What To Expect From College Football Week 6: Big 10

Big 10
Ohio State escaped with a huge win against Penn State on the road last weekend, and they should cruise against Indiana this week, but the Hoosiers pushed the Buckeyes for a half last season before OSU pulled away in the second half. The Buckeyes cannont afford a letdown against an IU team that has started out 4-1, but struggled to put a horrible Rutgers team away last week.

Michigan plainly escaped against Northwestern last weekend, and that is not acceptable. The Wolverines are, however, still hanging in in the Big 10 East this week at 2-0, and may very well be the last obstacle that Ohio State will need to get by next month. Michigan will not be allowed to nap this week against a Maryland team that has already beaten Texas out of conference, and Minnesota in it. If they do, Maryland becomes the last road block for Ohio State, as odd as that sounds.

Northwestern is a pesky team, even when losing, which they are. Michigan State has not played nearly to expectations this season, and even when winning, they are sneaking by to do it. Northwestern is primed to pull an upset, and the Spartans can ill afford a loss here, but they are prone to dropping a game like this when it would make no sense to do so.

The Big 10 Toilet Bowl is here this weekend, as Illinois faces Rutgers. The winner will still be awful, but at least not as bad as the other. Enough said.

Wisconsin bounced back from a loss to a decent BYU club with a win over Iowa to begin conference play last weekend. That was an important win for Wisconsin that has had to readjust the roster on offense, specifically at receiver. The Badgers should have an easy time with a horrible Nebraska team this week, but do not forget that Wisconsin plays up or down to their competition, and that should be so again this week.

Iowa is not a terrible football team, but they need to find consistency. With Minnesota also needing a win this week to stay within range of Wisconsin in the West, this may shape up to be one of the most important games in the Big 10 this weekend. Neither team can afford the loss this week, but at least the coaches are safe.

Coaches Who Need a Win This Week: Chris Ash, Rutgers; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; Lovie Smith, Illinois