Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Let’s just say Wisconsin’s going through a rough patch.
Same holds true around the rest of the league. Minnesota’s program has been reignited by second-year coach Tim Brewster; Purdue’s appears to be retiring to Wyoming along with last-year coach Joe Tiller. Yet some of the Boilermakers are playmakers, and at home they could burn the Gophers. Michigan is, by Michigan standards, and by Kent State standards, pretty weak; but nobody likes to lose to Michigan State, especially the Wolverines, and I bet they’ll be tough against their rivals. After the last couple weekends it’s hard to imagine Wisconsin’s defense stopping me on my way to lunch, let alone Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn, but it’s not hard to imagine the Illini committing a few dumb penalties and turnovers to give the Badgers a chance to run the ball at home. As for that big game—Penn State has a better squad, especially on offense, but Ohio State knows how to play big games, especially when they don’t involve national titles or conference prestige.
· The Golden Gophers melt the Boilermakers.
