Big Ten Football Preview: Week 8

Michigan is off this week, and for Michigan fans a weekend without a Big Ten loss is a good one.

There are some good games this weekend and one that might determine the Big Ten champion.

There is also a game with a very interesting line. Any upsets?

So let's get on with the show...

Big Ten Game of the Week

Wisconsin at Iowa

Clearly the Big Ten game of the week. Iowa comes in after a win in Ann Arbor where they gave up over 500 yards of offense to the Wolverines, and Wisconsin had a win over someone like the No. 1 team in the nation or the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Could the Big Ten title be on the line in this one? It might. Wisky can’t afford a loss, and Iowa still hosts the Buckeyes and Spartans.

Wisconsin will try to run the football into the strength of the Iowa defense. Whichever team flinches first will win. Iowa is favored by 5.5 points. Wisconsin struggles on the road for some reason. Iowa 21 Wisconsin 20.

Michigan State at Northwestern

Someone alert the media: The Spartans are undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the country. I thought basketball practice just started; I didn’t realize they were playing Big Ten games already. I really think State’s guard play will be the key to victory in this one.

Sorry, this is football. State comes in with wins over Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois already, and they don’t play Ohio State this year. They have Iowa next week. This is the definition of a trap game. MSU historically has struggled against Northwestern for some reason. Vegas has State only favored by five.

Upset Special of the Week: NW 27 MSU 21.

Purdue at Ohio State

Purdue has more starters on the IR list then they do on the field, but that hasn’t kept them from winning lately. I’m not sure how they are doing it these days, but the backups are playing very well.

Purdue upset Terrelle Pryor and Company the last time they met, but this game is in C-Bus, where there will be many points scored by the Buckeyes. It will be a payback game after last year and last week. Ohio State is a 23.5-point favorite. OSU 42 Purdue 14.

Penn State at Minnesota

Could both of these teams be looking for a new head coach at the end of the year? Minnesota will be for sure and has already started the process. Mike Leach would like it. Which is okay, if you lock all your closets and don’t give Mike the keys.

Both of these teams are struggling. Penn State has dropped two in a row in the Big Ten, and Minnesota only has one win this year. Penn State will get back their winning ways before Michigan comes to town to play a night game. JoePa is favored by 9.5. Penn State 28 Minnesota 10.

Indiana at Illinois

At first glance, this line is very strange to me. Vegas seems to be buying Ron Zook and Company, who played pretty well the last three weeks against OSU, PSU and MSU. IU, on the other hand, started the year 4-0 and lost to Michigan at home before getting killed at Ohio State and playing an FCS opponent close.

Still, IU can score points, even though they can’t stop anyone on defense. Illinois' offense has struggled when they get close to the goal line, which should be interesting.

Is this a sucker bet? Illinois is favored by almost two touchdowns at 13.5 points. That really doesn’t make sense to me. I fully understand that Indiana is on their regular Big Ten downturn, but they still can score points! Indiana 31 Illinois 27.