College Football Predictions Week 3: Picking Every Big Ten Conference Game

My Record Last Week: 10-4 (9-3 Big Ten Conference Games) 

Overall 2011 Season Record: 23-5 (20-4 Big Ten)

Sept. 17: Eastern Michigan (2-0) at Michigan (2-0), 12:00 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network

Denard Robinson will throw the ball around and put together his best game of the season, while running back Fitzgerald Toussaint shreds Eastern Michigan's run-defense and rushes for close to 100 yards. 

The Wolverine defense forces at least three turnovers and Michigan wins big against former defensive coordinator Ron English and the Eagles. 

Pick: Michigan 

Sept. 17: Penn State (1-1) at Temple (2-0, 1-0 MAC), 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN

The Nittany Lions have a quarterback problem, but their running game should be good enough to bounce back from a tough loss last weekend. 

Penn State will struggle during the first quarter, and the game will be close until the fourth quarter. Running back Silas Redd will rack up another 100-yard game, and the defense wins the game for the Nittany Lions. 

Pick: Penn State

Sept. 17: Pittsburgh (2-0) at Iowa (1-1), 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Iowa suffered a demoralizing loss to in-state rival Iowa State last weekend and were gashed defensively, but do not expect to see the same thing this weekend against Pittsburgh. 

Hawkeyes quarterback James Vandenberg and wide receiver Marvin McNutt will have a big day after the Panthers were shredded for 334 passing yards by Maine of the FCS. Iowa bounces back as an underdog at home, but Pittsburgh running back Ray Graham still has a big game. 

Pick: Iowa

Sept. 17: Southeast Missouri State (0-1) at Purdue (1-1), 12:00 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network

Purdue has been inconsistent on offense, but should be good enough to notch a victory against Southeast Missouri State of the FCS. Look for Caleb TerBush to put together his best game yet and for the Boilermakers to score early and often. 

Pick: Purdue

Sept. 17: South Carolina State (1-1, 1-0 MEAC) at Indiana (0-2), 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network

Indiana has lost two close games and has not played well offensively in either of them.

The Hoosiers have chosen to stick with Edwin Wright-Baker at quarterback, but he will struggle again this Saturday and may eventually lose the starting job. The running game will come up big for Indiana and get them their first victory of the season. 

Pick: Indiana

Sept. 17: No. 15 Michigan State (2-0) at Notre Dame (0-2), 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Notre Dame has grasped defeat from the jaws of victory in their first two games of the season with 10 turnovers and a defensive lapse in the final 30 seconds against Michigan. 

Michigan State struggled in their opener against Youngstown State, but held Florida Atlantic to one first down and less than 50 yards last Saturday. 

Michigan State is the better team in this matchup and Kirk Cousins will have a big game, but it will not be enough to top the Fighting Irish in South Bend.

Notre Dame overcomes their turnover woes, and Tommy Rees shreds the Spartan secondary and will not throw an interception. 

Pick: Notre Dame

Sept. 17: Miami (OH) (0-1) at Minnesota (0-2), 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network

Minnesota struggled last weekend against New Mexico State, and Miami (OH) has had a week to prepare, but might not have enough offense to win the game on Saturday. 

The RedHawks only managed to score six points in their season-opener against Missouri, and Minnesota managed to hold Southern California to 19 points in Week 1. 

Look for a low-scoring affair and for the Golden Gophers to come out on top after a late fourth-quarter touchdown. 

Pick: Minnesota

Sept. 17: Washington (2-0) at No. 11 Nebraska (2-0), 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

The Cornhuskers faced off with Washington twice last season and looked like two different teams in those games. 

Nebraska routed Washington during the regular season, but struggled offensively in their bowl game against the Huskies and lost a defensive battle. 

Look for this game to look similar to last year's regular-season contest. Nebraska will score at least 35 points and will hold down the Huskies' offense in the second half for a two-touchdown victory. 

Pick: Nebraska

Sept. 17: Northwestern (2-0) at Army (0-2), 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Northwestern's senior quarterback Dan Persa is once again listed as questionable for this weekend's game, which means sophomore Kain Colter will likely be under center for the Wildcats against Army. 

Colter has played well and will continue to do so this Saturday. Sophomore running back Mike Trumpy will run all over the Army defense as well, and the Wildcats will pick up a dominant victory. 

Pick: Northwestern

Sept. 17: No. 7 Wisconsin (2-0) vs. Northern Illinois (1-1) at Soldier Field in Chicago, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3

There is not much analysis needed for this game.

Wisconsin is one of the best teams in the country, and the running back tandem of Monte Ball and James White will be too much for Northern Illinois to handle. Quarterback Russell Wilson will have a big game for the Badgers as well and lead them to another blowout victory. 

Pick: Wisconsin

Sept. 17: No. 22 Arizona State (2-0) at Illinois (2-0), 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network

Arizona State needed overtime to top Missouri last weekend, and Illinois has yet to be tested in their first two games of the season. 

The Sun Devils will be the overwhelming favorite to top Illinois this Saturday, but the Fighting Illini will hang tough and take the game down to the final drive. 

Pick: Arizona State

Sept. 17: No. 17 Ohio State (2-0) at Miami (Fla.) (0-1, 0-1 ACC), 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

With all of the turmoil this offseason for both Miami and Ohio State, this game might as well be called the "Cheater Bowl" or the "Scandal Bowl" sponsored by Nevin Shapiro and the Buckeye boosters. 

Ohio State is the much better team and will not struggle the same way they did against Toledo last weekend. The Buckeyes will win big this weekend, and quarterback Joe Bauserman will bounce back from a subpar performance last Saturday. 

Pick: Ohio State

Bonus Game

Sept. 17: Central Michigan (1-1) at Western Michigan (1-1), 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN GamePlan

The tailgating when Western Michigan and Central Michigan get together for their annual rivalry game is almost as intense as the actual game. Both teams boast 1-1 records heading into Saturday's matchup, but Western Michigan is the better team. 

Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder will have a field day on the Central Michigan defense and lead the Broncos to a victory over their arch-rival. 

Pick: Western Michigan

Game of the Week

Sept. 17: No. 1 Oklahoma (1-0) at No. 5 Florida State (2-0), 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC

This is the second time this season two Top-Five teams will face each other. Oklahoma currently sits atop the polls, and Florida State's E.J. Manuel has starred in his first season as the starting quarterback. 

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones will battle Manuel all game long, and this game will come down to which quarterback has the better game and makes the fewest mistakes. 

Home-field advantage will be too much for Oklahoma to overcome, and Florida State will make a field goal in the final seconds to seal an important victory and establish themselves as legitimate National Championship contenders. 

Pick: Florida State