Around The Big Ten: Week Nine

Audio/Story posted October 29, 2015 in CommRadio, Sports by Sports Staff

PODCAST:

ComRadio's own Dave Arroyo, Zach Green and Tom Shively break down this week's matchups around the Big Ten conference. 

 

Big Ten play rolls into week nine with eight teams in action this week. Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan State, and Northwestern all have the week off.

Nebraska @ Purdue – Noon, ESPNU
Nebraska travels to West Lafayette this week hoping to right the ship after a tough two point loss last week to Northwestern. Starting quarterback Tommy Armstrong has missed practice with an injury this week and it is not known whether or not he will be ready to play this Saturday. Armstrong has been the key player this year for Nebraska having passed for 2,052 yards and 16 touchdown. Purdue enter this matchup without having had much go their way this year. The Boilermakers are 1-6, and have had serious troubles all year long on both sides of the ball. They are coming off of a bye week, which may help them to overcome the Cornhuskers.

Rutgers @ Wisconsin – Noon, BTN
Wisconsin enters this matchup coming off of a victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign. They are 6-2, and riding a three game winning streak. Quarterback Joel Stave has been cleared to play this week after suffering a head injury versus. Illinois, and hopes to continue the Badgers’ winning streak against the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers has not had a good year so far, coming into this matchup at 3-4. Last week they were drubbed by Ohio State 49-7 with their only touchdown coming at the very end of the game. In order to put up a fight at Camp Randall, they will need their much beleaguered defense to step up and stop the potent Wisconsin offense.

Maryland @ No. 10 Iowa – 3:30 p.m., ABC
The Maryland Terrapins limp into Iowa City at 2-5 coming off of a heartbreaking loss to Penn State in Baltimore. The Terps have had trouble on both sides of the ball this year and seem to have regressed from last year which saw them finish 7-6 with a birth in the Foster Farms Bowl against Stanford. They did play well last week against Penn State which gives some hope to their fans that interim head coach Mike Locksley can right the ship. The Hawkeyes are currently undefeated at 7-0 and enter this game having had a bye last week. The Hawkeyes will be at home and well rested for this game, which should cause major problems for Maryland.

No. 15 Michigan @ Minnesota – 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill has announced his retirement on Wednesday Oct. 28, citing health reasons which has thrown the program into turmoil. Tracy Claeys, who was the defensive coordinator and has been on Kill’s staff for 21 years, has been named the interim head coach in his place. He has a tough task at hand with the Wolverines coming in off of their bye week. The last time the Wolverines were on the field, they lost a heartbreaker to their instate rivals on a botched punt. Minnesota will have to overcome the emotional toll that losing your coach midweek takes in order to stop the Jim Harbaugh coached Wolverines.

Zach Green is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email zag5035@psu.edu.