to nurse his offense to where it needs to be before the crucial month of November at the expense of the struggling Boiler makers.

3.   MICHIGAN STATE over NORTHWESTERN:  While both teams have seemed to under perform this year, Sparty is getting its groove and swagger back.  The Spartans are smelling a January 1 bowl and Northwestern has not yet looked impressive. Look for a surging Michigan State to reel off its third straight win convincingly to the pleasure of a home crowd in East Lansing.

4.  PENN STATE over MINNESOTA:  This one may be much closer should it be played in Gopher land, but Happy Valley will be too much for young Minnesota.  Look for a balanced Lion attack and decent lines to overwhelm a Gopher team that no one this year is over looking.  For comparison look how the Lions dismantled Syracuse and how Minnesota needed over time and a few breaks to down the Orangemen.  Minnesota still needs years to rebuild, while Penn State just needs games for their talent to take them back to the top.  

5.  INDIANA over ILLINIOS:  At the beginning of the year, this looked like a cake walk for The Illini.  However, Zook seems to have lost control of the ship and an improving Indiana team may simply want this game much more than the fading Illini.  Illinois has been flattened the past three weeks and their stars are fading.  Indiana knows it can compete and these bottom programs appear to be heading in opposite directions. Look for a fired up Hoosier group to use home cooking to rally past Illinois.

6.  WISCONSIN over IOWA: No doubt this smash mouth Midwest feast can go either way. This game has huge implications for both programs; for WI this is the make or break game of the year.  For The Hawkeyes a win keeps their National title hopes alive and a shows that they are clearly in the drivers seat for a Big Ten Title.  While Wisconsin was 'blown out' by Ohio State last week, they may have a bad taste in their mouth knowing that they bested The Buckeyes nearly 2 to 1 in key statistics.  Most impressive was Tolzein's play and the Badgers moving the ball at will between the 30's. There was a point in the game that Wisconsin's massive Offensive wall stood Ohio State's Defensive line straght up.  The Badgers and their new QB may have gained enough experience to lead them over a fine Hawkeye team using a passionate crowd to give their head coach his first key Big Ten win.  Look for this one to go down to the wire as Wisconsin wears down an athletic Iowa defense.