Big Ten Football: Predicting Every Big Ten Final Score In Week 5
Week 4 was an excellent weekend for college football watching. Ohio State and Notre Dame went down to the wire, and the Buckeyes scored the game-winning touchdown with one second left on the clock. The Irish, as puzzling as it may be, had 10 men on the field during the final two plays of the game, but Ohio State escaped South Bend with a huge win under its belt.
Every team in the Big Ten won last weekend that should've except for Minnesota losing a game to Northwestern. The Wildcats took down the Gophers, and that was a bad, bad loss for PJ Fleck and Co.
Entering Week 5, there aren't any huge games in the Big Ten slate. The game of the week is Michigan State and Iowa and that will air at night on NBC.
I'm going to go through all seven games for the upcoming weekend and give you my prediction on what will happen.
Trent's win/loss record through four weeks: 42-5
Penn State vs. Northwestern -- Sat. Noon ET
Northwestern has won two more games than I've predicted so far, but the Wildcats will need everything to go their way in order to win this weekend. Penn State looks to be as good as anyone at the moment. The Nittany Lions shut out the Hawkeyes a week ago and PSU may be looking at two straight shutouts after this weekend is over.
Penn State 31, Northwestern 3
Louisiana vs. Minnesota -- Sat. Noon ET
I don't know a ton about the Cajuns, but I do know they can move the football. Louisiana averages 478 yards per game and its defense isn't all that bad either. Minnesota is an 11-point favorite, and I think the Gophers need to take this game very seriously. Per my usual take about Minnesota, Athan Kaliakmanis hasn't been the guy so far this year to go win the Gohpers a game. But freshman Darius Taylor has been really good and I think Minnesota pulls the game out at home.
Minnesota 27, Louisiana 17
Michigan vs. Nebraska -- Sat. 3:30 p.m. ET
This is the first road test for Michigan this season and it's always a tough test to go play at Memorial Field in front of the Nebraska fanbase. What bodes well for the Wolverines is the fact that the Huskers have an inept passing attack, and the maize and blue can really hone in on the rushing game. The Huskers have a good run defense, but a poor pass defense, and you J.J. McCarthy should have his way with the secondary.
Michigan 34, Nebraska 10
Indiana vs. Maryland -- Sat. 3:30 p.m. ET
One game Indiana looks decent and the next it looks bad. It took double overtime for the Hoosiers to beat Akron last weekend, while Maryland is rolling on offense. The Terps are favored by 14.5 points this weekend -- at home-- and that total doesn't do Maryland justice. Give me the Terps big.
Maryland 41, Indiana 13
Illinois vs. Purdue -- Sat. 3:30 p.m. ET
These two teams are vastly similar. Both average over 390 yards of offense and both defenses allow more than 400 yards of offense to the opposition. The Boilermakers are on a two-game losing streak while it took Illinois four quarters to beat FAU last weekend. It's not that I trust Hudson Card to win a game for Purdue, but I look at Luke Altmyer turning the ball over seven times this season. Give me the Boilermakers at home in a sloppy contest.
Purdue 24, Illinois 21
Wagner vs. Rutgers -- Sat. 3:30 p.m. ET
Rutgers may have lost 31-7 to Michigan, but let me tell you, the Scarlet Knights are much improved this season. Gavin Wimsatt has done a much better job at protecting the football, and behind Kyle Monangai, the Rutgers' rushing offense is good. The Scarlet Knights' defense plays sound football and I expect Greg Schiano's team to win some games this season.
Rutgers 34, Wagner 9
Michigan State vs. Iowa -- Sat. 7:30 p.m. ET
This game could go two ways: Iowa winning in a blowout fashion, or the Hawkeyes winning, 2-0. Kidding -- kind of. I don't see a scenario where Michigan State goes into Kinnick at night and wins the game. The Spartans' program is in disarray and MSU has scored a total of 16 points in the past two games. While Iowa isn't an offensive juggernaut, it's still better than MSU.
Iowa 24, Michigan State 7
