War In The Big Ten: Week Twelve Preview

9. Ohio State (9-1, 5-1) at #20 Iowa (7-3, 4-2) 3:30pm, ABC

This is the big one.

Travis Miller:

Ohio State is starting to get into its late season groove and this has the hallmark of a game where they simply grind it out against a lesser foe. I don’t think the Buckeyes are necessarily the end all/be all team somepeople think they are, but they are very good and I don’t think many other teams are as good as them. If that makes sense. Ohio State 27, Iowa 17.

Jonathan Franz At Off Tackle Empire:

I almost went the other way on this one. Then I remembered Iowa’s recent performances against Indiana and Northwestern. Adrian Clayborn may well be the best defensive end in recent history in the Big Ten, and Marvin McNutt might have a field day against Chimdi Chekwa but at the end of the day those who sleep with the dogs arise with fleas. Don’t get me wrong, I bet the Hawks bring their A-game on senior day. But I also bet Ohio State will too. Here’s hoping for a fine afternoon in Iowa City. Go Bucks!

Graham Filler At Off Tackle Empire:

Road favorite week for me, per usual. Maybe that explains my struggles? Ohio State and Iowa have similar talent levels, but there is one big difference. OSU plays complete football games, while Iowa fades late. Can the Hawkeyes pull a “MSU” on Jim Tressel? Of course. But I’m betting on the Bucks here, who have an improved run game to stand behind if TP gets erratic.

Illinois (5-5, 3-4) at Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) 3:30pm, ESPNU at Wrigley Field

Travis Miller previewed this before news broke that the game at Wrigley Field would be played using the West end zone only:

While I think it is cool to have a football game at Wrigley Field, have you see how close the back of the end zone is to the wall? Holy crap! Someone is going to die. Yes, it is padded, but one of the reasons Wrigley is such a hitters’ park is because of this wall. Outfielders naturally slow down getting close to it on fly balls because IT IS A FREAKING BRICK WALL! Did no one think of this when they were trying to squeeze in a field? Did anyone bother to measure before committing to a game?

Travis Miller, writing for Purdue blog Hammer & Rails:

I feel like [Purdue] can win this game if we can have just one performance where we don’t screw up. We’ve been right there the last two weeks. We’ve been within a possession with the ball in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, we’ve also had nine turnovers resulting in 1,567 points (approximately) in those two games. Again, bullet-ridden shoes. [Purdue’s] next injury probably will be someone shooting themselves in the foot. Prediction: Michigan State 32, Purdue 17

Travis Miller:

The Michigan offense did not impress me last week. They only managed 20 points against us, and they were given a short field each time. Teams are figuring out Robinson, and I think you’ll see a step back next year because of it. Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Michigan 31

Jonathan Franz, Off Tackle Empire

I hate to admit it, but I’ll be pulling hard for the Wolverines in this one. Still, there’s no way I put my money where my mouth is. Sure, Wisconsin’s track record in Ann Arbor is abysmal. You know what else is abysmal? Michigan’s run defense. James White and Nick Toon will have the Badgers ahead of the downs all day in Ann Arbor. Wisky early and often.

Penn State (6-4, 3-3) vs. Indiana (4-6, 0-6) at Landover, MD Noon, Big Ten Network.

Travis Miller:

Indiana has showed absolutely nothing in the last few weeks to make me believe they can win. In fact, I think Wisconsin gets 14 bonus points this week just for the Indiana defense taking the field more than 1,000 miles away. Indiana deserves to lose this game while giving up 83 points, just for selling it. Prediction: Penn State 38, Indiana 21