The Final Score - Your source for Big Ten Sports

Get Gamm - Week Three
Only one person nailed all of the games last week and that means BruceS gets the neon lights treatment. I.E. his picks make the front page of the blog.

Buffalo at Penn State
Pittsburgh at Michigan State
The Citadel at Wisconsin
Illinois at Syracuse
Akron at Indiana
Duke at Northwestern
Central Michigan at Purdue
Iowa at Iowa State
Notre Dame at Michigan
Ohio State at Washington (Tiebreaker)
Minnesota at Florida Atlantic

Buffalo at Penn State
The Big Ten is 6-1 against the MAC and Minnesota is the only team to give the MAC a real shot in one of the games to date. Penn State is not about to be loss number two, not even in a game sandwiched between Notre Dame and Michigan. Buffalo might be better than ND and is certainly better than FIU. It'll be close, until kickoff. Penn State 52 - Buffalo 10.

BruceS says ... Buffalo 0 - Penn State 63. Come on, how about playing somebody. The Nittany Lion's non-conference schedule is as soft as cotton. This score could be closer to 163 - 0. PSU is very good and Buffalo is no match at all. This should never have been scheduled.

Pittsburgh at Michigan State
Another week, another game that will be a bit tougher than the previous game for the Spartans. The Panthers have suffered more than one loss of a starter on the offensive side of the ball and went from playing a really bad MAC team in Eastern Michigan to a so-so 1-AA squad in Grambling State. Michigan State is off to its eighth 2-0 start in the last nine seasons and while rebuilding, every win is key. This is a game State should win, especially after romping at Pitt a season ago - against arguably a better Panthers team. It'll be a tough one... Michigan State 33 - Pittsburgh 21.

BruceS says ... Pittburgh 17 - Michigan State 34. Spartans rebound from a tougher than expected BGSU game while Pitt has already been bitten by the injury bug at QB & WR.

The Citadel at Wisconsin
Hmmm, an interesting one here. Yes, Citadel is a 1-AA foe. Yes, Wisconsin has won 12 straight. However, the Bulldogs' last loss was at a little school we've become quite familiar with - Appalachian State. The Citadel is 2-0 and has gone on the road for a D1 upset before (Arkansas). The Badgers are coming off an embarrassing effort, albeit a win, at UNLV. We've learned our lesson - never count out a 1-AA foe - however, it won't happen in the Big Ten again any time soon. Wisconsin 41 - The Citadel 14.

BruceS says ... The Citadel 0 - Wisconsin 56. I could almost use the same explanation I used for the Penn St./Buffalo game. This will be a cake walk for the Badgers.

Illinois at Syracuse
Man, if this were the Maui Classic or March Madness, we'd have something to talk about. But let me put it bluntly - Syracuse sucks at football. Washington pasted them in the opener. Iowa dismantled them last week. Illinois is not of the caliber of the Huskies or the Hawkeyes, but are young and improving, close to being 2-0 as opposed to 1-1 and ready to get a win against someone other than a 1-AA directional school or Michigan State. Juice Williams will have a hey day in the Carrier Dome. Illinois 37 - Syracuse 23.

BruceS says ... Illinois 31 - Syracuse 13. Illinois needs to improve upon its effort in last week's win. There may not be a better "name" team to do that against right now than Syracuse. My, how the once mighty have fallen.

Akron at Indiana
Big Ten v. MAC round 9. IU v. MAC round 2. I like this Indiana team. The offense is potent and the defense is coming up with big plays. The win at Western Michigan was worth more than it might appear as the Broncos are a really good Mid-American Conference team. Just as for the Spartans, every one of these "should wins" is a must win if a bowl berth is to remain a legitimate goal. Akron held tough at Ohio State but at this point, the Buckeyes are not as potent on offense as the Hoosiers. Indiana 30 - Akron 13.

BruceS says ... Akron 20 - Indiana 17. My upset of the week. I going to believe the Zip's defense is for real and will shut down IU while the offense will score just enough to pull off the win.

