Oct. 31--A hilarious, Halloween-themed column by Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News identified the candy-bar equivalent of several Big Ten powers.
Ohio State = Snickers (No. 1, loaded with annoying nuts).
Michigan State = Hershey's bar (solid but doesn't get as much respect as its gooey brethren).
Penn State = Three Musketeers (a big name but bland).
Michigan = Tootsie Roll (craving to be relevant again).
My own contributions:
Northwestern = Toblerone (expensive, popular internationally but not so much at home).
Illinois = Jolly Ranchers (good every seven or eight years).
On to the games:
Rutgers (plus 20) at Wisconsin: Injuries don't faze the Badgers. Put 11 random strangers in red jerseys and they might keep winning. Lay the points.
Nebraska (minus 7.5) at Purdue: Ryker Fife has been the most popular guy in Lincoln -- the second-string quarterback on a losing team. Plus he's a gunslinger who starred at an area high school before joining the Cornhuskers as a walk-on. The line keeps falling, making me like Nebraska more and more.
Maryland (plus 17) at Iowa: C.J. Beathard is like the T-1000 from "Terminator 2." His body parts simply regenerate. Take the Hawkeyes.
Illinois (plus 5) at Penn State: The Illini's Ke'Shawn Vaughn has skills and a great name, but until Josh Ferguson returns, this offense is lacking. Plus the Nittany Lions do their best work, by far, at home.
Michigan (minus 13) at Minnesota: The Wolverines are thirsting to atone for the Big House Blunder, but I'm going with a sentimental pick. Here's hoping the Gophers make Jerry Kill proud.
Last week: 3-2.
Season: 30-38-1.
tgreenstein@tribpub.com
