Big Ten Football '09: Week Nine Preview

If anyone is going to carry the Big Ten banner into national prominence this January, it will have to be Iowa.

After quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw a game winning touchdown pass with two seconds remaining last week, the Hawks improved to 8-0.

Not pretty, but good.

As the season starts to wind down, things start to heat up in the conference race...

Indiana Hoosiers (4-4) (1-3) at Iowa Hawkeyes (8-0) (4-0) 12:00 ESPN

Thanks to a strong showing in the BCS computer rankings, the Hawkeyes have moved up to No. 4 in the latest BCS rankings. A big win against a struggling Hoosier team may be what is needed to finally vault them into the top three.

After needing a last second touchdown to put away pesky Michigan State, Iowa will have no such problem with Hoosier quarterback Ben Chappell and the sputtering Indiana offense.

Iowa's stout farm boys on the o-line will keep Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton out of the Iowa backfield and give Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi time to light up a questionable secondary.

Hoosiers: 7, Hawkeyes: 27

New Mexico State Aggies (3-5) (1-3) at No. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2) (4-1) 12:00 BTN

The Aggies of New Mexico State have not had the greatest of seasons, and this weekend things will only get worse.

Fresh off of a whooping of Minnesota where they put up over 500 yards of offense, Ohio State will look to keep things rolling this week against a non-conference opponent.

The Aggies will be taken to the woodshed and whipped like a redheaded stepchild, but OSU credibility will go down yet again if they don't win by about 30 points.

Aggies: 10, Buckeyes: 34

Purdue Boilermakers (3-5) (2-2) at Wisconsin Badgers (5-2) (2-2) 12:00 ESPN2

Wisconsin is coming back after a bye week in which they fell out of the BCS rankings.

Purdue is still trying to remain high after their big upset of Ohio State.

Wisconsin will have to get big John Clay rolling early against one of the worst run defenses in the Big Ten, and quarterback Scott Tolzien will have to limit mistakes to win this one.

Purdue has turned the ball over more than any other Big Ten team this season, so watch for Badgers defensive end O'Brien Schofield to cause some problems and force bad throws from Purdue quarterback Joey Elliot.

Purdue will be flat after overachieving last week, and Brett Bielema will use the bye week to get the Badgers ready for this one...

Boilers: 21, Badgers: 35

Michigan Wolverines (5-3) (1-3) at Illinois Fighting Illini (1-6) (0-5) 3:30 ABC

A game against surprising Big Ten doormat is just what the doctor ordered for Michigan.

Tate "Wonderboy" Forcier will have a huge day against a very suspect Illini defense, and Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor will combine for at least 250 yards rushing.

Illinois, get some help...

Wolverines: 42, Illini: 17

No. 12 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1) (3-1) at Northwestern Wildcats (5-3) (2-2) 3:30 ESPN

This is an interesting match-up, but Penn State seems to be hitting their stride, especially after a convincing win last week over Michigan.

Northwestern's defense will really have to step it up to stop the balanced attack of PSU quarterback Clark and tailback Evan Royster.

Royster will try to keep pace with Wisconsin running back John Clay in this game for All-Conference running back.

Lions: 28, Wildcats: 14

Michigan State Spartans (4-4) (3-2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-4) (2-3)

Watch out Goldy!

Michigan State is on a roll...

After losing the game to Iowa last week, Michigan State will be out for blood. Hard hitting linebacker Greg Jones will be flying all over the field, and it will be a nightmare day for Adam Weber and the rest of the Minnesota offense, especially without sensational wide receiver Eric Decker.

Minnesota's secondary has been highly suspect at times, and Sparty quarterback Kirk Cousins will take advantage.

Sparty: 35, Goldy: 17

After the marquee match-ups of the past few weeks, this will be a slower week in the conference; but watch for Purdue, as they try to play spoiler to Wisconsin, and Iowa, as they try to remain unbeaten and improve to 9-0.