Big Ten picks: Can Wisconsin snap Purdue's four-game winning streak?

The Badgers are 1-1 with Jim Leonhard as interim coach, and Saturday's game against the Boilermakers is expected to be another close one.

October 20, 2022 at 11:23PM
Wisconsin interim head coach Jim Leonhard walked the sidelines during his team’s 42-7 victory against Northwestern on Oct. 8. (Kamil Krzaczynski, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Big Ten division races started to shake out last week, with Michigan topping Penn State in the East, and Illinois and Purdue staying at the top of the West. This week, the key game comes in Madison, where the Badgers will try to stop the Boilermakers in their tracks. (Note: all games Saturday. … The Gophers-Penn State pick will appear later in the week).

Iowa at No. 2 Ohio State, 11 a.m., Ch. 9

  • The last time these teams met, the Hawkeyes hammered the Buckeyes 55-24 in Iowa City in 2017. If a team in this game scores 55, it sure won't be Iowa. Ohio State 41, Iowa 13.

Indiana at Rutgers, 11 a.m., BTN

  • Something's gotta give in a matchup of teams that have combined to lose seven consecutive games. The Scarlet Knights have the better defense, but can they score? Indiana 21, Rutgers 17.

Purdue at Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

  • Badgers let one get away in double-overtime loss at Michigan State but have shown more energy under interim coach Jim Leonhard. Boilermakers will try to keep train rolling toward Nov. 12 showdown at Illinois. Close one here. Purdue 27, Wisconsin 24.

Northwestern at Maryland, 2:30 p.m., BTN

  • The Wildcats are 2-0 against the Terrapins in this seldom-played matchup. That will change Saturday, even if Maryland doesn't have quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. Maryland 31, Northwestern 13.
about the writer

about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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