Big Ten Football Week 13 Breakdown
This week marks the last week of Big Ten Conference play. We already know that Michigan State will be in the first annual championship game, but their opponent is still up in the air between Penn State and Wisconsin. These two teams clash head to head and the winner will advance to the championship, so the stakes could not get any higher. Michigan and Ohio State also face off in college football’s most intense rivalry. The final week certainly does not lack for excitement!
Lock of the Week: Illinois at Minnesota
Illinois continues to slide, but they looked better last week, at least for the first half. The Fighting Illini will absolutely want to end their losing streak before their bowl game, so beating Minnesota will be important to them. They will walk into a hostile environment but leave as victors. Watch for the Illinois offense to get back to business and put up big points against Minnesota.
Illinois 38 Minnesota 17
Upset Alert! Michigan State at Northwestern
The Spartans have already locked up their bid for the Big Ten Championship, so this game is basically a lame duck game. These games are classic trap games, as it will be difficult for them to not look past this essentially meaningless game against the Wildcats, to the winner for the Wisconsin versus Penn State game. Michigan State is an efficient team that always seems to find a way to win. Kirk Cousins, their senior quarterback, will be playing his final Big Ten regular season game, but still has two games left on the year to prove himself. Northwestern will be juiced for this game, as it is their last home game of the year. Senior Dan Persa will get this Wildcats team going and put points on the board. Northwestern is trying to end .500 in Big Ten play, and will take this game seriously. Regardless if Northwestern wins or not, they will give Michigan State a run for their money, at least for a good chunk of this game.
Game of the Week! Penn State at Wisconsin
The Badgers still would be perfect, and likely the number two team in the nation, if they had played their best football for two more plays this season. However, the Badgers did not, and find themselves in a must win game for a chance to compete in the Big Ten championship. The good news for the Badgers is they are home where it is difficult for any visiting team to win. The Badgers dismantled Nebraska earlier this season at home and are looking to pound the Nittany Lions as well. Penn State, on the other hand, is trying to win their second straight game amid all their well documented distractions. They will be ready to go for this epic clash, as going to the Big Ten championship game, which could result in a Rose Bowl bid, is at stake. Wisconsin will be led by Montee Ball, who still is a dark horse for the Heisman if the Badgers can win out. Ball has scored 25 rushing touchdowns and has tacked on five more receiving scores, giving him a total of 30. He is far and above any other running back for total touchdowns on the year. He will look to run wild behind the great Badgers offensive line and if the Badgers can get Ball going, they are very dangerous. Even if Penn State can hold Ball in check, the Badgers can turn to Russell Wilson, a talented dual threat quarterback, who can make any throw on the field. Nick Toon has really emerged as the Badgers best weapon and Wilson’s favorite target, as he has reeled in eight touchdowns. The Badgers average 44.8 points per game but have not played as talented of a defense as they are about to face Saturday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions have been winning because of their great defense, which only surrenders 13 points per game. This swarming defense is led by defensive back, Gerald Hodges, who is the team’s leading tackler and has totaled the most sacks as well. Hodges will need to continue to be all over the field against the Badgers. He will be very aggressive and try to make plays in the passing and running game. Hodges has forced two fumbles and has an interception on the year as well. He is the best player on this outstanding defense and he might force the Badgers to mix it up more than they want to, which tips the the game in favor of the Nittany Lions. However the biggest question to this game is, can the Nittany Lions score enough points to keep up with the blistering pace of the Badgers? The answer; NO. The Badgers might not hang a ton of points on the Lions, but it will be enough to get the victory, as Penn State’s offense will not be able to keep up.
