Minnesota and Iowa are set to square off for the 103rd time in series history Saturday and recently bowl-eligible Minnesota holds a 59-41-2 advantage. The Hawkeyes, however, will not only be looking to get back to the win column, but also continue the success it has had over the Golden Gophers this past decade. Iowa has captured seven of the last eight, including a 55-0 drubbing over the Gophers in Minneapolis last year. That win means the Hawkeyes hold the Floyd of Rosedale in its possession - a bronze pig traveling trophy that has been fought for since 1935. In that rivalry, Minnesota holds a 39-33-2 advantage.
Minnesota's offense will need to improve after producing zero of the 16 points the Gophers scored in a win over South Dakota State last week. The defense recovered a fumble and returned it 3 yards for a score and Eric Ellestad kicked three field goals. Minnesota QB Adam Weber completed 10-of-21 passes for 94 yards, but was sacked four times, which brought the Gophers' conference-high sacks-against total to 34. Kevin Whaley rushed 16 times for 56 yards to lead the ground game. Overall Minnesota is seventh in the conference in passing (202.4), 10th in scoring (23.5) and time of possession (28:40), and last in rushing (102.1) and total offense (304.5). Weber ranks 11th in the league in total offense (186.5), while no Gopher receiver or rusher rate among the top 10. Defensively, Iowa is 10th in the nation against the pass (165.7), 11th in total defense (294.5) and 17th in scoring defense (16.9). In last week's heartbreaking loss at Ohio State, linebacker Pat Angerer recorded a team-high 13 tackles, while Adrian Clayborn added 12 stops, including three tackles for loss and one QB sack. A.J. Edds added 10 tackles and DT Christian Ballard had two TFLs among his four stops. The Hawkeyes boast a plus-2 turnover margin, which ranks fifth in the conference, but have also picked off a league-high 19 interceptions on the year, led by Tyler Sash with a half-dozen.
Offensively, Iowa averages 24.1 points, 114.5 rushing, 230.8 passing and 345.3 yards per game. Backup quarterback James Vandenberg was lauded for his efforts last week in the loss at Ohio State as he completed 20-of-33 passes for 233 yards and two scores. Vandenberg did toss three interceptions in his first career start, but led the Hawkeyes down the wire and almost captured a win in one of college football's most intense settings. After missing two games, Adam Robinson returned to lead Iowa's ground game with 74 yards on 20 carries. Robinson is fourth in the Big Ten with 78.1 rushing yards per game, while teammate Brandon Wegher is tied for eighth at 50.2. Marvin McNutt led Iowa receivers against the Buckeyes with six catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Minnesota is allowing 25.7 points per game and only gave up 13 points, 46 rushing yards and 229 total yards to South Dakota State. Lee Campbell is third in the Big Ten with 9.6 tackles per game, while Nate Triplett (8.5) and Simoni Lawrence (6.6) follow. Cedric McKinley has forced a pair of fumbles on the year and has recovered three as well.
(9-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 • Noon ET • Ann Arbor, Mich. • Michigan Stadium (106,201) ABC • Announcers: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, Holly Rowe
Series: Michigan leads 57-42-6 • Last Meeting: Nov. 22, 2008: Ohio State 42, Michigan 7
(5-6, 1-6 Big Ten)
OK, so maybe Ohio State went ahead and used its late-November dramatics last week in an overtime win over Iowa. That victory in Columbus gave the Buckeyes at least a share of their fifth consecutive conference championship and an invitation to the 2010 Rose Bowl. But here's the thing: It's Michigan Week, and the Wolverines lead the all-time series by a 57-42-6 count and own a 27-22-2 advantage in games played in Columbus. Although U-M has dropped five straight conference contests this season and the last five outings against its top rival, it's the last week of the Big Ten regular season and the Buckeyes and Wolverines always make for an interesting matchup. Not to mention OSU wants to win the Big Ten outright.
