Big Ten Football Preview, Week 12: Can Michigan State Keep BCS Hopes Alive?

With the holiday on Thursday, I know your week wouldn't be the same without my Big Ten weekend preview.

So I will bring it to you a day early, and you can rest easy on Thursday and enjoy your turkey.

Big Ten Game of the Week

Michigan State at Penn State

Michigan State fans this week have become Wolverine fans for just one week. They want Michigan to upset the Buckeyes so they can go to the Rose Bowl, which is funny on a number of levels: 1. Michigan State almost lost to Purdue last week. 2. Ohio State is a 17-point favorite. 3. MSU hasn't played well on the road since its victory in Ann Arbor.   Sparty, take care of business on Saturday and then see what happens.

I would actually like to see Saban Bowl 2 in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day, Alabama vs. MSU, rather than watch State get blown out in the Rose Bowl by TCU or Stanford.

JoePa announced last night he is not ready to move to Florida and is coming back for another year, which will get the Penn State fans pumped up. Beaver Stadium will be full of fans wanting nothing more then to ruin Sparty's co-Big Ten championships hopes in Happy Valley. BTW: This rivalry that the Big Ten forced on us never did play out.

Penn State started to find its feet before they started throwing "picks" in the second half against Ohio State. MSU, on the other hand, has struggled to win games against lesser opponents. JoePa is a two-point dog at home. It won't be that close. Penn State 28 MSU 14.

Indiana at Purdue

Wow, this is not a good game. IU hasn't had a Big Ten win this year, and Purdue, despite playing well last week in East Lansing, is on a five-game losing streak. I know this is one of the rivalries that the Big Ten wanted to protect; are they sure they want to do that?

Purdue is favored by three at home. This game has a coach with a mustache vs. a coach that throws his gum. Stache wins: Purdue 17 IU 10.

Iowa at Minnesota

Iowa has had a disappointing year. The schedule set up for them, they won their toughest conference road game in Ann Arbor and they still will end up 8-4 this year. Iowa clearly had a chance to run the table in the Big Ten and didn't.

Minnesota, on the other hand, also had a chance to run the table in the Big Ten, but they only beat Illinois two weeks ago. The Golden Gophers just want the season to end so they can continue their coaching search. The Hawkeyes just want to book their travel to the Outback Bowl. Iowa is a 14.5-point favorite. Iowa 42 Minnesota 10.

Northwestern at Wisconsin

This would be a game if Northwestern had its QB. They don't, so it won't. I'm guessing the Badgers start off slow in this game as they start thinking about the Rose Bowl but pull away for a comfortable win in the second half. Wisky is favored by 23 points. Wisconsin 41 Northwestern 28.

Illinois is off this week and travels to Fresno State next week.

I will preview the game in Columbus on Friday.