We’re entering crunch time in the Big Ten conference this weekend. For Penn State to have any chance to win the conference again – and find itself in Pasadena – certain things need to happen and stat.
Step 1 – Defeat Minnesota
First and foremost (dah!), the Lions need to beat Minnesota on Saturday. While the Nittany Lions have defeated Minnesota in the past two contests, they are only 3-2 at home, and two of those three victories came in the 1990s! A defeat here will surely take Penn State out of the conference championship equation.
Step 2 – Forgot about these games
The Illinois @ Indiana, and the Delaware State @ Michigan games mean very little to the conference race.
Step 3- The Hawkeyes need to lose
It certainly doesn’t have to happen this weekend, by the Iowa Hawkeyes have to lose at least one game in the conference for Penn State to share the title (assuming both teams are 7-1 in the conference at the end), and lose two games in the conference for PSU to return to the Rose Bowl. This weekend, Iowa travels to Wisconsin. If the Hawkeyes win, they remain on track for their first title since 2004 and the Badgers will likely be out of contention. It is best to cheer against the Hawkeyes this weekend. Wisconsin is 4-5 this decade versus Iowa.
Wisconsin vs. Iowa
2008/10/18 Wisconsin 16 - Iowa 38 L
2007/09/22 Wisconsin 17 - Iowa 13 W
2006/11/11 Wisconsin 24 - Iowa 21 W
2005/11/12 Wisconsin 10 - Iowa 20 L
2004/11/20 Wisconsin 7 - Iowa 30 L
2003/11/22 Wisconsin 21 - Iowa 27 L
2002/11/02 Wisconsin 3 - Iowa 20 L
2001/11/03 Wisconsin 34 - Iowa 28 W
2000/10/28 Wisconsin 13 - Iowa 7 W
Source: http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/series/wi/iw.shtml
Step 4 – Go Michigan State! Go Ohio State!
Michigan State has already lost one game in the conference and Penn State plays the Spartans. Therefore, against the Wildcats, it is okay to root for MSU. Besides, we play Northwestern too in two weeks. The Spartans are 3-4 this decade.
Michigan State vs. Northwestern this decade
2008/10/11 Michigan St 37 - Northwestern 20 W
2007/10/06 Michigan St 41 - Northwestern 48 L OT
2006/10/21 Michigan St 41 - Northwestern 38 W
2005/10/22 Michigan St 14 - Northwestern 49 L
2002/09/27 Michigan St 39 - Northwestern 24 W
2001/09/29 Michigan St 26 - Northwestern 27 L
2000/09/30 Michigan St 17 - Northwestern 37 L
Source: http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/series/mist/nw.shtml
Finally, Ohio State plays at Purdue. While it would be nice to see Ohio State lose, let’s cheer for them anyway so that they are undefeated when they come to Happy Valley for November 7. Surprisingly, Purdue has defeated the Bucks twice this decade.
Go OSU!
Ohio State vs. Purdue this decade
2008/10/11 Ohio St 16 - Purdue 3 W
2007/10/06 Ohio St 23 - Purdue 7 W
2004/11/13 Ohio St 17 - Purdue 24 L
2003/11/15 Ohio St 16 - Purdue 13 W OT
2002/11/09 Ohio St 10 - Purdue 6 W
2001/11/10 Ohio St 35 - Purdue 9 W
2000/10/28 Ohio St 27 - Purdue 31 L
Source: http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/series/ohst/purdue.shtml
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