Big Ten Picks and Preview: Week Seven

Not as many big games this weekend, but still an interesting weekend for someone to earn a ticket to a BCS bowl game.

Let's get on with the show.



Big Ten Game of the Week

Iowa at Wisconsin

I consider these teams pretty close in skill level. Iowa has the biggest win of the season at Happy Valley, and Wisconsin got blown out at the Shoe last week with two pick sixes and giving up another score on special teams—that's 21 non-traditional points if you're keeping score at home. Those types of mistakes won't win you too many games.

Wisconsin will face another tough defense that really didn't shut down the Michigan running game much but did get pressure on both Michigan's quarterbacks. This is going to be a close game, and Vegas has the line Wisconsin -3 points. This really points to the fact Vegas is not quite buying what Iowa is selling yet, since they are the No. 11 team in the nation and Wisconsin is not ranked.

Wisconsin 21, Iowa 17



The Rest of the League

Ohio State at Purdue

This is clearly a mismatch on paper. The Ohio State defense has been winning games all year, and Purdue as a whole has played hard but keeps finding ways to lose games. This is a classic "Vest" situation, and he doesn't lose these games.

If OSU doesn't get blindsided by the Big Drum, train whistle, and movie clips, this will be an easy win. OSU is favored by two touchdowns.

The Vest 38, Purdue 10



Illinois at Indiana

The good news is one of these teams is going to walk away with a win. The bad news is for the fans that have to watch this game. This is the equivalent of the Cleveland-Buffalo game in the NFL last weekend.

IU played well against Michigan but has gone south quickly with a blowout loss last weekend to Virginia. Ron Zook still is waiting to get his team started this year; the Illini are currently one of the Big Ten's biggest disasters just a couple of years removed from the Rose Bowl.

The game is at IU, but the team has been hit with the flu bug. IU is favored by two at home. Zook has to win a game at some point, right?

U of I 14, IU 10

Minnesota at Penn State

I think this is an interesting game. Minnesota is a decent team and will be Penn State's second toughest opponent of the year. Penn State has not done itself any favors by playing a very weak non-conference schedule.

So the big question is, can Minnesota pull the upset? Vegas doesn't think so and has made Penn State a 17-point favorite. I think that's too high.

PSU 28, Minnesota 24

Northwestern at Michigan State

The Wildcats play well in East Lansing for some strange reason. Michigan State has gotten back to .500 football with back-to-back wins over Michigan and Illinois. State lost one of their top running backs and one of their quarterbacks. Northwestern hasn't exactly played good football lately by barely beating a pretty poor Miami of Ohio team last week.

Vegas has NW a two-touchdown dog. I'm feeling an upset in this game but will still pick State.

MSU 31, NW 24

As always the Michigan-Delaware State game will get its own preview in Friday's edition of BHB.