Week 3 was not a great week for the Big Ten, and with only one non-conference game left for each member of the Big Ten, week 4 is where they would hope to create a lasting impression of the conference's strength before bowl season... and the schedule couldn't be any worse. There is no game of the week this week, because frankly, the Big Ten should win every game handily. If they don't go 10-0, then something went terribly wrong.
Central Michigan Chippewas 1-2 (0-1) @ Michigan State Spartans - 12 PM EST on ESPNU
Last Week: MSU lost 31-13, CMU lost 44-14
Favorite: MSU (-22, o/u 49.5)
Both these teams come in having lost last week, but MSU will bounce back and post a big win against CMU.
Prediction: MSU - 37 CMU - 10
San Diego State Aztecs 3-0 (0-0) @ Michigan Wolverines - 12 PM on BTN
Last Week: Michigan won 31-3, SDSU won 42-24
Favorite: Michigan (-10.5, o/u 60.5)
The Aztecs come to Ann Arbor to square off against their former head coach, Brady Hoke. Hoke went 13-12 in two years as head coach of the Aztecs, and they have gotten off to a 3-0 start this year with wins against Cal Poly, Army and Wash. St. I think they'll give Michigan a good game for awhile, but I expect the Wolverines to win somewhat comfortably.
Prediction: Michigan - 38 SDSU - 24
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 1-2 (0-0) @ Iowa Hawkeyes 2-1 (0-0) - 12 PM on BTN
Last Week: Iowa won 31-27, LA-Monroe lost 38-17
Favorite: Iowa (-17.5, o/u 50.5)
LA-Monroe has been outscored 72-17 in their two losses this year. Iowa will make that number worse.
Prediction: Iowa - 30 LA-Monroe - 13
Colorado Buffaloes 1-2 (0-1) @ Ohio State Buckeyes 2-1 (0-0) - 3:30 PM on ABC
Last Week: OSU lost 24-6, Colorado won 28-14
Favorite: OSU (-15, o/u 44)
While OSU state looked abysmal last week in their loss to Miami, there is a very low chance that they'll lose at home to Colorado. However, Ohio State's secondary will be tested in this game, as Colorado has averaged 304 passing yards a game in the young season.
Prediction: OSU - 24 Colorado - 10
South Dakota Coyotes 2-1 @ Wisconsin Badgers 3-0 (0-0) - 3:30 PM on BTN
Last Week: Wisconsin won 49-7, SD won 48-10
Favorite: Wisconsin (no line)
I had the pleasure(?) of watching South Dakota knock off the Gophers in TCF Bank Stadium last year. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, Wisconsin is a much better team than those Gophers were. South Dakota did give Air Force a run for its money in week one though, so this game could stay interesting for a little while.
Prediction: Wisconsin - 51 SD - 17
Western Michigan Broncos 2-1 (1-0) @ Illinois Fighting Illini 3-0 (0-0) - 3:30 PM on BTN
Last Week: Illinois won 17-14, WMU won 44-14
Favorite: Illinois (-13, o/u 53.5)
Someone commented on BSD yesterday that Illinois has a chance to go 4-0 for the first time since 1951 (I think). It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Illinois Zook'd this one and lost it, but I'm slowly starting to think they're better than that this year. Don't let me down Illinois!
Prediction: Illinois - 27 WMU - 20
North Dakota State Bison 2-0 (0-0) @ Minnesota Gophers 1-2 (0-0) - 3:30 on BTN
Last Week: Minnesota won 29-23, NDSU did not play
Favorite: Minnesota (no line)
Minnesota managed to avoid choking away another home game to an inferior opponent last week. Hopefully they'll put together a complete game against a FCS opponent. Probably not though.
Prediction: Minnesota - 28 NDSU - 24
Indiana Hoosiers 1-2 (0-0) @ North Texas Mean Green 0-3 (0-1) - 3:30 on ESPN3
Last Week: Indiana won 38-21, NT lost 41-0
Favorite: Indiana (-6.5, o/u 54.5)
Indiana, you can't lose to a team named "Mean Green". You just can't. Edward Wright-Baker should make sure that a loss won't happen though.
Prediction: Indiana - 34 NT - 27
Nebraska Cornhuskers 3-0 (0-0) @ Wyoming Cowboys 3-0 (0-0) - 7:30 PM on Versus
Last Week: Nebraska won 51-38, Wyoming won 28-27
Favorite: Nebraska (-23, o/u 59)
Nebraska is going to be in for a rude awakening when they travel to Wisconsin next week, but for one last week Taylor Martinez and the Cornhusker offense will make up for their lackluster defense. I'm expecting another shootout though as both teams are averaging 36 points scored a game or better.
Prediction: Nebraska - 56 Wyoming - 34
Bye Weeks: Northwestern and Purdue