Blog Ten Cheat Sheet – Week 12

Blog Ten Cheat Sheet is Blog Ten’s weekly look at all the Big Ten’s games this weekend for those of you who may be so inclined as to place a wager on the outcome of each game.

All times Central

This is actually a depressing weekend for me because it’s the last Saturday of the year that will feature a full Big Ten schedule.  Which means that I’ll no longer be able to use “work” as an excuse to sit in my chair all day and watch football, so the girlfriend will be able to drag me out into the sunshine to do things like go to lunch or see a movie.

So I don’t care if there really isn’t all that much to settle on the gridiron this weekend as we already know who the conference champion is and the only team left with a chance to get bowl eligible is Michigan.  And that chance is somewhere between slim and none.

So the only mystery still remaining is how bad my record picking games against the spread will be this year.  Find out with me after the jump, won’t you?

GAME OF THE WEEK

Michigan vs. Ohio State (-12) – 11am ABC – Obviously this year’s version of the best rivalry in college football doesn’t carry the same weight as it has in recent years, as these two programs are in two very different places these days.  Still, there’s a lot on the line for both teams.  The Buckeyes are going to the Rose Bowl but they do still have a chance — as tiny as it may be — to end up playing for a national title this season, and just imagine what a win in this game would do for Rich Rodriguez.  He’d be saved.  Unfortunately for Rich Rod, it’s just not going to happen.  Michigan’s defense can’t stop anybody and Ohio State’s defense can contain Michigan.  FINAL SCORE: Ohio State 30  Michigan 17

Iowa (-10.5) vs. Minnesota – 11am ESPN - The Gophers come into this game looking for revenge.  Last season the Hawkeyes obliterated them to the tune of 55-0 inside the Metrodome, and they would love to return the favor.  Though I just don’t see it happening.  Minnesota is the worst team in the conference who will be going to a bowl game this season, and Iowa is bound to pick up another victory on them.  Though I don’t think it will be quite as one-sided this year as the Hawkeyes do have that tendency to play down to their opponents.  FINAL SCORE: Iowa 17  Minnesota 10

Michigan State vs. Penn State (-3) – 2:30pm ABC - It’s never easy for the Nittany Lions when they take on the Spartans, and with the game in East Lansing this season, there could be a minor upset brewing on Saturday afternoon.  The Spartans offense has been playing well the last few weeks — Kirk Cousins in particular — and they will pose a tough test for the Nittany Lions defense.  The problem here is that the Spartans defense just hasn’t been nearly as good as I thought they’d be in 2009, with their secondary being the biggest problem.  Penn State is still trying to get a BCS berth so they will come out determined to finish off what has been a somewhat disappointing season with a victory.  FINAL SCORE: Penn State 28  Michigan State 23

Northwestern vs. Wisconsin (-7) – 2:30pm BTN - While the Wildcats have spent their last two Saturdays ending Iowa’s hopes of an undefeated season and putting the Illini back in place, I don’t think they’ve faced a team nearly as tough to stop as the Badgers are right now.  In fact, I’m not sure if anybody in the Big Ten can beat the Badgers they way they’re rolling right now.  The offense is firing on all cylinders, and even if you can somehow stop John Clay, Scott Tolzien has been lighting it up with his arm.  The Badgers run their win streak to five on Saturday in Evanston.  FINAL SCORE: Wisconsin 31  Northwestern 20

Indiana vs. Purdue (-3) – 2:30pm BTN - This game is a lot more interesting than I thought it was going to be at the beginning of the season.  I expected the state of Indiana’s Big Ten contingent to be the league doormat this season, but instead they’ve come out and shown signs of life this year and have earned my respect.  These are two similar teams as well, as both get off to good starts but seem to falter late when their lack of depth is exposed.  So it’s a tough game to pick, and in the end I’m just going to have to go with the home team.  FINAL SCORE: Indiana 38  Purdue 34

Season Results

Straight Up: 57-23 (5-1 last week)

ATS: 33-38-1 (3-2-1 last week)