Week Eight Recap...
Putting on my Spartans hat... thank you Wisconsin. Michigan State now sits alone atop the Big Ten, with Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State the main contenders just a game back. Things will continue to get more and more interesting as each week passes, especially as these four vie for two BCS spots (tops) and the Hawkeyes still entertain both State's.

What we learned... Illinois built on the great showing in State College and the strong performance at Michigan State with a blasting of Indiana. The Illini are arguably the most improved team in the league. MSU is better too but was in close games a season ago. Illinois was bad last year and after the Mizzou game looked to be in the same state this season. Not so fast. Mizzou is that good and Illinois is making a case as the best middle of the pack team in the conference this year.

Team of the Week... I'm going to go with Wisconsin. A week after a rousing win over then No. 1 Ohio State, the Badgers went on the road and knocked off Iowa in dramatic fashion. A fake punt, some great last minute defense and a solid win has the Badgers through the gauntlet and waiting for the other shoe to drop with the rest of the league.

Player of the Week... I've got to go with my QB Kirk Cousins. With the run game held at bay again this week, Cousins delivered key pass after key pass and led the Spartans to a fantastic, come from behind win at Northwestern.

Get Gamm update... Congrats to Mayo for going a perfect 6-0 on the week. Here are the games for this week.

Northwestern at Indiana
Purdue at Illinois
Michigan State at Iowa (Tiebreaker)
Michigan at Penn State
Ohio State at Minnesota
Missouri at Nebraska

Week 5 Recap...
After weeks of playing also-rans, mid majors and 1-AA (oops, sorry, FCS) scrimmages, we finally got to kick off the meaningful portion of the schedule. And week one of Big Ten play did not disappoint. In fact, it went almost according to my predictions, with the exception of Ohio State struggling and Penn State trudging in neutral much more than anticipated.

It sets us up for a great week two, headlined by the battle for Paul Bunyan - the trophy that is, not the axe (sorry Minnesota and Wisconsin). Paul is the theme for the weekend though, because not only do Michigan State and Michigan go to battled unbeaten and ranked for the first time since 1999, so do the Gophers and Badgers...

Team of the Week...
There were three teams that stood out for sure - Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State - but the Spartans were not expected to win and therefore get the nod here. MSU beat Wisconsin at its own game and despite a three turnover deficit, dominated this game. It sets the Spartans up for a classic in the rivalry with Michigan.

Player of the Week...
It is getting boring, giving this to Mr. Robinson each week, but the guy has been amazing. He made Indiana pay through the air and on the ground and hit several big plays in an entertaining Michigan win over Indiana. Kudos also to James White (UW), Keyshawn Martin (MSU) and Chris Clayborn (Iowa).

Get Gamm...
Four of us went unbeaten for the week, but Phats gets on the board by being closer to the spread in the game (he had MSU plus 7). Phats, send me your picks by Thursday morning with commentary on each of them.

Schedule
Nebraska at Kansas State (Thursday)
Illinois at Penn State
Indiana at Ohio State
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Michigan (Tiebreaker)
Purdue at Northwestern