NATIONAL GAME OF THE WEEK
Iowa at Michigan State
TV/radio: 6 p.m. Saturday; BTN.
Line: Michigan State by 1.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: After firing interceptions in five straight games, Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi threw flawlessly in victory over Wisconsin. Neither MSU quarterback, Kirk Cousins (ankle) nor Keith Nichol (elbow), is 100 percent. ON THE DEFENSIVE: The Hawkeyes have the Big Ten’s most dangerous defense. Its 22 takeaways lead the league by four. Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones (85 tackles, 5 sacks) is the conference’s top defensive player.
THE NUMBER: 8
Iowa never has started a season with eight straight victories. And its 11-game winning streak is second only to Florida’s 16 in FBS.
THE TALK: The Spartans have dominated the series on their home turf, winning four straight in East Lansing.
LOOKING AHEAD: Iowa has passed every test so far. Can the Hawkeyes win back-to-back road games over solid Big Ten foes? The answer here is a resounding yes. Iowa 21, Michigan State 17.
Records: Iowa 7-0, 3-0; Michigan State 4-3, 3-1.
Last meeting: Michigan State won 16-13 on Oct. 4, 2008, in East Lansing. %% CATEGORY IOWA MSU
Rushing offense 120.9 (93) 136.4 (71)
Passing offense 230.7 (47) 280.4 (17)
Total offense 351.6 (79) 416.9 (32)
Scoring offense 24.9 (81) 29.3 (48)
Rushing defense 127.6 (53) 99.0 (19)
Passing defense 167.0 (16) 235.9 (85)
Total defense 294.6 (22) 334.9 (44)
Scoring defense 15.0 (16) 21.6 (42)
— Teddy Greenstein
Boston College at Notre Dame
TV/radio: 2:30 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5, WLS-AM 890.
Line: Notre Dame by 7 1/2.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: The elements may dictate Notre Dame pass strategy, but regardless, Irish tailback Armando Allen will be critical. Either the junior gets catch-and-run chances on dump-offs from Jimmy Clausen, or he carries ground game.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: A lot of talk about a vastly improved Irish run defense this week. Boston College’s Montel Harris ran for 264 yards a week ago. The Notre Dame secondary won’t be tested, so it’s up to the front four to set the tone.
THE NUMBER: 20
In two stultifying road defeats, Eagles have mustered 21 points, total. Irish should have enough offense to win. If it’s a shootout, look out.
THE TALK: Here are the Irish again, 4-2 after a harrowing loss, just as in 2008 before an epic collapse. Either they’ve grown up and can right the ship over the final six games, or turmoil again will set in regarding the state of the program and coach Charlie Weis.
LOOKING AHEAD: Notre Dame can say what it wants, but the USC loss was an emotional evisceration. Still, Irish should end a six-game losing streak in this rivalry. Notre Dame 27, Boston College 17.
Records: Boston College 5-2; Notre Dame 4-2.
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Last meeting: Boston College won 17-0 on Nov. 8, 2008, in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
CATEGORY BC ND
Rushing offense 155.3 (51) 137.0 (70)
Passing offense 171.0 (106) 315.8 (7)
Total offense 326.3 (97) 452.8 (12)
Scoring offense 30.9 (34) 31.7 (31)
Rushing defense 117.1 (39) 136.5 (63)
Passing defense 212.1 (55) 283.0 (117)
Total defense 329.3 (41) 419.5 (104)
Scoring defense 20.7 (37) 25.5 (71)
— Brian Hamilton
Illinois at Purdue
TV/radio: 11 a.m.; ESPN2, WIND-AM 560.
Line: Purdue by 10 1/2.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: Illinois needs to stop Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who had nine tackles, including three sacks, and with two forced fumbles against Ohio State. The Illini had three fumbles against Indiana.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The defense must make Purdue QB Joey Elliott more mistake-prone than TD-thrower. He has only one game without an interception, throwing 10 of them this season.
THE NUMBER: 17
That’s the most points the Illini have scored against an FBS opponent this season. Time to up the ante.
THE TALK: Fans are wondering, if Illinois couldn’t beat Indiana, can they beat anyone?
