Buckeyes host Cornhuskers in Big Ten showdown

While allegations of underachieving are wildly flung at the Big Ten, the conference still has more than enough to get people watching and talking. Once again this Saturday the conference takes the primetime limelight as No. 21 Nebraska makes the trip to No. 10 Ohio State.

No. 21 Nebraska at No. 10 Ohio State

Quarterback Taylor Martinez and the Nebraska Cornhuskers will look to improve their reputation this weekend with a win over Ohio State.

Ohio State still has a bitter taste in its mouth, the result of last year’s loss to a Cornhuskers side that trailed by 21 in the third quarter. Then the new boys of the conference, Nebraska outplayed a Buckeyes team that lost quarterback Braxton Miller to injury, and rode on to victory.

Fast forward a year and Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) appears to be the class of the conference while Nebraska (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) is not a million miles behind. The showdown in Columbus could go a long way to deciding who really is the Big Ten’s best side. Of course, Ohio State’s current sanctions mean the two will not meet in the conference championship game in December.

Saturday will see the Cornhuskers attempt to put a stop to Braxton Miller, who is undoubtedly the focus of every Ohio State offensive play. The quarterback is averaging 186.6 yards passing and 115.4 yards rushing over the first five games this season, and has yet to be stopped. Last week’s performance against Michigan State – touted as one of the best defenses in college football this year – suggests that Nebraska is in for a tough afternoon.

The Cornhuskers though are no easy pickings. Barring an upset loss to UCLA, the team from Lincoln would also be sporting a 5-0 record this weekend. As it stands, oddsmakers like Nebraska as favorites to take the division, although the team remains a longshot (100/1) in the hunt for the national championship.

Ohio State enters the game as 3½-point favorites with the over/under at 58. With no chance of postseason play, a loss would hurt Ohio State a lot less than it would Nebraska, but don’t think Urban Meyer and Co. are thinking that way. This will be a hard-fought game and one that could stand out as one of the Big Ten’s pivotal games of the season, come January.

No. 24 Northwestern at Penn State

Triple-threat freshman Kain Kolter has had success passing, rushing and receiving as Northwestern has gone unbeaten so far this season.

There’s a high possibility that there wasn’t a soul walking this planet that imagined Northwestern (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) would be a ranked team this season. Sure, the Wildcats have gone 5-0 before, but at the beginning of the year everybody’s winning out-of-conference games. Right?

Well, not this season, and while Northwestern may have only earned a No. 24 spot from the poor play of other – Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, we’re looking at you – a ranking is a ranking nonetheless and the team from Evanston, Ill., is currently one of the few bright spots in the Big Ten. But for how long?

After a shaky start to the season, Penn State (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) seems to have steadied the ship. Last week’s lopsided win over Illinois in Champaign was the Nittany Lions’ third consecutive win, all by double digits. While Illinois is having a season to forget, the victory went some way to confirming that Bill O’Brien’s team appears to have found a groove.

The Wildcats visit to Beaver Stadium will be a good litmus test for both sides. A win for Northwestern will disprove the naysayers, to some extent at least, whilst also matching the Wildcats’ best start in half a decade. A win for Penn State will build on the solid foundations that currently have the team looking a lot more stable than might be expected.

The over/under is 47 and Penn State enters the game as three-point favorites to beat the Wildcats, but this really is a game that could go either way.

Around the Conference

Since losing a close one to Ohio State last weekend, Michigan State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) has been at the center of the controversy surrounding doctored game tapes, eye-gouging, and just about everything else. Getting on the field on Saturday will make a welcome surprise. Indiana (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) welcomes the Spartans fresh off a big loss to Northwestern. Michigan State will be heavy favorites (-16) heading into this one, with the over/under at 48.

After an extra week of rest, Michigan (2-2, 0-0 Big Ten) heads to Purdue (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) for what will be both teams first dose of Big Ten conference play this season. Once heavily favored to win the Big Ten outright, the Wolverines now find themselves just narrow favorites (-3) in a game few would have expected to be close at the beginning of the year. It’s do-or-die time for Michigan, while the Boilermakers can improve on a decent start to the season with an upset. The over/under is set at 57½.

Wisconsin (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) hosts Illinois (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) in a matchup that sees both teams arrive on the back of a conference loss. Wisconsin fell in a close game to Nebraska last Saturday while Illinois were embarrassed for a second week in a row, this time losing 35-7 to Penn State. Both teams need a win but oddsmakers suggest only Wisconsin is likely to get just that. The Badgers enter the game as two touchdown favorites. The over/under is 47.

Week 6 schedule (in full)

MICHIGAN STATE (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) at INDIANA (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)

No. 24 NORTHWESTERN (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) at PENN STATE (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten)

ILLINOIS (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) at WISCONSIN (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten)

MICHIGAN (2-2, 0-0 Big Ten) at PURDUE (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

No. 21 NEBRASKA (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at No. 12 OHIO STATE (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten)

BYE: Iowa, Minnesota