In week 12 of the Big Ten, we will find out who is going to take control of the Big Ten East when Michigan State travels to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Big Ten doesn’t have many other games that have crazy implications as most of the favorites do not face each other in week 12. Let’s go through the best games in week 12 and make predictions. Here we go.

Michigan State at Ohio State

This is the best game of college football this weekend and it has a massive impact on the college football playoff. A win for both teams put them in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten East. The offenses for both teams are at the top of the conference as there will be dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball. The Buckeye’s run defense has improved greatly since the start of the season, Ohio State is only giving up 107.3-yards per game. Expect Michigan State’s running back Kenneth Walker III to be heavily involved like he has all year but the Buckeyes will be focused on Walker. I am expecting a bit of a shootout in Columbus on Saturday as both offenses are explosive. The Buckeyes will separate themselves in this game through their passing attack led by quarterback C.J. Stroud. Michigan State is giving up 329.4-yards through the air, Ohio State trio at wide receiver will have a huge game. Expect wide receivers Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to all have great games. The Buckeyes will win this football game sending the Spartans out of contention in the Big Ten. 

Michigan State 28 Ohio State 42

Nebraska at Wisconsin

This game should be interesting as Nebraska is coming off a bye week where they have had an extra week to prepare for and hot Wisconsin team. Nebraska has had a frustrating season, they have lost a couple of games that they shouldn’t have, and they have almost upset four teams including Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Michigan State. The Cornhuskers have another shot to take down a ranked opponent as they face the streaking Badgers. Wisconsin has figured things out late in the season and suddenly they are the favorite in the Big Ten West. I think they continue to play good football this weekend. The success has come from the rushing attack led by running backs Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi. In recent times, the run game has received assistance from quarterback Graham Mertz who is starting to play decent football. Mertz has six out of his eight touchdowns thrown in the past three weeks. I expect this game to be tight but the Badgers eventually come out on top. 

Nebraska 17 Wisconsin 24 

Purdue vs Northwestern

The Northwestern Wildcats have played bad football all year and I do not expect that to change against a decent Purdue football team. Northwestern hasn’t figured out who their quarterback is as every person has blown their opportunity. The defense of the Wildcats that is normally so lockdown and physical is giving up 230.4-yards per game along with allowing opponents to score 27 points per game. Purdue is coming off a blow-out loss to Ohio State and all decent teams find ways to respond after embarrassing losses. The passing attack for the Boilermakers has been incredible in 2021, they are averaging 338.3-yards per game through the air as Aidan O’Connell is having a great year. Expect this to be a blowout even though this game is being played at Wrigley Field. 

Purdue 24 Northwestern 14

References: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/ 

Writer

-By:Justin Howard

With the regular season in college football coming near a close, every game counts. There are plenty of teams that are still fighting to make it to a bowl game while some teams have no shot. Entering week 12, all the games that are being played are more impactful. Let’s go through the Big Ten and focus on the bubble teams predicting if they will play in the bowl game or if their seasons will end early.

Maryland (5-5): Stroll

Maryland has been super inconsistent in 2021 and it has started behind their quarterback play. Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa has 20 touchdowns, but he turns the ball over too many times as he has 10 interceptions. Not everything falls on the shoulders of the quarterback, the defense has been a complete liability. The Terrapins are letting opponents score 31.4 points per game and they let the opposing team move the football against them. Maryland is giving up 154.2-yards rushing per game. Maryland must face Michigan and Rutgers in the final two games of the season. I believe that the magic for the Terrapins will run out and they will struggle to have success against Michigan and Rutgers as both teams have legitimate defenses. After starting off 4-0, Maryland has lost five out of their last six games and the trend will continue putting the Terrapins out of bowl contention.

Rutgers (5-5): Bowl

The Scarlett Knights have had their best season since 2015 as second-year head coach Greg Schiano has guided his team to success. As Rutgers has entered conference play, they have been exposed but they have handed the teams they are supposed to. This weekend, the Scarlett Knights face Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania in a game Rutgers is likely to lose. However, in week 13 there is a showdown between Maryland and Rutgers. I believe that Rutgers will win this football game based on the running game Rutgers presents and the defense as well. Rutgers is averaging 145.7-yards rushing behind the efforts of Isaih Pacheco who has five touchdowns this year. The defense for Rutgers creates turnovers as they are averaging 1.7 takeaways a game. I think Rutgers takes advantage of the home field and they will get a victory in week 13 sending them to a bowl game over Maryland.

