Big Ten Football '09: Week 12 Preview

The Big Ten can make the case for being the most exciting conference in college football.

Every team in the conference still had the potential to be bowl eligible going into last week's games.

Ohio State and Iowa lived up to it's billing as "the Clash of the Titans," being decided on a field goal in overtime. As long as Ohio State wins out, they've clinched a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Penn State and Wisconsin continued to roll, and Indiana, Purdue and Michigan were knocked from bowl contention.

This week several teams are jockeying for bowl position, rather than eligibility.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5), (3-4) @ No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2), (5-2) 12:00 ESPN

The Gophers should not even be bowl eligible. I don't think a win over a team named the Jackrabbits should qualify, but I don't have a say in the matter.

Iowa will have a hard time getting up for this game, and it will be closer than expected.

Gophers 20, Hawkeyes 24

No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-2), (6-1) @ Michigan Wolverines (5-6), (1-6) 12:00 ABC

While Ohio State was winning last week, Michigan was getting pasted by the Wisconsin Badgers, 45-24.

Ohio State's announcers summed it all up last week, when after Devin Barclay kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime, the first thing they said was "What a good start to Michigan Week."

Look out Wolverines.

Buckeyes 41, Wolverines 17

No. 14 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2), (5-2) @ Michigan State Spartans (6-5), (4-3) 3:30 ABC

Michigan State will try to boost their bowl status by upsetting JoePa's squad, but it won't happen.

Penn State running back Evan Royster will run all over the MSU defense, and the PSU defense will force at least three turnovers.

Sparty and the Lion will be involved in a knock-down-drag-out that will include at least three cheerleaders and two members of the PSU coaching staff...

PSU 35, MSU 21

Purdue Boilermakers (4-7), (3-4) @ Indiana Hoosiers (4-7), (1-6) 3:30 Big Ten Network (BTN)

This game is basically an exercise in futility. Neither one of these teams is going to a bowl game, and both of them have been just giving games to their opponents all season long.

If there is a way for both of them to lose, they will figure it out.

Boilers 34, Hoosiers 33

No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers (8-2), (5-2) @ Northwestern Wildcats (7-4), (4-3) 3:30 BTN

This may be the most interesting game of the week. Northwestern has won two straight games in which they were the underdog, and Wisconsin plays very miserable football in Evanston.

The Badgers have only suffered losses to OSU and Iowa, and are looking to finish with a 10 win season, and an outside shot at a BCS bowl, while Northwestern is looking to make it's bowl-stock rise with a victory over a solid Wisconsin team.

The Wildcats have veteran quarterback Mike Kafka who should pose some problems for the Badgers secondary, but will most likely make a costly turnover or two.

If Kafka and the 'Cats can avoid those mistakes, there will be an upset brewing on Saturday afternoon in Evanston.

Badgers 31, Wildcats 30

Bye Week: Illinois Fighting Illini

The Wisconsin Badgers John Clay has established himself as the front runner for offensive POY honors in the Big Ten, and the All-Conference team and other Conference awards will be announced in the upcoming week.