Griffiths: Week 9 Big Ten Picks
By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Assistant Editor
Another relatively light schedule in the Big Ten this week greets us.
Four teams will enjoy bye weeks – Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Wisconsin – while the four conference games on the slate aren’t really overly exciting.
Both the Legends Division leaders, Nebraska and Michigan State, are in action, but how much they’ll get tested is up for debate.
Road trips are on tap for the Cornhuskers and Spartans, but both will face teams with losing conference records in Minnesota and Illinois, respectively.
In other action, Ohio State puts the nation’s longest active winning streak (19) on the line as it hosts Penn State. Meanwhile, Northwestern will look to snap a three-game losing streak as it heads to Iowa.
Speaking of losing, I suffered plenty of setbacks a week ago.
I had a pathetic week, going a miserable 7-8 picking games (4-1 in Big Ten action).
Now my season record stands at 93-27 (78 percent).
What do you say lets turn the page and get to Saturday’s Big Ten action? Per usual IndySportsLegends helps you decide which conference contests you’ll want to keep an eye on and which ones aren’t DVR worthy.
We also give you some games around the country you’ll want to closely follow.
Big Ten Game-Of-The-Week
• Penn State (4-2 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten) @ #4 Ohio State (7-0, 3-0)
Saturday
8 p.m.
ABC
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium 102,329)
Can Penn State hang with Ohio State in the ‘Shoe? Why not? Iowa did last week. With that said, it’s hard to see how the Nittany Lions score enough to beat the Buckeyes and actually don’t be surprised if freshman QB Christian Hackenberg really struggles like he did against IU, Penn State’s only true road game to date. The Buckeyes are just too good for this Nittany Lion team to upset them. O-H-I-O wins again, 38-13.
Must-See TV
NONE
May Be Worth A Look-see
• Michigan State (6-1 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten) @ Illinois (3-3, 0-2)
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
ABC/ESPN2
Champaign, Ill. (Memorial Stadium 60,670)
Boy the Spartans were less than impressive in a 14-0 home win last week over Purdue as many of their offensive issues came to the surface yet again. Illinois won’t face the kind of offense it has the last two times out when Nebraska and Wisconsin combined to score 95 points against it. The problem for the Illini is they don’t run the ball very well and you have to wonder if they can score against a defense that ranks fourth nationally in points allowed (13.6). MSU won at Iowa a few weeks back and will get another Big Ten road win in Champaign. It won’t be pretty, but the Spartans will prevail, 14-10.
• #25 Nebraska (5-1 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten) @ Minnesota (5-2, 1-2)
Saturday
Noon
ESPN
Minneapolis, Minn. (TCF Bank Stadium 52,500)
This one is easy to break down. It really comes down to whether the Gophers can successfully run the football against Nebraska. If they can, they just might make a game of it. If they can’t this one could be over, early. Minnesota doesn’t have the kind of high-powered offense, especially through the air, to win a scoring fest against Nebraska. What the Gophers have to hope for is their ball-control offense keeps the Huskers’ high-potent offense on the sideline. Expect the visitors’ O to just be too much for the Maroon and Gold to handle. Huskers win going away, 33-16.
• Northwestern (4-3 overall, 0-3 in the Big Ten) @ Iowa (4-3, 1-2)
Saturday
Noon
BTN
Iowa City, Iowa (Kinnick Stadium 70,585)
The Wildcats come to Iowa City reeling. What looked to be such a promising season has gone south in a hurry. What’s really concerning about Pat Fitzgerald’s club is how disinterested it looked against Minnesota last week in its home loss. Another effort like that will result in yet another loss for the team in purple. Iowa surprised many by hanging with Ohio State in Columbus. The Hawkeyes’ defense is better than Northwestern’s and their not nearly as dinged up. Go with the home team here, Hawks 27-20.
Big-Time Blowouts
NONE
Country Classics?
#12 UCLA (5-1, 2-1) @ #2 Oregon (7-0, 4-0) (7 p.m. ESPN): Bruin quarterback Brett Hundley looks to bounce back after a sub-par performance last week. The problem for Hundley is his UCLA team has lots of issues in front of him along the offensive line due to injuries. That’s not a good thing, especially when you’re playing in Eugene. Ducks, 42-20.
#20 South Carolina (5-2, 3-2) @ #5 Missouri (7-0, 3-0) (7 p.m. ESPN): Who believes in the Tigers now? All they’ve done is beat Georgia and Florida this year. If Missouri wins this one, they’ll be in the driver’s seat to be the SEC East representative in the SEC Championship Game. Let the partying begin in Columbia. Tigers 28-21.
#10 Texas Tech (7-0, 4-0) @ #17 Oklahoma (6-1, 3-1) (3:30 p.m. FOX): The Red Raiders pass-happy offense (No. 2 in the nation, averaging 416.4 yards per game) invades Norman in what will be their toughest test of the season. Don’t look for the Sooners to lay another egg like they did a couple weeks ago against Texas, especially at home. Sooners win an entertaining game, 35-31.
Texas (4-2, 3-0) @ TCU (3-4, 1-3) (7:30 p.m. FOX Sports): The Longhorns have gotten their act together and are playing like most thought they would when the season started. As a result, Mack Brown’s seat isn’t nearly as hot. Texas needs this one to keep pace with Baylor and Texas Tech. However, the Longhorns better beware, they’re facing a team that has yet to lose to an unranked team (Horned Frogs’ three losses are to LSU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State … all were decided by 14 points or less). I like the upset, TCU 28-27.
#8 Stanford (6-1, 4-1) @ Oregon State (6-1, 4-0) (10:30 p.m. ESPN): The Cardinal got back on track last week by beating UCLA. Now they go on the road in what will be a very big game in terms of the Pac-12 North race, especially when you consider Stanford hosts Oregon next. This could be a tough one when you consider the Beavers are great through the air (No. 1, averaging 442.1 yards per game) with QB Sean Mannion (the nation’s leading passer) and in putting points on the board (No. 9, 44.1). Don’t count on Stanford slipping up. Stanford wins 31-27.
Bonus Picks:
Notre Dame 28, Air Force 14
Navy 24, Pittsburgh 21
#9 Clemson 38, Maryland 20
#18 Louisville 40, South Florida 21
#15 Fresno State 42, San Diego State 35
(All times ET)