Duke at Northwestern
Sorry Wildcats fans, this is the must find something better to do than watch this game of the week. Northwestern staged a great comeback last week against Nevada and looks to start 3-0. Duke is just looking to do something, anything, to bide time until basketball season starts. Northwestern 34 - Duke 7.


BruceS says ... Duke 10 - Northwestern 31. Duke is another "name" school that is not very good. The Wildcats will get it going and pull away for the win.

Central Michigan at Purdue
This one could quickly become a basketball game. Both offenses are wide open and can score in droves. The Chippewas pummeled the Toledo Rockets just like Purdue did but got hammered in the opener at Kansas. Purdue feasted on under manned Eastern Illinois and has yet to be tested. Central Michigan is one of the better teams in the MAC and will stay with the Boilermakers for at least a half. Still, the maroon and gold gave up 50+ in the opener so Painter has to be licking his chops. Purdue 48 - Central Michigan 24.

BruceS says ... Central Michigan 16 - Purdue 38. Purdue's offense will score more than enough points to prevent another MAC team from getting a win against a B10 opponent.

Iowa at Iowa State
Iowa has to be chomping at the bit to play its in-state rival. Why? The Cyclones were another major program to get bitten by a 1-AA opponent (Northern Iowa). It is in Ames and a rivalry game, but I like how the Hawkeyes have improved from game to game this season. A big win here sets the tone for the start of Big Ten play next week. The Iowa offense is far from pretty right now, but the defense is nasty and will win this game. Iowa 24 - Iowa State 10.

BruceS says ... Iowa 28 - Iowa State 13. Hawkeyes getting better and will win this bitter in-state battle.

Notre Dame at Michigan
We've all heard the facts - this is the first time ever that these two storied programs are 0-2 at the same time. The two winningest programs in college football history have a lot to play for this weekend. Each team has a tough home game in week four and would love to get off the mat sooner rather than later. Michigan's defense is as bad as I have ever seen. Notre Dame's offense is worse than Michigan's defense. Something has to give. Mike Hart guaranteed a victory but that might have been before he know Chad Henne was injured enough to miss this game. It will be entertaining to watch this slug fest. Michigan 13 - Notre Dame 9.

BruceS says ... Notre Dame 20 - Michigan 13. The battle of the freshman QB's. I give the edge to the Irish only because Clausen has 1 game under his belt while the Michigan defense appears to be unable to stop anybody.

Ohio State at Washington
This is the Game of the Week in the Big Ten - by far. Ohio State hasn't been tested yet, Washington has. The Buckeyes are winning with defense while the offense retools. The Huskies are getting it done on both sides of the ball. The way the purple and gold handled Boise State doesn't bode well for the scarlet and gray. OSU will have to win this one on limited mistakes and solid defense. At home, I think that happens. But in Seattle? I'm not so sure. Washington 20 - Ohio State 17.

BruceS says ... Ohio State 27 - Washington 21. I look for Buckeyes to play better than last week. Washington had a good looking win against Boise St. but I'm not ready to believe they can beat this OSU team. Buckeyes too much for the Huskies.

Minnesota at Florida Atlantic
Okay, maybe I labeled the Duke v. Northwestern game as the one not to watch a smidge too soon. Minnesota is barely 1-1 right now, and arguments could be made that they could as easily be 0-2 or 2-0. Florida Atlantic gets to bring a big boy to town but I predict this one could be really ugly to watch! FAU did beat Middle Tennessee, who gave Louisville all they could handle, but I see Minnesota getting this one right and riding Amir Pinnix to victory. Minnesota 31 - Florida Atlantic 20.

BruceS says ... Minnesota 38 - Florida Atlantic 13. Minnesota travels south to pick up a win. This is another example of Minnesota's recent past of scheduling a very weak non-conference opponent. This should be a blowout win for Minnesota. If not, it will be another signal for what could be a long season for the Gophers.