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We’re in the home stretch.
Just three weeks separates college football from the end of the season. Yes, it’s a sad time, but with so much still at stake, it all should be wildly entertaining.
Though Ohio State and Penn State are out of the College Football Playoff picture, Week 11 still has major B1G implications. Michigan State will battle the Buckeyes for a lead in the East and Wisconsin will try to keep an unblemished record against a newly ranked Iowa team. Six teams are still fighting for bowl eligibility.
Yeah, it’s going to be another really fun weekend in the B1G. Here are five bold predictions heading into Week 11.
Illinois or Indiana will finally get a B1G win
It’s been a long season in conference play for both Illinois and Indiana, both winless in the league. But one of those teams will finally erase the bagel in the “W” column…because the two teams play each other Saturday.
This isn’t a bold prediction, or a prediction at all, but the Illini and the Hoosiers have had such rough seasons to this point, they both could use a little pick-me-up. So here you go Illinois and Indiana, one of you is going to win on Saturday. The loser probably won’t win B1G game.
Karan Higdon goes over the 1,000-yard mark for the season Saturday
The Michigan running back has been a human wrecking ball the last four weeks, racking up 603 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 8.1 yards per carry. That’s an absolute nightmare for a Maryland defense that’s allowed five teams to rack up 200-plus yards this season.
Higdon would need another huge outing, as he’s still 196 yards shy of the 1,000-yard milestone. But against a defense that’s surrendered an average of 188 yards per game on the ground, the Wolverines’ top ball-carrier has a real chance to rack up more than 200 yards on Saturday.
Iowa’s defense shuts down Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor
Speaking of tremendous running backs, Taylor has been absolutely spectacular all season. But so has the Hawkeyes defense. While Taylor might be effective at times, don’t expect him to have one of those huge days against Iowa.
Kirk Ferentz and Phil Parker understand that Taylor is by far Wisconsin’s best weapon. Don’t be surprised if they force the Badgers to go to the air and force Alex Hornibrook to win this game.
Only one of the B1G’s five teams with a 4-5 record wins
It’s starting to look a lot more like the B1G will only get seven teams — maybe eight – into the postseason this fall. While five teams sit at 4-5 on the year, I don’t see more than one of those winning this weekend, and that’s only because Nebraska and Minnesota — both 4-5 — are squaring off.
Here are the match-ups:
- Nebraska (4-5) vs. Minnesota (4-5)
- Rutgers (4-5) vs. Penn State (7-2)
- Michigan (7-2) vs. Maryland (4-5)
- Purdue (4-5) vs. Northwestern (6-3)
Purdue probably has the best chance to win, but Northwestern has been playing well lately. Other than that Nebraska-Minnesota game, do you see another game one of those teams could win?
J.T. Barrett bounces back after throwing four picks last week
Barrett may not be in the Heisman conversation any longer and Ohio State is out of the College Football Playoff picture, but elite athletes tend to respond after horrendous performances, much like the Buckeyes gunslinger endured last week against Iowa. Just look at what Barrett did after the Oklahoma game.
A bounce-back performance doesn’t necessarily translate to a win for Ohio State — Michigan State is still really talented — but Barrett is going to have one of those outings that helped propel the Buckeyes past Penn State a few weeks ago. It’s going to put the scarlet and gray in great position to win the game.
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