Jim Rossow's Big Ten football report

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THE SCHEDULE

Want to know which of Saturday's games are worth your while? Here's the scoop from sports editor Jim Rossow, who has been guaranteed his job through 2010 after a 4-1 week left him 48-14 overall:

Indiana at No. 7 Iowa, 11 a.m., ESPN

A good chance for the Hawkeyes to win another Big Ten Player of the Week award. Adrian Clayborn's honor this week marked the seventh time a Hawkeye's been recognized this season, one short of the school record set in 1997 and 2002.

Rossow's pick: Iowa, 28-14

Purdue at Wisconsin, 11 a.m., ESPN2

Not every former Boilermakers quarterback is having a rough time (see: Bob Griese). Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter are a combined 18-0 this season, and their teams (Saints, Broncos, Colts) are the only unbeatens left in the NFL.

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin, 27-24

New Mexico State at No. 17 Ohio State, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network

Let's hope Richard Herman doesn't take the job until after this one, which could get ugly. The Aggies have scored 12 or fewer points in half their games. And the Buckeyes rank seventh nationally in scoring defense (13.1).

Rossow's pick: Ohio State, 42-0

Michigan at Illinois, 2:30 p.m., WICD (ABC)

Michigan's Carlos Brown needs 84 yards to become the seventh active Big Ten player with 1,000 career yards rushing, joining Penn State's Evan Royster (2,490), Illinois' Juice Williams (2,327) Wisconsin's John Clay (1,600), Michigan's Brandon Minor (1,478), Illinois' Daniel Dufrene (1,168) and Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor (1,102).

Rossow's pick: Michigan, 31-23

No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

If he keeps up the pace, Mike Kafka will become the third Northwestern quarterback to lead the Big Ten in total offense in the last five seasons. Brett Basanez was No. 1 in 2005, C.J. Bacher in 2007.

Rossow's pick: Penn State, 31-13

Michigan State at Minnesota, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network

Spartans also played the Gophers in their inaugural season in the Metrodome, winning 26-7 on Nov. 13, 1982.

Rossow's pick: Michigan State, 26-7

LOOKING AHEAD

NOV. 7

Illinois at Minnesota 11 a.m.

Wisconsin at Indiana 11 a.m.

Northwestern at Iowa 11 a.m.

Purdue at Michigan 11 a.m.

W. Michigan at Michigan St. 11 a.m.

Ohio State at Penn State 2:30 p.m.

JIM ROSSOW'S RANDOM THOUGHTS

UNHAPPY ANNIVERSARY

This weekend is the one-year anniversary of Illinois football actually making its fans feel good. On Nov. 1, 2008, the Illini beat Iowa 27-24 on Matt Eller's late kick to improve to 5-4. Since then, they've lost nine consecutive games against Division I-A teams, missed out on a bowl by losing to Western Michigan and experienced off-the-field turbulence. Message boards want the coaches fired, the athletic director transferred and the starters benched. Will a win Saturday fix the mess? Not entirely. But Illinois fans deserve to be thrown a bone after 12 months of misery.

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS

Congratulations to Illinois offensive guard Jon Asamoah, who Thursday was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy, given to the nation's top senior scholar-athlete. The Illini's dismal season has been rough on Asamoah, who nonetheless has handled the 1-6 start with dignity. The Campbell award used to be called the Draddy Trophy, which former Illini J Leman was a finalist for in 2007. Asamoah might not win it – Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy are better-known semifinalists – but getting this far is definitely well deserved.

BAD SCHEDULING

I'm thinking Iowa would die to have Illinois' schedule. Not the level of competition, mind you. Lining up Missouri, Fresno State and Cincinnati in the nonconference isn't smart for a traditional power, much less a program the caliber of Illinois. What Iowa could use is the Illini's timing. The Hawkeyes finish the regular season Nov. 21. So while they idle, the rest of the national contenders win over poll voters and computers by playing into December. Illinois plays twice after Iowa wraps up – Nov. 27 and Dec. 5.

TEMPERATURE CHECK

WHO'S HOT

PENN STATE'S STAT KEEPERS

The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in 10 major statistical categories: total offense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense, scoring defense, pass defense, passing efficiency, sacks, tackles for loss and fewest sacks allowed.

SCOTT CONCANNON

A week ago, he was the fourth-string tailback at Northwestern. On Saturday, he'll start against Penn State. That's how good he was in the comeback against Indiana apparently, when he gained 73 yards on 16 carries and had 32 yards in a drive that set up the winning field goal.

THADDEUS GIBSON

He's good (Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week) and smart (sucking up to the coach). Gibson is the only current Buckeye who also is taking a football coaching class taught by Jim Tressel. "He's always in class, he's always in the first row," Tressel said.

WHO'S WARM

PENN STATE'S POPULARITY

It won't help their BCS ranking (12th), but the Nittany Lions check in at No. 7 in this week's Ipsos Fan First Poll, which starts with a representative sample of 2,014 Americans and then screens them for their interest in college football. No other one-loss team is ranked higher.

PURDUE'S SECONDARY

It helps playing against Terrelle Pryor (when he's struggling) and any quarterback from Illinois (they're all struggling). Still, the Boilermakers have made Rod Woodson proud by covering much better in the last two games. Thanks to starters Brandon King, Dwight Mclean, Torri Williams and David Pender, as well as Albert Evans, Purdue has climbed to No. 4 in pass defense in the Big Ten.

DAVID MOOSMAN

He's still anchoring Michigan's offensive line, but not at right guard. Moved to center because of David Molk's injury, Moosman has had his problems. Against Penn State, he fired a snap past the quarterback that resulted in a safety. "I've had some bad plays, and those have got to be behind me," he said.

WHO'S COLD

MICHIGAN STATE'S DEPTH

At least at tailback, where reserves Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson have been removed from the roster by no-nonsense Spartans coach Mark Dantonio. Both had fallen behind freshmen Larry Caper and Edwin Baker on the depth chart.

BILL LYNCH

He's getting the Zook treatment at Indiana after questionable decisions against Northwestern. "I don't second-guess one call that was made in that football game," he said. "In play-calling, you just don't pull something out of the air and say, 'I think this is a good time for a double-reverse pass.' You're going to make a lot better decisions Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning in the staff room than in a 30-second period."

ROOMMATES, MINNESOTA

That'd be good buddies Eric Decker and Adam Weber, who can commiserate at night. Decker is lost for the regular season (injury). Weber is simply lost at quarterback (new offensive coordinator).

GIMME FIVES: This week's rankings, courtesy sports editor Jim Rossow

ILLINOIS MVP

Player Previous

Mikel Leshoure 1

Derek Dimke –

Jacob Charest 5

Hubie Graham –

Terry Hawthorne –

BIG TEN MVP

Player Previous

Daryll Clark, Penn State –

Pat Angerer, Iowa 2

Ricky Stanzi, Iowa –

Stefan Demos, Northwestern –

Navorro Bowman, Penn State –

COACH OF THE YEAR

Coach Previous

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 1

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 4

Joe Paterno, Penn State –

Bret Bielema, Wisconsin –

Danny Hope, Purdue –

BOWL LINEUP

School Bowl

Iowa BCS

Penn State BCS

Ohio State Capital One

Wisconsin Outback

Northwestern Champs

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