LOOKING AHEAD: Purdue is riding high from a 26-18 upset of Ohio State — its first against a ranked opponent since 2003. Purdue 23, Illinois 13.
Records: Illinois 1-5, 0-4; Purdue 2-5, 1-2.
Last meeting: Purdue won 42-31 on Nov. 11, 2006, in Champaign.
CATEGORY ILLINI PURDUE
Rushing offense 170.5 (40) 135.9 (73)
Passing offense 188.0 (91) 267.3 (23)
Total offense 358.5 (75) 403.1 (42)
Scoring offense 16.5 (112) 28.1 (56)
Rushing defense 179.5 (98) 152.9 (80)
Passing defense 241.3 (92) 213.6 (59)
Total defense 420.8 (105) 366.4 (71)
Scoring defense 28.3 (91) 28.7 (92)
— Shannon Ryan
Indiana at Northwestern
TV/radio: 11 a.m.; BTN, WGN-AM 720; WNUR-FM 89.3.
Line: Northwestern by 5.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: NU coach Pat Fitzgerald has threatened to abandon the run, and that strategy might be wise against an Indiana secondary allowing 7.8 yards per pass, second most in the Big Ten.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Indiana operates from the pistol (short shotgun) and features a Wildcat offense led by the fleet-footed Mitchell Evans. Indiana’s Ben Chappell torched Illinois last week but still ranks 10th in the league in passing efficiency.
THE NUMBER: 0
Northwestern didn’t register a single sack Saturday at Michigan State. A repeat performance against Indiana would spell doom.
THE TALK: For Northwestern, this is a must-win for an appealing bowl and a you-better-win for any postseason game. Ditto for Indiana, which enters with an identical record.
LOOKING AHEAD: The last five in this series have been decided by an average of 4.4 points, so why should Saturday be any different? Northwestern 27, Indiana 23.
Records: Indiana 4-3, 1-2; Northwestern 4-3, 1-2.
Last meeting: Indiana won 21-19 on Oct. 25, 2008, in Bloomington.
CATEGORY INDIANA NU
Rushing offense 126.6 (85) 116.6 (97)
Passing offense 241.3 (40) 264.4 (24)
Total offense 367.9 (66) 381.0 (58)
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Scoring offense 23.0 (91) 27.0 (62)
Rushing defense 143.6 (69) 115.7 (37)
Passing defense 237.3 (87) 227.1 (74)
Total defense 380.9 (82) 342.9 (51)
Scoring defense 26.1 (74) 23.0 (55)
— Teddy Greenstein
Northern Illinois at Miami (Ohio)
TV/radio: Noon; WSCR-AM 670, WLBK-AM 1360.
Line: NIU by 11.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: NIU has committed one turnover in last three games. Huskies rank among NCAA leaders in turnover margin. Chandler Harnish is third in the MAC and 32nd in the country in passing efficiency (141.29).
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Defensive end Brandon Bice was named MAC West Defensive Player of Week. NIU ranks second in the league and 30th in the country in scoring defense and is third in the MAC in rushing defense.
THE NUMBER: 13
Combination of Chad Spann and Me’co Brown has accounted for 13 TDs and 871 rushing yards on 167 carries.
THE TALK: The Huskies need to rebound from a tough 20-19 loss at Toledo at winless Miami (Ohio) to get above .500 and stay alive in the MAC race. LOOKING AHEAD: Redhawks will be hungry for first win of season, especially for homecoming. But Huskies defense should dominate. NIU 27, Miami 13.
Records: Northern Illinois 3-3, 1-1; Miami (Ohio) 0-7, 0-3.
Last meeting: NIU won 17-13 on Oct. 11, 2008, in DeKalb.
CATEGORY NIU MIAMI
Rushing offense 195.2 (20) 83.1 (113)
Passing offense 162.5 (109) 229.9 (48)
Total offense 357.7 (77) 313.0 (100)
Scoring offense 29.5 (44) 10.1 (120)
Rushing defense 137.2 (64) 173.6 (94)
Passing defense 214.7 (61) 212.1 (55)
Total defense 351.8 (55) 385.7 (87)
Scoring defense 18.8 (30) 35.4 (112) %% — Fred Mitchell