The Final Score - Your source for Big Ten Sports

Toughest Sports Week Ever
I'm like everyone else this week... shocked, disgusted, horrified, disappointed, dismayed, sick to my stomach over what is going down in State College.  I've read and watched and listened to about every piece of news on this tragically historic "event" all week.  And the more I read, the worse it gets.

Lost in all of the angst and anger, chaos and disappointment and pointed commentary towards Paterno, McQueary, Curley, Spanier, et al is who we really need to be infuriated with - Jerry Sandusky.  I've watched this become a JoePa thing.  It isn't.  It shouldn't be.  This is a Sandusky thing first and foremost.  And what about the victims?  What must all of this do to them?  The focus on Paterno has turned this into a circus and taken the light off the fact that the accused is walking free right now, while the victims are running the gamut of emotions.  It leaves me incredulous.  Speechless really...

Rick Reilly of ESPN has one of the better stories right now.  And with that, I'll leave it to the thousands who are already covering this event.  My parting wish, a country resets its focus on what is right and wrong, how we were founded and on prayer and faith to put us on a path to healing.  To paraphrase Matt Millen, what kind of people are we that we can't stop these sorts of things from happening...

Get Gamm
It doesn't feel right to pick games.  But at the same time, the show must go on.  I feel for the PSU players, caught up as collateral damage.  How will they respond?  I can't even imagine...

Rice at Northwestern, Noon EST (BTN) - Yawn. This is why I hate going out of conference in the middle of the season.  Rice beat Purdue but hasn't done much else.  NU is riding high but has some work left and this really becomes a must-win when it comes to a bowl berth.  The Wildcats sleep early but awake late and get to .500.  Northwestern 31 - Rice 14.

Ohio State at Purdue, Noon EST (BTN) - Hmmm, Purdue looked good for a while before absolutely taking it on the chin at Michigan and then Wisconsin.  The Boilers need two more wins to go bowling.  Ohio State had the predictable hangover against IU last week.  OSU is getting better by the week and is still very much in the title chase.  Most think this will be close.  Sorry Dan and Phats, I don't agree.  Ohio State 41 - Purdue 17

Michigan State at Iowa, Noon EST (ESPN2) - I was on record last week with my UM - Iowa pick that these noon games in the central time zone are no friend to the eastern time zone schools.  That said, Michigan State can't - and won't care - when this game is being played.  The green and white have not won in Iowa City since 1989 and were slobberknockered there last year.  These teams control their own destiny.  I like a classic battle a la 2008 and 2009 but a victory 22 years in the waiting for MSU.  Michigan State 24 - Iowa 21.

Nebraska at Penn State, Noon EST (ESPN) - How on earth do I pick this one?  Nebraska is in a must win situation.  Penn State is in a no win situation.  The Huskers can't afford another loss.  The Nits want to win and get out of dodge.  Trips to C-bus and Mad-town look easy compared to what faces Penn State this week.  Will the players have focus, energy, will to win, etc?  Many of them say so because they've been doubted and knocked down a peg all season long.  This will be an uncomfortable game for both teams.  Penn State might need it more just to try and start a healing process.  But as much as I was sure that would happen before, I am not so sure anymore.  Nebraska 20 - Penn State 9.

Wisconsin at Minnesota, 3:30 EST (BTN) - The Badgers got back to UW football last week in a pasting of Purdue.  Minnesota is looking better each week as Gray gets fully established.  We saw what happened with the battle for Floyd... but this won't go that way.  UW is oodles better than Iowa.  Wisconsin rolls.  UW 45 - Minnesota 20.

Michigan at Illinois, 3:30 EST (ABC) - This one is all about bowl positioning.  Illinois has fallen on hard times.  Michigan suffered a tough loss at the hands of Iowa last week and is in danger of totally falling out of the Big Ten race.  These teams played an epic in Ann Arbor last year.  Don't expect quite the fireworks, but do expect Illinois to come off a bye week ready to right the ship.  Michigan falls out of the Legends race... Illinois 27 - Michigan 24.

Once again, thoughts and prayers with the victims of this outrageous act by Jerry Sandusky...