Wisconsin 27 Penn State 17
Best of the Rest
Ohio State at Michigan
The Wolverines have not beaten Ohio State in the last seven years. That is a long drought and that type of drought against an arch-rival is the kind that loses you a job. Michigan and Ohio State have a ton of bad blood and this is the fiercest rivalry in sports. Brady Hoke is still in his first year as a head coach, and although he has had tremendous success so far, he can put a signature on his season with a victory over Ohio State. If Hoke is able to do this he will quickly become the “Michigan Man” that everyone is hoping he is. Entering the game, the Wolverines will boast a record of 9-2 overall, and 5-2 in the Big Ten. They also hold a national ranking of 15 and a stingy defense that only allows 15.6 points per contest. Ohio State enters play with a 6-5 overall record and 3-4 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have a talented defense of their own, giving up just 19 points per game. Both defenses will face a challenge as Ohio State has a potent rushing attack and Michigan can put up points in a flurry. The Ohio State rushing attack, which ranks 27th in the nation with just slightly over 200 rushing yards per game, has been the staple of their offensive attack. The attack is two pronged fused together by youth and experience. Freshman dual threat quarterback, Braxton Miller, is one part of their attack, rushing for six touchdowns and an average of 4.6 yards per carry. The other prong is senior Dan Herron, who is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has scored twice on the year. Miller has also made plays with his arm, throwing for nine touchdowns and 762 yards.
Ohio State will look to hit the Wolverines in the mouth and overpower them from the first whistle to the final whistle. That is much easier said than done, as Michigan has proved this is not the same defense it was a year ago. Michigan also has a great rushing attack that will look to abuse Ohio State. Their offense scores 33.6 points per game, good for 25th in the nation. Their ground game is their bread and butter, averaging 236.1 yards per contest. Their attack is very similar to Ohio States, as it relys both on a quarterback and a running back. Signal caller Denard Robinson is one of the most electric players in the nation and he displays his amazing athletic ability on a weekly basis. He has rushed for 14 touchdowns and averages 5.4 yards per carry. He is also just 53 yards shy of hitting the 1,000 yard mark on the season, so expect him to reach that in this game. His counterpoint is sophomore Fitzgerald Toussaint, who has seven touchdowns on the year. Toussaint also averages an impressive 5.7 yards per carry. This game will feature a heavy dose of running, as both teams try to get their athletic quarterbacks in space and pound the ball with their running backs. As the game drags on, whichever defense can hold on the longest will be able to declare themselves the winner. The Wolverines will pound the ball down the throats of the Buckeyes, especially in the fourth quarter, and beat Ohio State for the first time since they knocked off the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor back in 2003.
Michigan 31 Ohio State 21
Iowa at Nebraska
The Cornhuskers are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Wolverines, but still hold an 8-3 overall record despite being 4-3 in Big Ten play. Iowa, on the other hand, is 7-4 overall but holds an identical 4-3 record in conference play. Nebraska is looking to end their final regular season Big Ten game with a bang, but so are the Hawkeyes. The Cornhuskers rushing attack has given opponents fits all year, averaging 224.1 yards per game. Iowa has been balanced and scores an average of 30.6 points per game. Both defensive units are struggling so far this year, so this game has the makings of a track meet. Offensively, Nebraska leans on quarterback Taylor Martinez to be their catalyst and Iowa runs their offense through signal caller James Vandenburg. Martinez is a dual threat player, rushing for 817 yards to go along with nine scores and adding 1,810 yards with his arm. Vandenburg is a pure passer, completing 60.9 percent of his passes for 2,624 yards and 23 touchdowns. Which quarterback will be more effective and make fewer mistakes will be the difference of his game. However, Nebraska’s running back, junior Rex Burkhead, will have a big game and add a few scores to his current 14 on the year and lead the Cornhuskers to victory.
Nebraska 35 Iowa 24
Purdue at Indiana
The Boilermakers have a record of 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten. This is a big game for them as they can get to .500 in both columns with a “W”. Indiana has been the bottom feeder of the Big Ten, unable to win a game in seven attempts. Overall they have one win in their ten tries. Purdue will look to pound the ball against Indiana with a pair of junior running backs, Ralph Bolden and Akeem Shavers. Together they have 990 yards with 11 touchdowns. Indiana has gotten great production out of sophomore running back Stephen Houston, who has 673 yards and seven touchdowns on the year. However, the Hoosiers defense could not stop a nose bleed this year and Purdue will dismantle them to get back to .500 for the year.
Purdue 31 Indiana 17
Week 13 Breakdown Page
