We enter the final week of the regular college football season, and in completely unrelated news does anyone have a kleenex, very dusty in my house and, I, uh, allergies. Okay, I'l be honest it saddens me to think that the season is already coming to an end after all it seems like just yesterday I was writing a "Big Ten preseason report". The good news is like all sports they have saved the best for last. Thats right, we will soon be feasting into turkey and pumpkin pie while we prepare for a world full of college bowl games. Before I get too ahead of myself though, follow along as I preview that last week of Big Ten action.
Iowa at Nebraska
We start with the friday night game and it should be a great one. An overachieving Hawkeye team that only won four games all of last year (now 7-4) takes on a talented but inconsistent Cornhusker team that is trying to get hot before "bowl season" begins. Iowa shocked the Wolverines last week after a 21-7 deficit in the first half, led by outstanding defense and two touchdowns from Jake Ruddock. Ruddock has been a perfect fit for Iowa this year as he doesn't do anything great, but does everything very good. His smarts is what sets him apart from other signal callers as he limits his risky throws and protects the ball while letting his defense do the dirty work, which they have, and then some. Iowa's defense smothered Michigan last week allowing only 158 yards to an offense than is capable of lighting up the scoreboard. More impressive they only allowed Devin Gardner to pass for 98 yards.
A key match up in this game will be how well the dominating front-seven of Iowa can contain the Big Ten's leading running back Ameer Abdulla. Abdullah has posted back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons for the Cornhuskers as he has already ran for 1,483 yards in 2013. He will face one of his toughest tests come friday, but will be counted on to take pressure of his quarterback Ron Kellogg. The Hawkeyes are allowing just over 19 points a game while the Cornhuskers are averaging 34. Turnovers and special teams play could be the deciding factor in this one as this game sets the tone for the rest of the weeks Big Ten play.
Minnesota at Michigan State
A lot of encouraging things to build off of for the Gophers in their 2013 season as they won some big time games while going 8-2. Unfortunately for them they had to finish out the rest of their final two games that included Wisconsin and Michigan State on the road.
Two of the best three teams in the conference, ouch. Minnesota put up a good fight last week against the Badgers, but talent took over and the Gophers were no match for Wisconsin's defense. Don't kill the messenger but the defense they faced last week will look like a cream puff pie compared to the hammer and nails cake their about to get a big bite out of in the Spartans number one ranked defense in the country.
They rank first in just about every imaginable statistic out their and they seem to be getting better. Six weeks ago teams just had to worry about the defense, but now quarterback Connor Cook is a legitimate weapon as he has moved their offense up and down the field more efficiently and effectively as of late. In fact, last week he set a career high in passing yards against the Wildcats throwing for 284 yards.
Up until last week the Gophers had been stealing wins from opponents with a solid running game, a defense and special teams that scored points, and without sounding to cliche, they were winning with heart. Playing with their emotions on their sleeves for their head coach Jerry Kill as he battles health problems.
That combination of good fortune and a feel happy story has came to end as the bullying of Wisconsin last week snapped them back to reality and showed why they are no match for a dominating Spartans team. It was a great run for Minnesota but Michigan State is playing on another level right now with their eyes on Ohio State for the Big Ten championship., and possibly a Rose Bowl appearance.
Ohio State at Michigan
It's funny how much can change in so little of time. Before the season had began if their was one game everyone had circled on their calendars it was this one. Then after the Wolverines took down Notre Dame in week two, the already lit fire of hype was doused with gasoline and fireworks. But, now its as though the local fire department not only put out the fire, they smolded and stomped it out until their wasn't one trace of smoke that rose from the ashes. Ohio State held up their end of the bargain extending their current winning streak to a nations best 23 games and currently owning the third spot in the polls.
