| Last Saturday, the Big Ten Conference | | | | The game went just as we suspected, with |
| featured five predictable outcomes and one | | | | Purdue seizing the edge on both sides of the |
| surprising upset. The top three teams flexed | | | | football. I have been stressing that the Cats |
| their muscle while winning by a combined 74 | | | | have had trouble scoring all season long and |
| points, and Michigan and Ohio State inched | | | | could only muster 10 points against a |
| closer to a dream match-up of two 12-0 | | | | terrible defense in Purdue. The Cats had only |
| programs doing battle for a berth in the BCS | | | | 251 yards of total offense with 87 of those |
| Title Game. The following will recap the | | | | coming on the ground. This is the same Purdue |
| highlights from the previous week and preview | | | | defense that allowed 35 points to Notre Dame |
| an important week ahead in the conference for | | | | and 47 points to Iowa in consecutive weeks. |
| middle-of-the-pack teams:Iowa appeared to be | | | | QB Curtis Painter outgained Northwestern by |
| on cruise control over Indiana when it scored | | | | himself, throwing for 432 yards and two |
| early in the second quarter to take a 21-7 | | | | touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown to |
| lead. QB Drew Tate had already thrown two | | | | put the game out of reach late in the fourth |
| touchdown passes and the Hoosiers appeared to | | | | quarter.Purdue is well on its way to a bowl |
| be conceding a fourth straight home loss. But | | | | game and now will play back-to-back games at |
| someone forgot to tell WR James Hardy about | | | | Ross-Ade Stadium. First up is the Wisconsin |
| this plan and he took the game over from | | | | Badgers and payback will be on their minds as |
| there. He tallied three touchdowns, the final | | | | a Kyle Orton fumble late in the fourth |
| to give IU a 3-point lead with just under ten | | | | quarter was brought back to the house for a |
| minutes to play. His partner in crime was | | | | 3-point Wisconsin victory in 2004. That was a |
| freshman QB Kellen Lewis who completed 76 | | | | turning point in their 2004 season; as Purdue |
| percent of his passes for 255 yards and he | | | | would go on to lose the next three games by a |
| also rushed for a touchdown.Iowa had one last | | | | combined seven points. Will they be able to |
| chance to either tie or take the lead, but QB | | | | pay back Bucky? Not sure, but the over in |
| Tate's pass was deflected and eventually | | | | this game looks very tempting.Northwestern |
| intercepted by Andy Brodell to seal the | | | | will be playing its second straight game at |
| victory for the Hoosiers. This was an | | | | home when they welcome in Michigan State for |
| embarrassing loss for the Hawkeyes and has | | | | homecoming. State enters as a touchdown |
| probably doomed their already slim hopes for | | | | favorite, but can you trust either one of |
| a BCS bid. As for Indiana, this was a | | | | these programs? This answer is most certainly |
| landmark win under Coach Terry Hoeppner and I | | | | not and you should expect the unexpected in |
| expect them to play hard for the remainder of | | | | this one.The other game on next week's slate |
| the season. The only problem is they just do | | | | features Illinois traveling to Happy Valley |
| not have much talent to supplement their | | | | to take on the Lions. There is no line on |
| enthusiasm.Next up for the Hawkeyes is a trip | | | | this game because of the uncertainty State |
| to Ann Arbor to take on the Wolvernines. The | | | | has at the quarterback position. When a line |
| opening line has Michigan as a 13.5-point | | | | is posted, expect it to be double digits, as |
| favorite and it will be interesting to see | | | | the Illini are really struggling, losing two |
| how they respond after such a bad beat. Iowa | | | | to the powerhouse programs of Indiana and |
| has the talent on offense to put points on | | | | Ohio. Both were in Champaign and that does |
| the board and the best edge in this game may | | | | not make Coach Ron Zook's resume look very |
| lie with the total. For the Hoosiers, they | | | | promising.Final Thoughts from Around College |
| will make the short trip to Columbus to take | | | | Football |
| on the Buckeyes, a team that has yet to be | | | | |
| challenged on the season. They come in as | | | | 1) Coach Tuberville was right when he said |
| 31-point dogs and this would be a game I | | | | the SEC is too strong of a conference for a |
| would stay away from.Homecoming proved to be | | | | team to run the table. After his team took |
| valuable in the battle for Paul Bunyan's Ax. | | | | down the last remaining unbeaten in Florida, |
| Wisconsin dominated this game from start to | | | | it appears they are destined for another trip |
| finish, scoring 28 of the first 31 points, | | | | to the Sugar Bowl. That being said, the SEC |
| while never giving Minnesota an opportunity | | | | Championship in Atlanta will be an |
| to make things interesting. P.J. Hill had | | | | outstanding match-up. |
| another big day on the ground going for 165 | | | | |
| yards and John Stocco cleaned up in the | | | | 2) The Boise State Broncos are inching |
| second half, throwing two touchdown passes. | | | | closer to yet another undefeated season and |
| The Gophers continue to struggle running the | | | | expect them to not receive a BCS Bid. The |
| football and this has been their bread and | | | | conference has seen a great decline in talent |
| butter in the Glen Mason Era. Amir Pinnix | | | | with the fall of Fresno State and Boise has |
| managed 97 yards on the ground, but most of | | | | had trouble winning games on the road this |
| that came from one long run when the game was | | | | year. I would lean toward the Vandals side |
| already out of hand.Next up for the Badgers | | | | when the Battle of Idaho is renewed this week |
| is a trip to West Lafayette to take on the | | | | in Moscow. |
| Boilers. This game had the possibility to be | | | | |
| our; "Big Ten Game of the Year" but the line | | | | 3) The Big East has finally gotten out of |
| did not come in where we had hoped when | | | | the tank for being the worst of the Big Six |
| releasing such a strong play. Bucky will | | | | conference this season. I would have to give |
| enter the state of Indiana at around a | | | | that nod to the ACC, as teams continue to |
| five-point favorite. The schedule looks very | | | | beat up on each other with nobody rising to |
| promising for this team and a BCS bowl bid is | | | | the top. West Virginia at Louisville |
| not out of the question. Wisconsin does not | | | | certainly looks like a better game then any |
| play Ohio State and has five winnable games | | | | match-up in the ACC would offer.Last week was |
| left, the toughest coming of Nov. 11, when | | | | another profitable week on the college slate, |
| they go to Iowa City.As for Minnesota, a | | | | as Wyoming won its game with Utah straight up |
| promising start that featured a win in Kent, | | | | and in blowout fashion. Doc's certainly did |
| Ohio, has gone horribly wrong. They are just | | | | his homework on that game and will have now |
| 2-5 on the season and have yet to beat | | | | not lost our top college selection in four |
| anybody of significance (Kent State & | | | | weeks. This week we will offer the strongest |
| Temple). They will notch their third win of | | | | selection of the season with our; "Big Ten |
| the season this week against North Dakota | | | | Game of the Year." This will be the only |
| State, but the first conference win will have | | | | eight-unit play we release this season and |
| to wait until Nov. 4, when they welcome in | | | | once featured a 19-year winning streak. This |
| Indiana.Finally, our second five-unit play in | | | | is a must have for any big game hunter. |
| college was Purdue (-7) over Northwestern. | | | | |