Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 7

#12/13 Arkansas (4-1) @ #7 Auburn (6-0)
- The Auburn Tigers have the feel of a team that will be in the SEC and national championship picture until the very end, as both their play and their ability to pull out close victories has shown this season. They simply have the feel of a winner. HOWEVER --- Arkansas is due for a big win as they had Alabama on the ropes and haven't beaten a very good team so far this year with Ryan Mallett under center (@ Georgia and @ Texas A&M don't count for me). The Razorbacks will upset Auburn this weekend in Jordan Hare Stadium and take some momentum away from the first half of the season.

Arkansas- 34
Auburn- 31

#14/15 Iowa (4-1, 1-0) @ #24/NR Michigan (5-1, 1-1)
- Iowa is a very good team and any fan of college football an attest to that, however all good - not great - teams can have the occasional pitfall. Michigan may be that very game, as it is on the road and the Wolverines believe that they can take on anyone in the conference (despite losing to their "little brothers" big time). Denard Robinson should have a better game than he did last week, but don't expect a monumental leap. We can all see Michigan's true colors now and they don't permeate dominance evidently. Iowa will seize control early and often en route to a nice road win before taking on Michigan State.

Iowa- 35
Michigan- 20

That's it... those are your games of the week. Not too many marquee match ups, but these are the type of weeks that you need to watch out for because they usually surprise the hell out of you.

Big Ten Rundown-
#1 Ohio State @ # Wisconsin- TBD

#14/15 Iowa @ #24/NR Michigan- See Above

Illinois (3-2, 1-1) @ #11/13 Michigan State (6-0, 2-0)
- I am torn on this game, and it is not because I think that Illinois is better than Michigan State. Aside from Ohio State, these two teams have certainly been playing as well as anyone in the conference. The Spartans are fresh off convincing wins over Wisconsin and Michigan, while Illinois took OSU to the wire and beat Penn State on the road. The Illini are really starting to gel and it is certainly showing. I think that Ron Zook and his latest staff will keep MSU's offense from doing too much in the first half and keep it very close heading into the fourth....but I can't pick against Sparty right now. Michigan State wins a low scoring, close affair.

Minnesota (1-5, 0-2) @ Purdue (3-2, 1-0)
- I'm calling for the upset here over Purdue- again. Purdue just beat Northwestern which is something that can catapult them to a potential bowl berth, but I doubt it. The Boilermakers are too beat up and Minnesota is desperate for a win. The fighting Tim Brewster's live long enough to see their coach get a Big Ten win in 2010 with an upset on Saturday.

Arkansas State @ Indiana (3-2, 0-2)
- I fail to mention what Arkansas State's record is because I really don't think it matters at all in this situation. Indiana's offense will shred them for 500 plus yards of offense en route to a big win over a lackluster Sun Belt team. Good for IU... good for them.