College Football 2011: 14 Weeks of Big Ten Road Games I'd Like To Attend

If I had a credit card with an impossibly high credit limit and someone to pay my salary for 14 weeks, I would attend a Big Ten game every week leading up to the championship game in Indianapolis on December 3rd.

Last century I covered Michigan State and Michigan games because it was an easy commute from western Wayne County. University of Michigan Stadium is approximately 25 miles away and Spartan Stadium is 70 miles away from my house.

Now, through the power of imagination, I am traveling back and forth across the country to witness some of the most competitive college football games in 2011. Let me know what you think of my selections.

Week 1, September 3: Northwestern Wildcats at Boston College

Boston is great in the fall and the Wildcats and the Eagles are evenly matched teams.

Northwestern has the better quarterback in Dan Persa, who is one of the preseason favorites for Big Ten Player of the Year. Boston College is expected to rely on running backs Montel Harris and Andre Williams, though sophomore quarterback Chase Rettig looks primed for a good year.

I'm leaning toward a BC loss in their home opener because the Eagles seem to start slowly every year and play much better in the second half of the season.

Alternate game: Minnesota at USC.

Week 2, September 10: Alabama CrimsonTide at Penn State Nittany Lions

I have cousins in Alabama and they are loyal Crimson Tide fans. It would be fun to watch their favorite team while visiting Happy Valley.

Alabama is listed as one of the Top Five teams in the nation, according to a number of preseason polls. Though they lost key contributors in Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Greg McElroy, head coach Nick Saban knows how to recruit talent on an annual basis.

Penn State is trying to settle the starting quarterback debate, though they've been projected as a possible top 25 candidate in preseason polls. Sorry, Joe Pa, my cousins are right. It will be a "Roll Tide" sort of game.

Alternate game: Notre Dame at Michigan.

(If both games overlap, I will DVR one of them.)

Week 3, September 17: Ohio State Buckeyes at the University of Miami Hurricanes

This game could determine which team gets to insert "The" in front of their college's name.

I may have to go to South Beach and get some sun to figure out the winner of this game. Can the Ohio State University Buckeyes deal with all the preseason issues they've faced and beat the University of Miami Hurricanes and their new head coach Al Golden?

The Buckeyes start the season with key players serving a five-game suspension, a new (interim?) head coach and a new quarterback. Golden was able to turn the Temple football program around and is expected to do the same at Miami.

The play of the Ohio State defense could be the key to this game, but I like Golden's chances of getting the Hurricanes a home victory over a highly rated team.

Alternate game: Michigan State at Notre Dame.

(If both games overlap, I will DVR one of them.)

Week 4, September 24: Central Michigan Chippewas at Michigan State Spartans

It's time to return to my collegiate roots in East Lansing and cheer the Green and White to victory.

This is the type of contest that is often called a "trap game." It's where the superior team lacks the proper amount of respect for their opponent and gets beaten. It won't happen to Michigan State, right?

Travel back in time two years ago and you'll see that Central Michigan, led by senior quarterback Dan LeFevour, beat MSU 29-27 in Spartan Stadium. Expect one of the Michigan State coaches to post the stories about that upset where every player can see them.

Though Game 4 for the Spartans is a bit unsettling for me every year, I expect the running trio of Edwin Baker, Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper to lead MSU to victory.

Alternate game: Colorado at Ohio State.

Week 5, October 1: (Tie) Nebraska at Wisconsin and MSU at Ohio State

When the four best teams in the Big Team square off against each other, it's impossible to select one game over another.

Nebraska travels to Camp Randall Stadium to face Wisconsin in what could be round one of a two-round battle for the Big Ten title. Both teams will feature stellar defenses and potent offenses. Factor in Cornhusker quarterback Taylor Martinez and Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson and you have "must see" college football TV.

I like the Badgers at home, but expect the rematch to go to Nebraska in December in Indianapolis.

Can the Ohio State Buckeyes, depleted by the suspension of key players, out muscle the visiting Michigan State Spartans who are focused on winning the Big Ten crown for the second year in a row?

My simple formula is if MSU beats Notre Dame in Week 3, they can win in the Horseshoe in Columbus. The efficiency (or lack thereof) of the Buckeyes offense could be the difference maker. I believe that senior Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins will lead his team to a road victory.

Hopefully I won't get "egged" by my friends in Columbus when I arrive to watch the game.

Alternate game: Northwestern at Illinois.

Week 6, October 8: Ohio State Buckeyes at Nebraska Cornhuskers

I want to extend my sympathy to Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell for having to travel to Nebraska and face the Cornhuskers a week after playing Big Ten contender Michigan State at home.

Nebraska's defense is brutal compared to the Spartan's revamped defense. Ohio State's suspended players will return to action, but can their team contend with the constant pounding on both sides of the line?

It also seems unlikely for an experienced Big Ten contender like the Cornhuskers to lose two conference games in a row. I wouldn't want to face Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini if they lose to the Buckeyes.

I'll probably eat some of Nebraska's favorite vegetable and figure out if OSU is going to lose three or more Big Ten games this year.

Alternate game: Iowa at Penn State.

Week 7, October 15: Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans

This is the most intriguing game between cross-state rivals on the Big Ten schedule.

Michigan's electrifying quarterback, Denard Robinson, faces off against a revamped Spartan defense. Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins leads a balanced attack that may lean more on the running of Edwin Baker, Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper.

