This seems to be the only appointment viewing Big Ten game this weekend. Shame it's a Friday.
Disagree. This should be a rout. Vegas says roughly Wisconsin -12.5 or so, but I think the game will never be in doubt regardless of the final MOV.
I think there are two compelling games.
Line-wise, Northwestern @ Stanford is the closest game on the B1G docket at only +6.5. And it's the only one the B1G is an underdog. If we want to understand whether Northwestern is a threat to repeat as B1G West champions, this is must-watch.
I also think the Purdue @ Nevada game is compelling. While the line is Purdue -11, I think this is a game that very well might be in doubt late. Purdue is a very young team traveling 3 time zones west, it's a night game locally which might not be easy for such a young Purdue team to handle, it'll be played at 4500' elevation which the Purdue players may not be acclimated to, and Purdue is questionable at OL. If Purdue routs Nevada, they may be a threat for the B1G West. If they don't, they are probably at least a year away from that level.
I expect Wisconsin/USF, on the other hand, to be a typical Wisconsin slow-motion strangulation. They'll assert their will in the trenches, and regardless of whether or not the score is close at halftime, they'll be running at will come the 4th quarter and USF won't have an answer.