Illinois (4-6): Stroll 

All the credit to head coach Bret Bielema and Illinois for fighting this season but I believe they will be taking a stroll as they will miss out on bowl season in 2021. The Fighting Illini started at 1-4 but they have gone 3-2 in the past five games. Illinois probably pulled off one of the biggest upsets in 2021 when they took down Penn State who was ranked No. 7 at the time, they also beat Minnesota in week 10 who was ranked No. 20. To qualify for a bowl game, Illinois has to win out and beat both Iowa and Northwestern, I struggle to see them takedown the Iowa Hawkeyes. Illinois only scores 17.2 points per game and the offense is not dynamic enough to possess a threat to the defense of Iowa. The improved year for Illinois is great for the conference but their hopes of making a bowl will have to wait until 2022.

References: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/

Writer

-By: Justin Howard

Not many questions were answered this weekend regarding the standings. Currently, Ohio State sits at the top of the East division while the Wisconsin badgers are leading the West. The Big Ten will play itself out as we continue to progress later into the season. Let’s analyze each game and check out what happened. Here we go.

Rutgers 38 at Indiana 3

The season for the Indiana Hoosiers has continued to be a disappointing one as they now are 2-8. This game was all Rutgers and the Hoosiers stood no as the Scarlett Knights took over the game due to the dominance they showed in the running game. Rutgers rushed for 218-yards and five touchdowns behind the efforts of running back Isaih Pacheco who had two rushing touchdowns. Rutgers has set themselves up for a potential bowl game appearance as they sit at 5-5. The Scarlett Knights face Penn State next week while Indiana takes on Minnesota.

No. 9 Michigan 21 at No. 23 Penn State 17

This was one of the most entertaining games in week 11, ultimately Michigan was able to escape with a victory. Michigan Quarterback Cade McNamara made the game-winning throw to tight-end Erick All as Michigan took the lead late in the fourth quarter. The stats between these two teams were similar, Michigan outgained Penn State by a total of just 29-yards. Michigan was able to neutralize Penn State’s greatest weapon in wide receiver Jahan Dotson as they limited the big-play ability from the dangerous playmaker. Next week Penn State plays Rutgers while Michigan plays Indiana.

Northwestern 7 at No. 20 Wisconsin 35

The Wisconsin Badgers are playing their best football of the year at the right time. The Badgers had this game put away by halftime as they led 21-0, Northwestern stood no shot. Wisconsin won this game on both sides of the ball; on offense, they ran for 268-yards and three touchdowns while Quarterback Graham Mertz contributed with two thrown touchdowns. Wisconsin’s defense is one of the best in the nation and they proved that by only allowing Northwestern 240-total yards, they also forced the wildcats to commit four turnovers. Wisconsin is now in first place in the west, and they are continuing trending up currently, next week the Badgers play Nebraska in another winnable football game. Northwestern will have to limit the turnovers next week to have a shot against a Purdue team that scores at a high clip.  

Purdue 31 at No. 6 Ohio State 59

The Buckeye's offense showed just how great they can be on Saturday. The Buckeyes had 45 points at halftime, this is the third time they have scored 40-plus points through two quarters. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was sensational, he threw for five touchdowns and 361-total yards. It does help Stroud when he has multiple weapons. Wide receivers Garrett Wilson returned from an injury and put up 126-yards on 10 receptions along with four total touchdowns. The Buckeyes did allow Purdue to have success through the air, Boilermaker quarterback Aidan O’Connell had 390-yards passing along with four touchdowns. Purdue’s streak of taking down top 5 opponents halted this week, in week 11 they look to get back on track versus Northwestern. The Buckeyes will face Michigan State Saturday in a game that has massive implications on the conference. 

Minnesota 22 at No. 19 Iowa 27

The stats will tell you that Minnesota should’ve won this game. The Golden Gophers had more 11 more first downs and 132 more total yards. It was the passing game for Iowa that led them to victory, with quarterback Spencer Petras still sidelined with a shoulder injury, sophomore Alex Padilla stepped up and threw for two touchdowns and 206 yards. Iowa’s defense was timely and helped seal the victory for the Hawkeyes when they forced a game-winning fumble late. Minnesota gets another opportunity to compete on Saturday against Indiana but their chances of winning the West are unrealistic. Iowa looks to continue their win streak versus Illinois in week 12. 

Maryland 21 at No. 8 Michigan State 40

The Spartans had a nice bounce-back victory on Saturday against Maryland. This game was very offensive and both quarterbacks played well. Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne had himself a day with his four touchdowns and 287-yards. Michigan State outgained the terrapins 481-451 in total yards. The Spartan's weapons couldn't be contained as Kenneth Walker III put up 143-yards and two touchdowns as well. With the victory, the Spartans still stay alive in the East, but the focus turns to Ohio State as they face the Buckeyes on Saturday. Maryland looks to try and get that sixth victory for bowl eligibility but they face Michigan in week 12 which will be a tough game for the Terrapins. 

References:  https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/

Writer

-By: Justin Howard