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This from Sam McKewon - Husker writer:::

How about this: What if Minnesota can’t play Nebraska next week, and Michigan can’t play Ohio State, and NU and OSU are left standing, contemplating a rematch?

According to ESPN, both sides have to agree to the rematch, which is why, apparently, Northwestern, which lost its game to Minnesota this week, doesn’t have to play Maryland on Saturday. In so declining the rematch, the Wildcats essentially guarantee clinching the Big Ten West… unless they lose to Illinois, and the six-game rule is rescinded, and Wisconsin finishes 4-1, with a higher winning percentage than the Wildcats. Fun, huh?


So, back to the possibility of a Nebraska-Ohio State rematch. Imagine NU, having the power to deny OSU — and thus the Big Ten — a chance for its best team to play in the league title game. Imagine the Huskers, accepting what almost certainly would be a loss, for the good of a league that has denied them multiple times this fall.

That’s for next week. This week, Ohio State plays Michigan State and is 23½-point favorite. I think the Buckeyes win, but are sluggish in shrugging off a stressful couple weeks.

My pick: Ohio State 35, Michigan State 14

Nebraska at Purdue
11 a.m., BTN

Line: Purdue by 2


I’m going to write two things and then duck. First, when you watch Purdue’s offense — the pistol run game, the well-timed running back screens, the use of receivers — you almost wish it was Nebraska’s offense. Second, I think this game ranks very high on Bob Diaco’s lifetime motivation lists.

My pick: Purdue 28, Nebraska 24

Indiana at Wisconsin
2:30 p.m., ABC

Line: Wisconsin by 14

IU’s defense should hold the Badgers in check a little bit, but it’s hard to see how the Hoosiers, without quarterback Michael Penix, pile up points.

My pick: Wisconsin 26, Indiana 13

Penn State at Rutgers
11 a.m., FS1

Line: Penn State by 11

Greg Schiano wants this one. If he can get the upper hand on PSU’s recruiting edge, even for a few years, look out. New Jersey kids will want to stay home. The Nittany Lions did win their first game last week, though.

My pick: Penn State 29, Rutgers 21


Iowa at Illinois
2:30 p.m., FS1

Line: Iowa by 13½

A wise person familiar with Iowa football once told me that Illinois is a hard place to play at because of the wind and the modest, almost tuned-out crowd. Hard to find the juice. This matchup features to the best turnover-creating defenses in the nation.


My pick: Iowa 31, Illinois 17

Other options might include making up the Ohio State-Maryland game that was canceled on Nov. 14, which would leave Rutgers without a game as it is currently scheduled to play the Terps on Dec. 12. Might the league stitch together a game between Nebraska and Rutgers—two teams originally scheduled to play this season before shutdowns and reinstatements altered the calendar—instead of creating a rematch?

Assuming that tOSU and UNL are without opponents for 12/12 I would assume that tOSU/UNL part two will more than likely happen.  

I don't think the UMD/RU switch would work out because there are too many moving parts and I think that UMD and RU have something of a mini-rivalry being two teams that joined together.  I don't know.  

head to head