Big Ten Conference Play: Week One

After an unimpressive non-conference slate at the start of the 2008 season, the Big Ten kicks off conference play this weekend with five conference matchups.  The only team playing outside the conference this week is Purdue, who travels to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

You want to know what happens this weekend? Let's just go take a look...

Minnesota (4-0) at No. 14 Ohio State (3-1)

The Buckeyes have failed to impress this year, but they have also been playing without their biggest offensive weapon in Beanie Wells.  If Wells is fully healthy like Jim Tressel implies, then this one should go fairly easily in favor of Ohio State.

Minnesota has an improved defense but is yet to play a tough opponent.  Hold off on thinking the Gophers are fully back, as they will get more than they can handle in Terrelle Pryor and company this weekend.

Ohio State 31, Minnesota 10

Michigan State (3-1) at Indiana (2-1)

These two teams are coming off much different weekends as we look to Bloomington, Indiana.  The Spartans were able to get a win in front of a national TV audience a week ago as Javon Ringer introduced himself to the rest of the country outside the Midwest.

The Hoosiers, on the other hand, were blown out of their own stadium by in-state foe Ball State.  Indiana had trouble getting their offense going against the Cardinals and were limited to only one offensive touchdown while allowing 463 yards on defense.

Imagine what Michigan State will do if they have the same gameplan as a week ago.  Imagine is all you can do, as I expect to see Michigan State attempt to work on their struggling passing game.  That's the only thing that keeps the Hoosiers within shouting distance.

Michigan State 27, Indiana 14

Purdue (2-1) at Notre Dame (2-1)

In the only out of conference matchup this week, Purdue travels to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  A seeming "Must Have" for both teams, emotions should be running high.

Expect Purdue to try to cram the box early and force Notre Dame to throw the football.  Be careful what you ask for, Boilermaker fans: The wideouts are the strength of the Irish offense this year.

Kory Sheets is a solid back, but after seeing Javon Ringer a week ago, the Irish defense should be ready for him.  Jimmy Clausen has a coming-out party in this one...

Notre Dame 27, Purdue 21

Northwestern (4-0) at Iowa (3-1)

Northwestern enters unbeaten but yet to play a real opponent as well.  Iowa enters fresh off a defeat against Pitt in a game that very well could have gone either way.

Both of these teams' offenses have struggled.  C.J. Bacher of Northwestern is struggling to keep his interception total down, while in Iowa, Jake Christensen and Ricky Stanzi are working out their quarterback competition.

Give Iowa the edge on both sides of the ball with Tyrell Sutton likely not 100 percent for the Cats.  Northwestern's dream of a perfect season (I had to say it) ends here.

Iowa 17, Northwestern 7

No. 8 Wisconsin (3-0) at Michigan (1-2)

Michigan at the bottom of the Big Ten with a 1-2 overall record?  Nearly everyone knew the Wolverines would struggle coming into 2008, but to see it actually play out this way is still a bit surprising in a way.

Two weeks after embarrassing themselves against Notre Dame, Michigan welcomes the highest ranked team in the Big Ten, the Wisconsin Badgers, to the Big House.  When healthy, P.J. Hill is about as good of a running back as you'll find in the conference outside of East Lansing, but Michigan's strength this year has been run defense.

Michigan will do what it can to make Allan Evridge beat them, and this one will be closer than most expect, with Wisconsin just sneaking out with a win.

Wisconsin 17, Michigan 13

Big Ten Game of the Week

No. 22 Illinois (2-1) at No. 12 Penn State (4-0)

Penn State seems to be the most impressive team out of conference this year for the Big Ten, going a combined 4-0 while outscoring their opponents by an average of 52-10 so far this year.

If not for a few costly first half mistakes, Illinois might find themselves unbeaten instead of 2-1 so far this year, but the Illini failed to impress anyone against Eastern Illinois or La.-Lafayette.

Illinois had an extra week to prepare for this one, but with Penn State returning Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma to the defensive line, there will be depth for the biggest home game of 2008 for the Nittany Lions.

By no means will it be a runaway, but the Illini won't be able to hold Daryll Clark in check long enough to pull the upset in front of the White Out crowd.

Penn State 35, Illinois 24