Northwestern at Illinois
Kickoff: 11:20 a.m. at Memorial Stadium.
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch.2; WGN-AM 720, WNUR-FM 89.3.
Coaches: Northwestern, Gary Barnett (30-36-1); Illinois, Ron Turner (0-8).
Series: Illinois leads 47-38-5.
Last meeting: Northwestern won 27-24 at Evanston in 1996.
Outlook: The Illini are down and out after losing to Indiana last week in a battle between two of the worst teams in the nation. But even when the Wildcats were headed for bowls the past two seasons, Illinois played them tough. Northwestern has gone to Chris Hamdorf at quarterback, and it might not be quite as easy as it looks.
Rick Morrissey’s pick: Northwestern 28-17.
Michigan at Penn State
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. at Beaver Stadium.
TV: WLS-Ch. 7.
Coaches: Michigan, Lloyd Carr (25-8); Penn State, Joe Paterno (296-74-3).
Series: Penn State leads 3-1.
Last meeting: Penn State won 29-17 at Ann Arbor in 1996.
Outlook: Penn State has the best running back on the field, Heisman candidate Curtis Enis. But in the Big Ten, the big games often come down to defense. Michigan has it.
Andrew Bagnato’s pick: Michigan 17-16.
Michigan State at Purdue
Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. at Ross-Ade Stadium.
TV: ESPN2.
Coaches: Michigan St., Nick Saban (16-14-1); Purdue, Joe Tiller (6-2).
Series: Michigan St. leads 27-21-3
Last meeting: Michigan State won 52-14 at East Lansing in 1996.
Outlook: Purdue came back to earth against Iowa, but they still have plenty to play for in this season of turnaround in West Lafayette. As for the Spartans, they are desperate to put the brakes on a skid that is threatening their postseason hopes.
Andrew Bagnato’s pick: Purdue 31-21.
Ohio State at Minnesota
Kickoff: 3 p.m. at the Metrodome.
Coaches: Ohio State, John Cooper (83-30-4); Minnesota, Glen Mason (2-7).
Last meeting: Ohio State won 45-0 at Columbus in 1996.
Series: Ohio State leads 32-6.
Outlook: Ohio State is playing its best football of the season, and that makes it an unfit guest on homecoming. The Golden Gophers are improving under new head coach Glen Mason, but the Ohio State alumnus is going to have to wait to notch his first Big Ten coaching victory.
Andrew Bagnato’s pick: Ohio State 31-10.
Iowa at Wisconsin
Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. at Camp Randall Stadium.
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Iowa, Hayden Fry (139-78-6); Wisconsin, Barry Alvarez (48-38-4).
Last meeting: Iowa won 31-0 at Iowa City in 1996.
Series: Iowa leads 36-34-2.
Outlook: Overall, this is the third-closest rivalry in Big Ten history, but it hasn’t been in recent years. The Hawkeyes have owned Wisconsin, going 17-0-1 since 1976. This one matches two of the top three rushers in the nation: Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne, who ranks second with 158.8 yards a game, and Iowa’s Tavian Banks, third in the country with 156.3 yards.
Andrew Bagnato’s pick: Iowa 33-17.
Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois
Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. at Huskie Stadium.
Radio: WKKD-FM 95.9.
Coaches: E. Michigan, Rick Rasnick (12-19); NIU, Joe Novak (1-19).
Series: NIU leads 14-11-2.
Last meeting: Eastern won 32-31 at Ypsilanti in 1987.
Outlook: Huskies RB Ivory Bryant doubtful (concussion). Eastern QB Charlie Batch ranks No. 6 in NCAA in total offense. Six NIU senior starters thirst to snap 16-game losing streak.
Tribune’s pick: NIU 20-17.