Michigan leads the Big Ten in scoring in all games played with 31.2 points per contest and ranks second in rushing (195.8), but just ninth in passing (195.5). Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier is fourth in the conference in passing efficiency with a 132.85 rating, has completed 142-of-243 attempts (58.4 percent) with six interceptions and 12 touchdowns, and averages 165.8 yards per game. Michigan receiving has been done by committee this year as U-M's quarterbacks have completed passes to 19 different wideouts. On the ground, Brandon Minor is the team's leading rusher with 502 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 50.2 yards each time out, which is eighth in the conference. Michigan's high-powered scoring offense will match up against one of the conference's top defenses. OSU ranks second in the league by allowing just 12.4 points a game and owns the conference's top mark with a plus-12 turnover margin. In fact, the Buckeyes have forced 28 opponent turnovers through the first 11 games, an average of 2.5 per contest, and have forced 19 interceptions and recovered nine opponent fumbles on the year. Ross Homan, the team's leading tackler at 7.6 stops per game, has four of those picks, followed by Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell with three apiece. In last week's title-clinching win over Iowa, Russell intercepted two passes, including one in overtime. In addition, Ohio State's defense has allowed just 10 touchdowns over its past 39 quarters of play.
While the Buckeyes' offense has managed to find the end zone this year, ranking fourth in the league with 30.0 points per game, it has struggled putting up yardage. OSU ranks eighth in the conference in total yardage (369.1) and last in passing (174.9). Like its rival Michigan, Ohio State has found success running the ball this season, rating third in the league with 194.2 yards per game. Most of that yardage has come from quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who boasts an average of 57.5 yards each time out. Teammate Brandon Saine ranks just behind Pryor in Big Ten rushing in seventh with 55.5 yards per contest. In the air, Pryor has completed just 56.0 percent of his passes for an average of 160.1 yards and has thrown 15 TDs and 9 interceptions. DeVier Posey hauls in more than four passes for an average total of nearly 63 yards per game. Defensively, the Wolverines give up 28.1 points and 400.2 yards of total offense every Saturday. The OSU run game is expected to see a lot of action in Ann Arbor as Michigan ranks 10th in the conference against the rush, allowing 164.7 yards per contest. U-M has also given up 19 touchdowns on the ground, which is the third-highest total in the league. Should Pryor be contained to the pocket, he will be tracked by senior Brandon Graham, who ranks fourth nationally with 1.9 TFL's per game. His 21.0 tackles for loss pace the Big Ten, while his 8.5 sacks are the second most in the league this year.
(8-2, 5-2 Big Ten)
No. 16 Wisconsin at Northwestern Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 • 2:30 p.m. CT • Evanston, Ill. • Ryan Field (47,130) Big Ten Network • Announcers: Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin, Charissa Thompson
Wisconsin makes its first trip to Northwestern's Ryan Field since 2005 and still has hopes of clinching a share of the Big Ten title. Should Michigan upset Ohio State and the Badgers take out Northwestern at home, the Badgers would earn a share of its 12th Big Ten title and its first since 1999. This will be the 93rd meeting between the two teams with Wisconsin leading the series 55-32-5. The Badgers hold a 28-17-1 advantage in games played in Evanston, but good news for Northwestern as the home team has won each of the last four games in the series. In the last meeting, a 41-9 Badger victory in 2006, P.J. Hill ran for a career-high 249 yards. The year before that, which was the last time they met in Evanston, UW and Northwestern combined for 99 points (including 72 in the second half) and 1,185 yards of total offense in a 51-48 Wildcat win.
The Badgers are set to bring their Big Ten-leading rushing attack to Evanston, one that averages 208.0 yards per game, with sophomore running back John Clay leading the conference with 112.4 yards per outing. Overall Wisconsin is first in the league in time of possession (33:15), second in scoring (31.1) and total offense (410.2), but just seventh in passing (202.2). Quarterback Scott Tolzien did however rack up the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award after completing 16-of-24 passes (66.7 pct.) for 240 yards and equaling a career high with four passing touchdowns and a rushing score in last week's win over Michigan. As a team, the Badgers had 28 first downs and 469 yards of total offense, an average of 6.2 yards per play. Nick Toon is sixth in the Big Ten with 63.3 receiving yards and eighth with a 4.20 receptions-per-game average. Northwestern's defense is fifth in the league in scoring (22.6) and rush defense (125.7) and sixth against the pass (219.5). The Wildcats have struggled to maintain good health on defense this year as they have started 20 different players. Nate Williams and Quentin Davie lead NU with 7.2 tackles per game.
