Big Ten Picks and Predictions: Week 8

We had a bit of a shake-up last week as Iowa remained the only overall unbeaten Big Ten team. What does this week have in store? Here is my best guess:

(The Big Ten game of the week will be previewed tomorrow.)

Iowa at MSU: I'm not sure how Iowa is doing it this year. They make big mistakes on offense and have a good but not dominating defense. They seem to trail in most of their games but win in the end.

Is it magic? Is it a down a year in the Big Ten?

No one knows. But I do know the fans in Iowa City aren't complaining.

The exact same things could be said about the Spartans. After losing three in a row, Michigan State is now on a four-game winning streak. State has plenty of flaws, but after the losing streak has found a way to win close games. (See Michigan and Northwestern.)

Iowa has had trouble playing in East Lansing and the Spartans' only blemish at home this year is against Central Michigan. Vegas says the line is "pick em'," so I will: Iowa 23, MSU 17.

Illinois at Purdue: Illinois is terrible this year under Ron Zook and Purdue just beat the Buckeyes last weekend.

The Fighting Zooks have to win a game sooner or later and Purdue could be prime for a  let-down after beating a Top 10 team. 

The Boilermakers are favored by 10 points and play a more physical type of football than Zook and company: Purdue 21, Illinois 14.

Minnesota at OSU: Both teams are coming off crushing losses. The Golden Gophers were shut out in Happy Valley and OSU lost at Purdue.

Terrelle Pryor and "The Vest" having been taking a ton of heat this week in what some consider the worst loss in Tressel's career. The Buckeyes play well at home even when a decent opponent walks through the front door.

Minnesota is no slouch. If TP starts throwing picks and giving up fumbles, the Gophers could turn them into points. But OSU's defense is still the best unit on the field. Vegas has OSU by 16.5: OSU 28, Minnesota 10.

Indiana at Northwestern: Both teams showed promise early on before stumbling hard.

Indiana did beat Illinois last week and Northwestern lost in East Lansing — a game they could have won. Both teams are fighting for their bowl lives and the Wildcats are favored by 5.5 points. I think IU pulls off the upset: IU 17, NW 13.