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The stakes are always high in college football. There is no other sport in which the regular season is more important. Some implications are on the line every week.
Games always feel more important this time of year, though. Now that we’re in the final month of the season and the College Football Playoff rankings are out, the result is magnified to the umpteenth degree.
The B1G is home to some really important matchups this week, a few of which also have CFB Playoff implications. No. 14 Penn State takes on No. 5 Michigan while Northwestern tries to upset No. 4 Northwester for a third straight time. It should be entertaining.
Here are our bold predictions for Week 10 in the B1G:
Ohio State re-establishes its rushing attack
As well as Nebraska has played the last few weeks, this seems like a Saturday when Ohio State plays angry. Having two weeks to sit on the 29-point loss to Purdue was probably extra motivation to correct those weaknesses in the red zone and the rushing attack. The Huskers defense isn’t very good. Look for J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber to have big days on the ground.
Penn State-Michigan won’t be a blowout
The two previous meetings between the B1G East powers haven’t been close. Michigan won 49-10 in 2016 and Penn State posted a 42-13 victory last season. Don’t expect that to be the case in Ann Arbor this weekend. It’ll also be interesting to see how the Wolverines’ defense handles Trace McSorley’s mobility.
Isaiah Bowser has another big rushing day for Northwestern
Northwestern’s run game hasn’t looked so “yuck” over the last two weeks. The freshman running back has hit the century mark each of the last two weeks, both were wins for the Wildcats. Notre Dame is surrendering nearly 150 yards per game on the ground this season. Bowser has a really good opportunity to hit the 100-yard mark for a third straight week. Does that translate to a Wildcats win? That’s a different question.
Nate Stanley and David Blough have bounce-back performances
Last week, Stanley and Blough combined for five interceptions and zero touchdowns. Not the best Saturday for two of the better passers in the B1G. The two go head-to-head this weekend in a battle to stay alive in the West race. The game between Purdue and Iowa may not be a shootout, but expect both quarterbacks to have much better days this time around.
We’ll see a fifth B1G team in the CFB Playoff rankings next week
Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like the winner of the Michigan State-Maryland game should edge its way into the top 25 next Tuesday. Both teams are 5-3, meaning a victory clinches bowl eligibility for either team. The Terrapins have a win over Texas and the Spartans defeated Penn State. We’ll find out how much respect the CFB Playoff committee has for the B1G on Tuesday. Oh, and if Northwestern beats Notre Dame, it’s definitely in the top 25.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB