Big Ten Week Preview: Week Five

It was a big week in Big Ten action last Saturday, as Michigan got back to good, Ohio State showed they’d never left, Wisconsin survived, Illinois thrived and Michigan State, well, they won too. What’s on tap for the last Saturday in September? Read on!

Last Week: 5-0

Season: 28-7

GAME OF THE WEEK

Michigan State (4-0) at Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) – Are the Badgers for real? They’ve got the nation’s longest winning streak but have been underwhelming all year, with squeaker wins against UNLV and Iowa to go with a shockingly porous defensive performance against the Citadel. The Spartans have been as good as anyone in East Lansing could have hoped at year’s start. The defense feasted on Notre Dame just like they should have, and is giving up only 15.50 points a game, good for 14^th nationally. Senior DL Jonal Saint-Dic is having a monster year, with 6 sacks, 8 TFL and 5 forced fumbles in just three games. The defense leads the nation in sacks, and that’s reason for hope, heading in to Madison, where the Badgers are giving up way more sacks (8 so far) than they should be. Tyler Donovan, the Badgers’ starting QB, has been efficient, but will have to be quick with his passes against this rush. MSU is going to be in this game late in to the fourth quarter, but I think Wisconsin survives by putting it all on PJ Hill and letting him make his Heisman case. Wisconsin 19, Michigan State 16.

BEST OF THE REST

Indiana (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) at Iowa (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) – Two teams licking their wounds dance in Iowa City in a rematch of last year’s Hoosier victory in Bloomington. Indiana disappointed me with a gag-erific four-fumble performance against the Illini last week. Did Illinois write the book on beating the Hoosiers? Lewis got his passes in, but wasn’t allowed to do much running, getting just 35 net yards on the ground. Iowa, on the other hand, is signing up players off the street and getting them in the two-deeps at wideout. Four Iowa receivers appear to be out for the year with injuries/suspensions, and that’s the last thing Jake Christensen needs at this stage in his development. Last week I tried paging Albert Young, who I’m becoming more and more convinced is suffering from some hush-hush injury. This week, I’ll try Damien Sims, the very talented back up who spelled Young many times last year. Both these teams are at a crossroads; if Iowa loses, it’ll be 2-4 when Illinois comes to town. If Indiana loses, all the promise of the 3-0 start is gone, and its back to trying to grind out a minor bowl bid. Most homefields are worth 3 points. Kinnick Stadium is worth 7. Iowa 20, Indiana 13.

HO HUM

Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) at Minnesota (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten) I’m telling you right now, as long as the Gophers are averaging 20 points a game during the fourth quarter and OT, they’ll never be in the “boooooring” category. Amir Pinnix is an underrated back, at 110 yards per game, and QB Adam Weber has run well along with backup RB Duane Bennett. Weber seemed to make some strides last week, throwing less dangerous passes and cutting his INT output to 1, instead of the 4 he chucked against Florida Atlantic. The defense still has an awful case of the Triple Digits, at 106^th or worse nationally in yards, points, punting, pass efficiency and sacks. What more can be said about Ohio State, who seems solid up and down the lineup as usual. The Bucks have lost only 1 in their last 24 games, and this is just the kind of reckless squad that Tressel’s Troops will feast on. Ohio State 45, Minnesota 20.

Notre Dame (0-4) at Purdue (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) – So, sue me, I lost interest in this whole “Notre Dame Stinks” story awhile ago. Yet, there’s something kind of intriguing about Cowboy Tiller getting Charlie Tuna in his house in west Indiana, as the Boilers get a chance to avenge abuse that goes back a lot farther than last year’s defeat. Curtis Painter’s TD-INT mark is 16-1, and Dorien Bryant has gone over 12 catches and 111 yards twice so far. To top that off, the offensive line has allowed just 2 sacks in 171 pass attempts, a truly astonishing number. ND will score another offensive touchdown (maybe two), but blood is going to be in the air at Ross-Ade, and Purdue won’t disappoint. Purdue 45, Notre Dame14.

Boooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring

Michigan (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten) at Northwestern (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) – Now that Michigan is back on the horse, they’ve suddenly become very not interesting again. Two weeks ago, this one looked great on paper – the ‘Cats were 2-0, Michigan was 0-2, and could it really happen at Ryan Field? Now, the Michigan D is playing like a showstopper and the Wildcats are just trying to figure out which loss was more embarrassing – dropping to Duke at home or getting demolished in Columbus. The Wildcat line play has been ugly, with 12 sacks given up and just 3 recorded, while the running game is still searching for an identity, especially now with Tyrell Sutton likely on the fritz. Mike Hart wins a few more Heisman voters over, and Michigan takes one step closer to redemption. Michigan 40, Northwestern 12.