Big Ten Football '09: Week Eight Preview

Iowa just keeps winning.

After barely squeaking by Arkansas State, the Hawkeyes won in Madison, Wisc. last week to increase their winning streak to 11 games and improve to 7-0 on the season.

The other story in the Big Ten last week was Purdue's upset of Ohio State in West Lafayette.

By the way, Ohio State, the 1985 Wisconsin Badgers called. They want their playbook back.

Illinois Fighting Illini (1-5) (0-4) @ Purdue Boilermakers (2-5) (1-2), 12:00, ESPN2

The Fighting Illini have had a rough year, to put it mildly.

This week will be no different, as Purdue will turn out to be a less than hospitable host for the second week in a row.

Purdue running back Ralph Bolden will have a field day against the porous Illini defense.

Prediction: Illini 10, Boilers 35.

Indiana Hoosiers (4-3) (1-2) @ Northwestern Wildcats (4-3) (1-2), 12:00, BTN

The Indiana Hoosiers are an enigma to me. Just when I started to think they might be a decent ball team, they lost to VIrginia.

The Hoosiers face a frightening prospect this week, trying to regain lost momentum against rival Northwestern in Evanston.

If the Hoosiers don't get pressure on Wildcat quarterback Mike Kafka, they will be in for a very long day.

Prediction: Hoosiers, 10 Wildcats, 21.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-3) (2-2) @ #18 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-2) (3-1), 12:00, ESPN

Minnesota gets the unenviable task of trying to beat Ohio State at home after a loss by the Buckeyes.

This one will be ugly.

You can bet Jim Tressel and staff are stressing execution this week, and the Minnesota defense is not good enough to force Ohio State to make any mistakes.

Expect a low-scoring, rushing game with Minnesota not able to get wide receiver Eric Decker involved in the offense.

Prediction: Gophers 7, Buckeyes 17.

#13 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1) (2-1) @ Michigan Wolverines (5-2) (1-2) 3:30 ABC

Penn State needs to win this game. Michigan needs to win this game more.

After a miserable 1-2 start in the conference, the Wolverines' road doesn't get any easier against a tough Penn State squad.

Home field advantage will count for a little something, but the superior defense of Penn State will win this game.

Prediction: PSU 28, Michigan 24.

#7 Iowa Hawkeyes (7-0) (3-0) @ Michigan State Spartans (4-3) (3-1) 7:05 BTN

As previously stated, the Hawkeyes just keep winning.

And this week should be no different.

Michigan State's secondary has been questionable at times, and Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi will be able to take advantage.

The Hawkeyes' defense leads the Big Ten in takeaways and turnover margin, and this week will be more of the same.

Prediction: Hawkeyes 17, Sparty 10.

Bye: Wisconsin Badgers (5-2) (2-2)

If Iowa continues to win, another team will be carrying the Big Ten reputation into a BCS game.

And, by the way, which SEC team wants to play Ohio State?