We are here! The final week of the season! The Big Ten Championship Game participants are almost set! There’s also a number of rivalry games on deck, some for pride, some for Big Ten title placement, and others for bowl eligibility.
Friday, November 29
The All
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wisconsin Badgers
12:00 PM EST, CBS | Wisconsin -1
Wisconsin goes into this game looking for bowl eligibility, and what stands in their way is a Minnesota team that would love nothing more than to be the reason the Badgers miss a bowl in 2024. Question would be, will Minnesota have anything left in the tank after an emotional loss a week ago?
Prediction: Wisconsin 23, Minnesota 20
Iowa Hawkeyes vs Nebraska Cornhuskers
7:30 PM EST, NBC | Iowa -3
Another instance of “will they have anything left in the tank,” Nebraska may have exerted all of its energy getting to bowl eligibility a week ago. That said, Iowa is on its 77th quarterback, and it’s -2 degrees outside.
Prediction: Nebraska 17, Iowa 13
Saturday, November 30
The All
No. 23 Illinois Fighting Illini “at” Northwestern Wildcats
12:00 PM EST, B1G Network | Illinois -7
It’s hard to tell if this game would have been at Wrigley anyway if Ryan Field hadn’t been demolished. Regardless, Illinois looks to have its first 9-win season since 2007. Northwestern, at this point, is looking forward to the offseason.
Prediction: Illinois 34, Northwestern 20
No. 5 Notre Dame Irish at USC Trojans
3:30 PM EST, CBS | Notre Dame -7.5
“Some” pundits have insisted that, because the committee has “largely forgiven“ the Northern Illinois loss, they should be ahead of Penn State. Because beating Navy, Army, Virginia, and the worst Florida State team since the 1970s is much, much better than losing to Ohio State, the No. 2 team in the country. And, since losing by 7 is the same as losing by 50, you get the point.
USC has held a lead in the fourth quarter of every game they’ve played. Wouldn’t it be hilarious…
Prediction: USC 28, Notre Dame 21
Michigan State Spartans vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights
3:30 PM EST, FS1 | Michigan State -1.5
Michigan State, like Wisconsin, comes into the game needing a win to become bowl eligible. Also like Wisconsin, they’re playing at home. Rutgers seems to have turned back into its old self in the past couple of weeks, so if the Spartans want to go bowling, they’re going to have to give it their all.
Prediction: Michigan State 24, Rutgers 20
Fresno State Bulldogs at UCLA Bruins
3:30 PM EST, B1G Network | UCLA -7.5
Bowl eligibility is out of the question for the Bruins, but an opportunity to finish 5-7, when most thought they’d be lucky to win three, is still an accomplishment for DeShaun Foster and UCLA.
Prediction: UCLA 28, Fresno State 20
Maryland Terrapins at No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions
3:30 PM EST, B1G Network | Penn State -24.5
Penn State has a chance to guarantee its place in the College Football Playoff with a win, and, as a bonus, it comes against a Maryland team James Franklin is not particularly fond of. Name the score.
Prediction: Penn State 56, Maryland 17
No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers
7:00 PM EST, FS1 | Indiana -29.5
I feel bad for Purdue.
Prediction: Indiana 59, Purdue 10
No. 1 Oregon Ducks vs Washington Huskies
7:30 PM EST, NBC | Oregon -18.5
Washington has beaten Oregon three straight times, so the Ducks will have revenge in its mind when they kick this one off. This is the first road game for the Huskies where they don’t have to travel two or more time zones, so they could probably stay within the number.
Prediction: Oregon 38, Washington 24
Please use this as your Friday games open thread. As always, open thread rules apply. Enjoy the last weekend of the regular season!