Griffiths: Big Ten Picks – Week #13
By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Assistant Editor
There are two weeks remaining in the regular season, but both Big Ten division races can be wrapped up on Saturday.
That’s the scenario that both Ohio State and Michigan State hope unfolds as the Buckeyes and Spartans are just one win away from punching their tickets to Indianapolis, the site of the Big Ten championship game.
Minnesota would love nothing better than to prolong the Legends race, but it will need some help from Northwestern. If the ‘Cats upset the Spartans and the Golden Gophers knock off visiting Wisconsin, that would set up a huge showdown next week in East Lansing, Mich. between Minnesota and Michigan State.
The probability of Ohio State wrapping things up this week is very strong. After all, the Buckeyes haven’t lost a game under Urban Meyer and they entertain one of the worst defenses in the country in Indiana on Saturday.
Speaking of the worst, the league’s two worst teams meet in West Lafayette, Ind. as Purdue hosts Illinois in a game that is a must-win for Tim Beckman if he wants to continue leading the Illini program.
As for me, I bounced back last week to post an 11-4 mark to improve my season total to 134-46 (74.4 percent).
Following IndySportsLegends.com helps you decide which conference contests you’ll want to keep an eye on and which ones aren’t DVR worthy on Saturday.
We also give you some games around the country you’ll want to closely follow.
Big Ten Game-Of-The-Week
• No. 16 Wisconsin (8-2, 5-1) @ Minnesota (8-2, 4-2)
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
ESPN
Minneapolis, Minn. (TCF Bank Stadium 52,500)
This game could live up to the hype that a game featuring a pair of 8-2 teams may suggest. However, I say don’t count on it. Wisconsin is playing great football. Minnesota has been the surprise team in the Big Ten this season, but it isn’t playing at the level the Badgers are, especially on both sides of the ball. Expect UW to have its way on offense as that side of the ball should dominate. James White and Co. will have another huge day on the ground. All Badgers, 38-14.
May Be Worth A Look-see
• Nebraska (7-3, 4-2) @ Penn State (6-4, 3-3)
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
Big Ten Network
University Park, Pa. (Beaver Stadium 106,572)
Neither one of these proud programs is ranked, but hey, it’s Nebraska and Penn State. The Nittany Lions have proven to be very tough to handle in Big Ten play in Happy Valley, while the Huskers might be feeling down after being eliminated from the Legends Division title race last week against Michigan State. The Huskers’ O-line is banged up so Ameer Abdullah might have difficultly finding much daylight. Go with the Lions, 31-24.
• Michigan (7-3, 3-3) @ Iowa (6-4, 3-3)
Saturday
Noon
BTN
Iowa City, Iowa (Kinnick Stadium 70,585)
The Hawkeyes are coming off a bye week, while the Wolverines were very fortunate to escape Northwestern with a victory. Things just aren’t right with this Michigan team and I expect Iowa to play with a lot more fire than the Maize and Blue. Go with the Hawks, mainly because their defense is better. Iowa, 17-14.
No. 13 Michigan State (9-1, 6-0) @ Northwestern (4-6, 0-6)
Saturday
Noon
ESPN
Evanston, Ill. (Ryan Field 47,130)
Michigan State can clinch a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten championship game with a victory on the far north side of the Windy City. The Spartans will face a team that has perfected the art of finding different ways to lose this season. Northwestern is as snakebitten as any in the country. The misery continues for Pat Fitzgerald’s bunch against a defense that’s second to none. It’s party time for MSU, 27-7.
Blowout City
Indiana (4-6, 2-4) @ No. 3 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0)
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
ABC/ESPN2
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium 102,329)
Wisconsin ran all over the Hoosiers and so too will Ohio State, which can clinch its first trip ever to the Big Ten championship game next month in Indianapolis. IU, on the other hand, will leave Columbus knowing that the high hopes it had for the 2013 season in terms of going to the postseason have vanished. All Braxton Miller, Carlos Hyde and O-H-I-O, 56-10.
Who Cares?
Illinois (3-7, 0-6) @ Purdue (1-9, 0-6)
Saturday
Noon
BTN
West Lafayette, Ind. (Ross-Ade Stadium 62,500)
Boy, is this a matchup of bad teams. Illinois hasn’t won a Big Ten game in forever and Purdue hasn’t defeated an FBS team since 2012. At least one of these teams knows it’s going to have a Big Ten win after Saturday. If the Illini don’t leave West Lafayette with a W, Beckman might get a pink slip on the return trip to Champaign. Beckman has no chance of returning to Illinois if his team doesn’t beat one of the worst teams in the country. The Illini certainly will finally win a Big Ten game, won’t they? I like Nathan Scheelhaase to lead Illinois to a victory, 28-17.
Country Classics?
No. 4 Baylor (9-0, 6-0) @ No. 9 Oklahoma State (9-1, 6-1) (8 p.m. ABC): The Bears have yet another opportunity to silence the critics with a victory in Stillwater. For all practical purposes, this one will decide the Big 12. Baylor is for real. Go with the Bears, 31-30.
No. 8 Missouri (9-1, 5-1) @ Ole Miss (7-3, 3-3) (7:45 p.m. ESPN): What a year Mizzou has had and it can get to where it wants to be – the Southeastern Conference title game – with a couple more wins. Since they only have a one-game lead in the SEC East, the Tigers don’t have much room for error, however. They’ll have to get by a very talented but young Ole Miss team, which is having a good season. Go with the Tigers here.
No. 22 Arizona State (8-2, 6-1) @ No. 14 UCLA (8-2, 5-2) (7 p.m. FOX): The Bruins need this one desperately if they want to play in the Pac-12 championship game. They could draw even with the Sun Devils in the South Division if they come out on top. Expect a good one in the Rose Bowl. UCLA prevails, 35-28.
No. 10 Texas A&M (8-2, 4-2) @ No. 19 LSU (7-3, 3-3) (3:30 p.m. CBS): You would have to dub the Tigers’ season a disappointment so far. A win over the visiting Aggies would help lessen some of the disappointment. It’s tough to win in Death Valley as Johnny Football and Co. will find out. LSU, 24-21.
BYU (7-3) @ Notre Dame (7-3) (3:30 p.m., NBC): Mother Nature could have an impact in South Bend as it will be cold and could be snowing. With that in mind, the Irish have the better running game so they’ll get win No. 8 … 20-14.
Bonus Picks:
Houston 33, Cincinnati 28
Pittsburgh 24, Syracuse 13
Maryland 17, Boston College 10
Tennessee 28, Vanderbilt 16
Arkansas 27, Mississippi State 24
(All times ET)
