THE SCHEDULE

Want to know which of Saturday's games are worth your while? Here's the scoop from sports editor Jim Rossow, who had his house egged after a season-worst 2-4 week left him 54-20 overall:

Northwestern at Illinois, 11 a.m., ESPN Classic

The Wildcats have won five of their last seven Big Ten road games and are 7-8 under Pat Fitzgerald in league games outside Evanston. The Wildcats have won five times in their last nine trips to Memorial Stadium.

Rossow's pick: Northwestern, 19-17

Michigan at No. 21 Wisconsin, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network

The Badgers have yet to allow a Big Ten opponent to reach 100 yards rushing, their longest streak since 2004. If that's not impressive enough, they lead the Big Ten in rushing offense, too.

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin, 31-10

South Dakota State at Minnesota, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network

The Gophers are 5-0 against the Jackrabbits – not that anyone remembers their last win. The teams haven't played since 1933, when Minnesota won 19-6.

Rossow's pick: Minnesota, 19-6

Michigan State at Purdue, 11 a.m., ESPN

Last week, Joey Elliott became the first Purdue quarterback since Bob Griese to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. This week, Griese is back in West Lafayette to call the game on TV.

Rossow's pick: Purdue, 28-27

Indiana at No. 19 Penn State, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network

Hoosiers are 0-12 against the Nittany Lions: 0-6 at State College, 0-5 at Bloomington and 0-1 in Indianapolis. Next year, another site likely will make the list as the teams will play in Landover, Md., in what will serve as an Indiana home game.

Rossow's pick: Penn State, 35-17

No. 15 Iowa at No. 10 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m., WICD (ABC)

Taking into account tiebreakers, the winner gets at least a share of the Big Ten title and a BCS berth. The Buckeyes are trying to become the first team since Michigan (1998-2002) to win five consecutive conference championships.

Rossow's pick: Ohio State, 24-3

LOOKING AHEAD

Coaches like Ron Zook take it one game at a time. We don't:

NOV. 21

Minnesota at Iowa 11 a.m.

Ohio State at Michigan 11 a.m.

Wisconsin at Northwestern 2:30 p.m.

Purdue at Indiana 2:30 p.m.

Penn St. at Michigan St. 2:30 p.m.

NOV. 27

Illinois at Cincinnati TBA

DEC. 5

Fresno State at Illinois 11:30 a.m.

Wisconsin at Hawaii TBA

JIM ROSSOW'S RANDOM THOUGHTS

SORRY, SENIORS

I've always had a soft spot for Senior Days. Maybe that's why I wish this year's outgoing Illini had a better chance to say goodbye. Like, say, on Saturday against Northwestern in a game that still has meaning (new trophy, bowl implications, Big Ten finale). Instead, they'll likely go out on a frigid Saturday against an unfamiliar opponent (Fresno State) in a game – barring an upset of Cincinnati – that will lack fans and incentive. The last time Illinois played its final home game against a team outside the Big Ten was in 1944 against Notre Dame.

BOWL BUSINESS

If the Big Ten lands only one spot in the BCS – likely this season – it needs six more teams to fill its bowl commitments. That might be tricky considering two of the following – Michigan State, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana – aren't at the six-win minimum yet, The Gophers should get there this weekend. But Michigan should finish 0-2, Illinois and Indiana have tall orders (Cincinnati, Penn State) and Michigan State goes to Purdue and hosts Penn State. The Boilermakers, who finish at Indiana, might have the best shot.

HOW QUICKLY THEY FALL

Last week, Iowa was on the cover of some Sports Illustrateds and in the conversation for the BCS title game. After next Saturday, the Hawkeyes could be in fourth place in the Big Ten and out of the January bowl lineup. The turnabout started with Ricky Stanzi's ankle injury, which resulted in a Northwestern touchdown and kick-started the Wildcats' rally last week. It likely will continue at Ohio State, with the Buckeyes poised to win another Big Ten title. And who's to say Iowa will be able to handle Minnesota in a high-stakes trophy game?

TEMPERATURE CHECK

WHO'S HOT

EX-MICHIGAN QUARTERBACKS

Tate Forcier's a mess. But Tom Brady has regained his NFL form, Jim Harbaugh has Stanford back in bowl business and Ryan Mallett should set Arkansas' single-season passing record against Troy on Saturday. The one-time Wolverine has 2,477 yards passing this season, 152 short of Clint Stoerner's record. Mallett has thrown 18 touchdowns, eight behind Stoerner's mark of 26.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield and J.J. Watt have combined for 29 tackles for loss this season, the second most in the country by teammates. Just ahead of them is the Purdue tandem of Ryan Kerrigan and Jason Werner (30.5).

PURDUE'S HEALTH

Wonder why the Boilermakers are peaking? The same 11 players have started on defense for seven consecutive games. On offense, only a knee injury to Royce Adams and a one-game suspension for Zach Reckman (ask Rich Rodriguez about that one) have disrupted things.

WHO'S WARM

VISITING TEAMS

We posed the question in Sunday's N-G: When was the last time visiting teams won every Big Ten game on a single weekend? Turns out it wasn't that long ago (Nov. 11, 2006). Last weekend's sweep, while impressive, raised the visiting team's record to 16-20 in Big Ten games this season, which still trails last year's mark of 20-24.

CORNLEY FAMILY

Tough call who to root for when Indiana travels to Penn State this weekend. Hoosiers freshman defensive end Javon Cornley's older brother is former Penn State basketball player Jamelle Cornley, who was drafted last week by the NBDL's Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants.

HOOSIERS ON THE ROAD

Sure, they're 0-3 in Big Ten road games. But Indiana has led at the half and after three quarter in each game: at Michigan, Northwestern and Iowa. It is the first time since 1994 that Indiana has led at the break in three conference road games.

WHO'S COLD

IOWA'S HEALTH

With the Big Ten title on the line at Ohio State, the Hawkeyes will be missing quarterback Ricky Stanzi, tailback Adam Robinson and offensive lineman Dace Richardson. Safety Brett Greenwood and receiver Colin Sandeman have "fair chances" of playing, coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We've got them right where we want them. That's the way I'm looking at it."

RICH RODRIGUEZ

In his second season at Michigan, the former West Virginia whizbang is 3-11 in Big Ten games. Lloyd Carr didn't lose 11 conference games until his sixth season. "Losing wears on a lot of people," Rodriguez said. "It wears on the coaches more than anybody. I know fans are frustrated. Coaches are frustrated. Players are frustrated. But what are you going to do? You don't have a reset button. Just got to learn from it, move on to the next one."

SPARTANS ON THE ROAD

Michigan State is allowing 32 points per game away from Spartan Stadium, twice as many as the 16 points it is allowing at home. The Spartans lost at Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Minnesota despite scoring at least 30 points in each game.

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

ILLINOIS MVP

Player Previous

Terry Hawthorne 2

Clay Nurse –

Mikel Leshoure 1

Jacob Charest –

Ian Thomas –

BIG TEN MVP

Player Previous

O'Brien Schofield, Wisconsin –

Zeke Markshausen, N'western –

Pat Angerer, Iowa 3

John Clay, Wisconsin 4

Joey Elliott, Purdue –

COACH OF THE YEAR

Coach Previous

Bret Bielema, Wisconsin 3

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 5

Danny Hope, Purdue –

Jim Tressel, Ohio State –

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 1

BOWL LINEUP

School Bowl

Ohio State BCS

Iowa Capital One

Wisconsin Outback

Penn State Alamo

Northwestern Champs