As I sit somewhere in the north half of the stadium, I'll be witnessing one of the most unpredictable games of the season. Will the Michigan team play more disciplined football under new head coach Brady Hoke and avoid costly turnovers? Or will the Spartan defense find a way to contain Robinson?

Somehow I see the Spartans using versatile Keshawn Martin to snare a victory at home.

Alternate game: Purdue at Penn State.

Week 8, October 22: Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan State Spartans

Rather than come home the week of October 9th, I should just find accommodations for October 8-15, since I will be in East Lansing to watch the Spartans play their second consecutive critical game.

One word: Defense. The Badgers have a great one and the Spartans are trying to rebuild theirs. Last year's game was extremely close and if not for some mistakes by the Badgers, Wisconsin would have left Spartan Stadium with a win in 2010.

It seems unlikely that the Spartans can beat Wisconsin two years in a row at home. You'll see four of the best running backs in the Big Ten in MSU's Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell and Wisconsin's James White and Montee Ball.

Ultimately,  it will be Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema's ability to win Big Ten games that will be the difference.

Alternate game: Illinois at Purdue.

Week 9, October 29: (Tie) Michigan State at Nebraska and Wisconsin at Ohio State

It's deja vu. We previewed these four teams for Week 5 and now they change opponents in Week 9.

This weekend will be more important because division rivals will be facing each other in each game. The Spartans travel to Lincoln to settle who the best team is in the Legends Division and the Badgers head for Columbus to determine the best team in the Leaders Division.

Michigan State will leave Nebraska feeling like they've been "husked" and won't make it to the Big Ten Championship game. Wisconsin will be feeding off a road victory over the Spartans and beat the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe.

Alternate game: Any other conference game, because Halloween weekend features some solid contests.

Week 10, November 5: Michigan Wolverines at Iowa Hawkeyes

Michigan and Iowa may be the two surprise teams in the Legends Division.

I can see myself sitting in Kinnick Stadium wondering how the Hawkeyes sailed through nine weeks of their schedule without playing Ohio State and Wisconsin. It just doesn't seem fair.

Meanwhile, if the Wolverines can beat Northwestern, Michigan State and Purdue, they could be primed for an upset victory over the Hawkeyes. Imagine Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson running wild against the Iowa defense.

Sorry, I don't see it happening. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz gets his best performances from his team at home, so the Hawkeyes should win and get ready for another home game against Michigan State on the 12th.

Alternate game: Northwestern at Nebraska.

Week 11, November 12: Michigan State Spartans at Iowa Hawkeyes

I suspect Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio will post "October 30, 2010" where every player can see it in preparation for this game.

The Iowa Hawkeyes humiliated the undefeated 2010 version of the Spartans, 37-6, in Kinnick Stadium on that day. Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw three touchdown passes and Michigan State was down 30-0 at halftime.

The loss cost the Spartans the sole ownership of the Big Ten title. They ended up sharing it with Wisconsin.

If revenge is a key motivator and if the Spartans are still in the hunt for the Legends Division crown, they must leave Iowa with a victory. I am hoping that two weekends in Iowa City will be time well spent.

Alternate game: Nebraska at Penn State.

Week 12, November 19: Nebraska Cornhuskers at Michigan Wolverines

If Michigan wants to do cross-state rival Michigan State a favor, they should beat Nebraska at home.

I can imagine the smile on my face as Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini yells at his players for their failure to contain Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson. It would quickly become my favorite trip to Ann Arbor.

Though I want it to happen, I seriously doubt that Nebraska is going to underestimate Michigan in the Cornhuskers' quest for the Big Ten title. It will probably be a close game, but the Wolverines will make a mistake that costs them the victory.

Alternate game: Penn State at Ohio State.

Week 13, November 26: Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines

To quote the song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof: "Tradition. Tradition!"

Ohio State versus Michigan is the "Clash of the Titans," the "Royal Rumble" of football—and college football's greatest rivalry. It may not have luster to outsiders, but to the Michigan-born and bred it is "THE game."

One of my fondest memories was being a film runner during a Ohio State-Michigan game in Ann Arbor. Before there were digital cameras, a young person would have to take a photographer's roll of film and run it up to the press box to be developed in a stadium darkroom. I always checked the newspaper the next day to see which pictures were selected for publication.

I will never forget standing on the sidelines watching Michigan beat Ohio State. Can the Wolverines do it this year? Yep, because this is my sentimental upset special.

Alternate game: Penn State at Wisconsin.

Week 14, December 3: Nebraska and Wisconsin Battle for Big Ten Title

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini has it right in the slide picture. His Cornhuskers come out of the championship game in Indianapolis as the No. 1 team in the Big Ten.

The three factors that will work in Nebraska's favor: a better defense, Taylor Martinez and a neutral game site.

The Nebraska defense is flat-out awesome and will find a way to contain Wisconsin's dual running threat of James White and Montee Ball. Taylor Martinez will do a better job of navigating the Cornhusker offense than Russell Wilson will do with the Badger offense.

The neutral game site favors Nebraska—you just don't beat Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium. Martinez and his teammates will actually be able to hear the plays being called during the championship game.

I always enjoy Indianapolis. It's a great city to wrap up the 2011 Big Ten football season.