Let's Talk Football ...

IOWA @ Wisconsin   [Noon on ESPN]

This is a crucial game for IOWA.  If the Hawkeyes are to win the Big10 they need to get by the Badgers and the Buckeyes.  Tomorrow Kirk and the boys visit the former ... a week after they suffered a loss to the latter ... got it?  An ACL injury has ended the season of star-in-the-making Paul Chaney Jr.  The sure-handed receiver has proved especially valuable to the Hawkeyes on kick returns.  Betttendorf Bulldog Colin Sandeman has been tapped to fill Chaney's shoes.  Chaney also excels at catching short passes and running for extra yardage.  Thankfully the tight-end corp. is back at full strength ... Moeaki [not a typo ... there are that many vowels in his name] and Reisner make nice big targets for Stanzi.  Speaking of the highlight-making QB ... it is likely that he will make at least one "questionable" decision.  It is nice to know  that Sash, Clayborn and the rest of the defense can compensate for Ricky's ... shall we say ... mis-placed enthusiasm.  Love ya Jules but here's hoping for an unhappy homecoming at Camp Randall.  GO HAWKS! 

Minnesota @ Penn State  [3:30 on ABC/ESPN]

When the Golden Gopher sold his soul to TCF Bank for a shiny new stadium it was understood that Minnesota would be playing more games in the snow.  I don't think too many people outside of central command at AccuWeather thought those games would begin in October ... in Happy Valley.  Minnesota won their homecoming game last week, beating Purdue 35-20.  This week it is Penn State's turn to win.  Not that it really matters after that loss to IOWA.  Do you remember that?  What a game!

Illinois @ Indiana    [7pm on the Big10 Network]

Well look at that ... another Homecoming game.  After beginning the season with a startling set of three consecutive wins, Indiana succumbed to symmetry and lost the subsequent trio of games.  Tomorrow, in Bloomington, the Hoosiers hope to shift the balance toward the win column.  It is difficult to speculate the likelihood of such an occurrence.  My guess is that Illinois is better that their record [1-4] suggests.  The Fighting Illini have a strange schedule this year.  The fact that they have only played two non-conference games explains how they have managed to fit in a bye week [I did not know those still existed] and lose to three Big10 opponents [OSU, PSU & MSU].  Their season ends just as strangely, with the remaining two non-conference games, the second one being played in December ... at home!

Ohio State @ Purdue   [Noon on the Big10 Network]

The Boilermakers are looking for their first win since opening the season with a victory against Toledo.  Don't laugh ... that's rude.  I think we can all agree that it would be nice to see Brutus, Tressel and the rest of the Columbus faithful get a mouthful of Pete's hammer.  And if that does not happen ... Purdue can at least hold out hope for a book-end win against Indiana.