On offense, Northwestern is scoring 24.5 points per contest and racking up more than 380 total yards, with 257 of those coming through the air. Against Illinois last week, quarterback Mike Kafka notched his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season, completing 23-of-37 passes for 305 yards, which included a 28-yard TD reception to leading receiver Zeke Markshausen. The NU wideout is second in the conference with 6.91 receptions and fourth with 67.0 yards per game. In addition, 10 different players caught passes against Illinois last week and Markshausen paced the way with his second 100-yard receiving game of the season. UW has limited six opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense this season, including four of the last five. The Badgers have forced 23 turnovers, including 13 interceptions, and are 6-0 this season when being at least even in the turnover battle. Wisconsin enters Saturday's contest with a plus-4 turnover margin, the same mark as the Wildcats. UW has done most of its damage against the run game, averaging 14th in the nation by allowing just 99.6 yards per outing, as well as allowing 207.8 yards through the air. O'Brien Schofield is tied for second in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss and is fourth in the Big Ten with 8.0 sacks. Free safety Chris Maragos is tied for 17th in the country and tied for second in the Big Ten with four interceptions on the year.
(4-7, 3-4 Big Ten)
Purdue at Indiana Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Bloomington, Ind. • Memorial Stadium (52,692) Big Ten Network • Announcers: Craig Coshun, Anthony Herron
Both Indiana and Purdue enter Saturday's contest simply looking to close out the season on a positive note. That means a season-ending W, in-state bragging rights, and of course the Old Oaken Bucket. The past two years have been both memorable and forgettable for each team. The last time the Hoosiers hosted the annual battle, Austin Starr kicked a 49-yard game-winning field goal for a 27-24 victory, which gave IU its first "Bucket" since 2001 and a bid to the Insight Bowl - Indiana's first postseason bid since 1993. A year later however, Purdue sent Joe Tiller out a big winner in West Lafayette with a dominant 62-10 victory over the Hoosiers. The Boilermakers scored on their first 10 possessions, did not punt, and outgained IU 596-214 in the win. Overall, Purdue leads the all-time series 69-36-6 and owns a 32-18-1 advantage in games played in Bloomington.
The Boilermakers are second in the Big Ten in passing offense (259.8) and fourth in total offense (397.0), while averaging 26.9 points and 137.2 rushing yards each time out. QB Joey Elliott paces the conference with 256.6 passing yards per game and has completed 60.9 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Junior wideout Keith Smith also leads the Big Ten with 92.3 yards and 7.82 receptions per game. Elliott's other aerial threat, Aaron Valentin, leads Purdue with seven TDs to go along with 601 yards and 4.55 grabs per contest, which is sixth in the league. On the ground, Ralph Bolden is third in the conference with 84.6 rushing yards per game, while Jaycen Taylor has 277 yards on the ground - a 5.5 average - and four touchdowns. Indiana's defense is allowing 28.7 points per game, which is 10th in the league behind Purdue's average of 29.8, and 407.5 total yards - an average that ranks 11th. The Hoosiers have fought injuries in the secondary this season and because of that, are allowing conference-highs with passing yards allowed per game (245.3) and per catch (8.1). But even with those numbers IU has managed to post 16 interceptions on the season, 15 of which have come on the road, including 10 in the last three road games. Last week at Penn State, the Hoosiers forced two picks and a pair of fumbles in the first half. Matt Mayberry led the Hoosiers with a career-high 15 tackles in the game, the fifth time this year he had posted double-digit tackles in a conference contest. His 99 tackles lead the Hoosiers this year, while his 9.0 stops-per-game average is fifth in the Big Ten. Jammie Kirlew has 5.5 sacks and 14.5 TFLs on the year, and his five forced fumbles pace the conference.
Indiana's pass-oriented offense is posting 356.2 yards overall, including 246.3 in the air. Last week in State College, QB Ben Chappell finished 32-of-51 passing for 298 yards - the most allowed by a PSU defense that entered the game surrendering 166.1 per game. Chappell had one interception and two TDs against the Nittany Lions, while Damarlo Belcher had nine catches for 95 yards. IU netted just 48 rushing yards, but was impressive with the running game on the opening drive against a Penn State defense that has long been stingy against the run. The Hoosiers are only 10th in the league with 109.9 rushing yards each time out and are ninth with 23.7 points each week. Ryan Kerrigan paces a Purdue defense that is allowing 29.8 points, 171.4 rushing yards, 197.5 passing yards and 368.8 total yards per game. The junior defensive end leads the Big Ten with 11 of the team's 29 sacks to go along with 16.5 tackles for loss (third in league), five forced fumbles (tied for first), one fumble recovery and 63 tackles. Jason Werner sits atop the team with 74 tackles and 58 solo stops. The senior linebacker also has 4.5 sacks, 14.5 TFLs, two forced fumbles and one interception. Senior safety Torri Williams owns 71 tackles with two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception, while DB David Pender is the conference's leading pass defender with an average of 1.2 pass breakups per game.