Michigan however, oh my my my. They barley squeezed by teams that go by Akron and Conneticut filling voters with doubt and then lost to Penn State in triple overtime causing the bubble to finally burst. Since then Devin Gardner has gone from Heisman candidate to Hesiman watcher. His drop in success has been led by carelessness with the football wether it be interceptions or fumbles. He has been ineffective with his arm and his feet losing more yards than he gains more times than not. With his confidence all but gone the Wolverines have lot their identity on offense and by doing so have put far too much pressure on their defense to win games. Its a shame one of the best rivalries in football will be played with such lopsided teams.
The Buckeyes are playing their best football of the season as of late steamrolling teams convincingly with their offense and defense. Braxton Miller looks fully healthy after a knee injury sidelined him in week two, turning himself into a human highlight reel drive after drive. Mean while on defense linebacker Ryan Shazier has turned into a terminator like cyborg flying all over the field leading a now high energy defense. Last week Shazier played out of this world posting 20 tackles, something you just don't see now a days. The talent for an upset is certainly still on the roster over in Michigan, but they will have to play flawless football for four full quarters, something we haven't seen from them since that Irish win back in week two.
Penn State at Wisconsin
It was a guessing game during the thick of the season, but now the best teams in the conference are coming out of hiding and making their stand. The Badgers are playing lights out as of late with one of the best running games in the country followed suit by a dominating defense. Last week they iced down a hot Gopher team in sub freezing conditions. Remember, the Badgers got robbed in week three of the season against the Sun Devils a game they should have won, and if they would have we would be talking about them going for their fourth consecutive Big Ten title, as well as playing in the Rose Bowl. As of now they are ranked 15th in the polls and at 9-2 with a win over Penn State will most likely sneak into a major bowl game when its all said and done.
They can't overlook the Nittany Lions however, as they have been one of the better stories in all of football yet again as Bill O'Brien has turned around his program and healed its back eye. An offense capable of putting up points with the best of them evolving around true freshman Christian Hackenberg. Hackenberg has played over expectations as a 19 year old but has had help from key talents. Wide Receiver Allen Robinson has broke almost all of the major receiving records at Penn State this year and will most likely be a early round selection. What has set up their success, specifically off play-action passes, has been the workhorse tandem of Zach Zwinak and Bill Belton running the ball. Chris Borland and the Badger defense should be able to slow those two down, but have to be leary of the big play the Hackenberg to Robinson combo imposes. Even in icy conditions out in Wisconsin the Badgers should remain hot in this one.
Purdue at Indiana
Not a game you call in sick for here. In fact, that giant list of to-dos thats been sitting on your fridge is ready to be taken down during the Boilmaker versus Hoosier game. Don't get me wrong the 1-9 Boilmakers have been making improvements. Slowly. Very slowly. First year coach Darrell Hazzel is at the point now where he is plugging in juniors and sophomores wherever he can to see what kind of future and talent his squad possesses. More importantly is the progression of his freshman quarterback Danny Etling who seems to be getting better every week.
A great opponent to end the season with for him as the Hoosiers 39 points a game, giving Etling an opportunity to boost his confidence going into next season. For as many points Indiana gives up they usually score just as many on the offensive side of the ball as they rank 17th in the nation with 308 yards passing per game. The 4-7 Hoosiers were the last team on the list to get blown out by the Buckeyes and would love to erase those memories and end their season on a high note. Time to put up the Christmas lights during this one and let guys like me fill you in next week.
Northwestern at Illinois
Two teams that earlier in the season showed tons of promise have now withered away in the house of the Big Ten. Wildcats still searching for their first conference win as Illinois hopes to end their season with a winning streak after beating Purdue last week. Northwestern has been plagued by injured throughout the entire season and have lost many games in heartbreaking fashion, including a hail-mary against Nebraska.
Even with their quarterback Kain Colter and running back Venric Mark out the talent is still their to beat the fighting Ilinni. However, after going 10-3 last season it seems this year full or turmoil has taken its toll on the Wildcats as they have shown signs of giving up. Their coach will never wave the whit flag but its safe to say that his players along with him self are more than ready to wash their hands of the 2013 season. Illinois coach Tim Beckman is in his second year and after winning just two games all of last year a win Saturday would get them to five on the season giving himself and his squad plenty of momentum heading into 2014.