All 14 teams were scheduled to play this week (Tues-Thurs) but MN@IL got postponed. This week feels like it should be pretty uneventful because at least six of the seven scheduled games involved the better (IMHO) team hosting:
- MN @ IL, postponed. IL is the better team.
- RU+4.5 @ IU, Tuesday 630, BTN: I feel that IU, at least lately, is the better team and they are at home.
- UMD+3 @ MSU, Tuesday 9, ESPN2: I feel that MSU is the better team and they are hosting.
- UNL @ M, Wednesday 630, BTN: I feel that M is the better team and they are at home.
- UW @ PSU, Wednesday 830, BTN: I feel that PSU, right now, is the better team and they are hosting.
- Iowa @ PU, Thursday 7, ESPN2: Purdue is the better team and they are at home.
- NU @ tOSU, Thursday 8, FS1: Who knows?
The Northwestern/ Ohio State game is, IMHO, a complete crapshoot.
First off, Northwestern games in general are unpredictable. They have four road wins (MSU, IU, UNL, UW) and I'm fairly certain that is second only to Purdue and one of Purdue's was in Minneapolis. Thus, looking at their road games, Northwestern is arguably the best team in the league. On the flip side, they are atrocious at home. They have home losses to Rutgers, Michigan, and Ohio State.
Then there is Ohio State. A little over a month ago the Buckeyes obliterated Northwestern in Evanston and looked like one of the top teams in the league. In the time since the Buckeyes are 1-9 and look like they might be worse than Minnesota.
December Ohio State vs home Northwestern, the Buckeyes win in a laugher.
Recent Ohio State vs road Northwestern, the Wildcats win in a laugher.
Nothing would surprise me.