(9-2, 5-2 Big Ten)
No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. ET • East Lansing, Mich. • Spartan Stadium (75,005) ABC • Announcers: Mike Patrick, Craig James, Heather Cox
Series: Penn State leads 13-12-1 • Last Meeting: Nov. 22, 2008: Penn State 49, Michigan State 18
(6-5, 4-3 Big Ten)
Penn State and Michigan State are set to battle in East Lansing for the Land Grant Trophy on Saturday. Having first met in 1914, the Nittany Lions hold a slim 13-12-1, but nothing was slim about the margin of victory in last year's 49-18 win over Michigan State. That win, in which the Nittany Lions totaled 557 yards, gave them a share of the Big Ten title and the conference's coveted Rose Bowl bid. Over the past 16 conference games between the two schools, 1004 points have been scored for a combined average of 62.7 points per game. A win over the Spartans and an Ohio State loss at Michigan would give Penn State a share of its second straight conference title.
Penn State's offense puts up 28.5 points, 172.3 rushing, 231.2 passing and 403.5 total yards per game. Quarterback Daryll Clark is hoping for another impressive performance against the Spartans as he threw for 341 yards and scored five touchdowns in last season's routing of MSU. Statistics show this year that Clark needs to be more accurate with his passes. Prone to interceptions, Clark has thrown four picks in the Nittany Lions' two losses this season. Over the last two years when he has not thrown an INT, Penn State is 12-0. This past Saturday PSU was given a bit of a scare by Indiana as the Hoosiers forced four turnovers in the first half, two of which were interceptions. Clark, who ended the game with 194 yards and a score, currently ranks second in the conference with a 139.7 passer rating, behind only Michigan State's Kirk Cousins (149.7). Evan Royster also ranks second in the league with 90.0 rushing yards per game, while wideout Derek Moye rates 10th in the conference with 61.5 receiving yards each time out. Defensively, Michigan State is allowing 23.5 points every Saturday and 350.9 total yards, including 245.0 in the air, which is just 10th-best in the league. The Spartan secondary has recorded only five interceptions on the season - a total that is second-fewest in the league. MSU ranks fourth against the rush, allowing 105.9 yards per contest. Junior linebacker Greg Jonesleads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA with 126 total tackles. Jones also boasts 11.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks on the season.
As for Michigan State's potent offense, the Spartans are putting up 31.0 points per game and their averages of 274.1 passing yards and 413.8 total yards lead the conference. Under center Cousins has thrown 10 touchdowns and one interception in last three games, while on the year he has tossed 17 scores to just five picks. He boasts a 61.9 completion percentage and is sixth in the league with 209.5 passing yards per game. His primary target is Blair White, who leads the Big Ten with touchdowns (8), is third in yardage (77.6), and ranks fourth in receptions (5.55) each time he takes the field. Despite ranking third in the Big Ten with 178.1 passing yards allowed each game, Penn State's pass defense has been tested at times, including last week against Indiana. The Hoosiers' Ben Chappell recorded 298 passing yards against the Nittany Lion secondary, which bodes well for Cousins and the Spartans. PSU still boasts impressive numbers on defense, ranking fourth in the country in points allowed (11.6) and ninth in total yards (272.0). History also points to Spartan success when facing Penn State in East Lansing. The Nittany Lions have lost four of six games at Spartan Stadium since 1997 and have allowed an average of 36.5 points and 448.3 yards each contest. Josh Hull leads all PSU tacklers with 9.4 stops per outing - an average fourth in the Big Ten - while teammate Navarro Bowman, who returned an interception 73 yards against Indiana to break a 10-10 tie in the third quarter, rates seventh at 7.2. Jared Odrick has 6.0 sacks on the season, followed by Jack Crawford at 5.5 to go along with his 13.5 TFLs.
