Big Ten Football Outlook Week Four

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Badgers runs on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Badgers runs on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin and Purdue is the game we most care about.  But there is plenty of other Big Ten football action to follow in week four

We enter week four of the Big Ten football season and there is plenty of movement around the conference.  Obviously, we anticipate the Badgers and Boilermakers will dominate your attention.

But there is still plenty of other Big Ten football to monitor over the weekend.

We’re going to run down the six conference games over the weekend.  Iowa and Penn State are on bye.

Next: 3 Hot Takes for Purdue Game

As always, Badger fans must suppress any personal feelings and always root for Big Ten East to beat Big Ten West.  We want the division road to be as comfortable as possible.  East beating West gives Wisconsin some margin of error even if the Badgers stumble along the way.  Even with a loss (or two) Wisconsin can still get a nice bowl game by winning the west and reaching the Big Ten championship game.

Saturday 11 a.m. CST

ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 19: Camion Patrick
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 19: Camion Patrick /

#17 Michigan (4-1, 1-1) at Indiana (3-2, 0-2): a match up of two Big Ten East teams so no really rooting interest for Wisconsin.  The Badgers play both teams so strength of schedule won’t change.  The Wolverines are coming off a bad game losing to big brother Michigan State, but should rebound.  I’ll have my eye on this one for a Hoosier upset.  Nonetheless, Indiana’s two conference losses have come to The Ohio State and Penn State so they’re likely better than the conference mark indicates.

PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 15: Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno
PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 15: Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno /

Rutgers (1-4, 0-2) at Illinois (2-3, 0-2): A match up of some of the less competitive Big Ten sides in each division.  Rutgers is the East so normally you want them to beat the West.  But I can’t imagine Illinois will pose much of a threat to Wisconsin’s hopes.  So giving the Ilini an extra win to boost its strength of schedule is fine by me.

Saturday 2:30 p.m. CST

Northwestern (2-3, 0-2) at Maryland (3-2, 1-1): The Badgers play both teams this season so the safe bet is to pick the Big Ten East side (Maryland) and hope they beat Northwestern.  The Terrapins, quarterback or not, may still prevail in what should be a good game.  The Wildcats have a poor record but they put a late scare into the Badgers in Madison.

Saturday 6:30 p.m. CST

LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 8: Running back Rex Burkhead
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 8: Running back Rex Burkhead /

#9 The Ohio State (5-1, 3-0) at Nebraska: (3-3, 2-1) I don’t feel great about suggesting you root for the Buckeyes.  But as always, you want East over West.  So here we are.  The Ohio State should not have much trouble dispatching the desperate Cornhuskers.  Keep in mind, Nebraska is just 1.5 back of Wisconsin in the Big Ten West standings at present.

Next: Wisconsin Football Purdue Boilermaker Preview

Saturday 7:00 p.m. CST

EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Connor Cook
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Connor Cook /

#21 Michigan State (4-1, 2-0) at Minnesota (3-2, 0-2):  Well this aligns well for Badger interests.  Rival Minnesota is winless in conference play and hosts a Big Ten East side.  I’ve been sleeping on the Spartans given it shares a division with Michigan, Penn State, and The Ohio State.  I’m wrong, because Michigan State could a minimum spoil things.  But there’s no reason to think the Spartans can’t win the East themselves.  Meanwhile, it’s never a bad thing to see the Golden Gophers lose.