Big Game Hunting: Michigan or Ohio State to the playoff? Purdue or Illinois to Indianapolis?

The place to start? With “The Sport” or with the large possibly?

With No. 3 Michigan (+7½) at No. 2 Ohio State (11 a.m., Fox-32), the mom of all faculty soccer rivalries and the kerfuffle to finish all 2022 kerfuffles?

Or with Illinois (-14½) at Northwestern (2:30 p.m., BTN, 890-AM, 720-AM), which has — possibly! — Massive Ten championship recreation implications for the Illini. Nebraska’s upset of Iowa on Friday put the Illini in place to win the West division and go on to Indianapolis, however provided that they beat the last-place Wildcats and get main assist in the type of a Purdue loss at Indiana.

Let’s begin with the 118th assembly of the 2 faculties — Michigan and Ohio State, in that order — with probably the most wins in FBS historical past. They arrive in with matching 11-0 information and dueling national-title aspirations. The Sport is an enormous deal underneath any circumstances, however the Faculty Soccer Playoff implications this time — it’s doubtless a win-an-in situation for each groups, it doesn’t matter what occurs every week later in Indy — make it an absolute monster.

“We’re very grateful to be on this place to be taking part in this recreation,” Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned. “Winner takes the East [division]. Winner takes all proper there. Sturdy opponent, and it’s the form of scenario that offers you the chance to show how robust our workforce is.”

How robust are the Wolverines and the Buckeyes? Harbaugh likened them to “superheroes” getting ready for a comic-book conflict. His colorful-phrase recreation was amped all the best way up all through the week as he spoke of his “glad warriors” on a “glad mission.”

However Michigan hasn’t received at Ohio Stadium since 2000, dropping its final eight there, and is a tragic, sorry 3-for-20 towards the Buckeyes total since that victory. Final 12 months’s 42-27 win in Ann Arbor snapped an eight-game dropping streak within the sequence and was Harbaugh’s first “W” in six tries since taking on at his alma mater.

If working again Blake Corum, the important thing to the offense, had been certain to have the ability to play, issues may look pretty promising for the Wolverines, who steamrolled OSU within the run recreation final 12 months. Corum’s harm standing was unclear heading into the weekend.

Regardless, the Buckeyes have been fueled by that embarrassing loss for the final 12 months.

“Now we have scars,” coach Ryan Day mentioned. “It motivated us all offseason. We’ve labored very exhausting to get to this second proper right here.”

The OSU protection is a lot better than it was then, and the offense continues to mild the Massive Ten on fireplace. Quarterback C.J. Stroud leads the nation in cross effectivity and touchdowns (35). Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the perfect there may be. Michigan’s “D” — ranked No. 1 within the land — has entered the prove-it-or-lose-it zone.

“We all know it’s our hardest take a look at of the 12 months,” Harbaugh mentioned, “and I believe we’re going to seek out we’re made from the proper stuff.”

Yeah, effectively, the proper stuff is within the fallacious place on the fallacious time. Buckeyes, 34-20, for his or her thirtieth straight Massive Ten win at dwelling.

And the way concerning the Illini? An eighth win would give them their most since 2007 and their first above-.500 league file since that very same season. It received’t be the worst factor on the planet if that’s all they get out of their Saturday. Shedding the Land of Lincoln Trophy — generally known as “the Hat” — to the Wildcats could be, however, actually terrible.

After Bret Bielema took the Illinois job heading into 2021, he had a trophy case put in within the locker room. The one drawback was there have been no trophies to place in it.

“A moron,” he referred to as himself by the use of rationalization.

However the Illini ended a six-year Hat dropping streak final November, and that trophy sat by its lonesome within the case all this season. If it goes, it’s going to be awkward yet again.

Illini working again Chase Brown, the nationwide dashing chief at 1,582 yards, wants triple digits to set the varsity file with a seventeenth 100-yard recreation and 117 yards to change into the varsity’s all-time main rusher. Can Northwestern preserve him comparatively in test? Do the Wildcats have any likelihood in any respect?

“I’ve been on the successful facet of this recreation fairly a bit,” coach Pat Fitzgerald mentioned. “I’ve acquired a reasonably good concept of what it takes to win it, and my hope is that I can get the blokes to play clear and play constant right here for one final time collectively.”

Hat’s off to that sentiment, but it surely’s not sufficient. Illini, 26-13.

OTHER WEEK 13 PICKS

Purdue (-10½) at Indiana (2:30 p.m., Ch. 2): Are the Hoosiers actually going to beat Illinois twice in a single season? First they knocked off the Illini in September. Now they will do it once more, in a fashion of talking, by going out within the Outdated Oaken Bucket recreation and taking part in like their normal subpar selves. The Hoosiers’ solely hope is to run the ball like maniacs, as a result of they will’t throw it in anyway and don’t play any protection. Discuss a bucket of chilly water — Boilermakers, 34-26.

Auburn (+22) at No. 7 Alabama (2:30 p.m., Ch. 2): The Iron Bowl arrives extra quietly than normal, with the Tigers at 5-6 and the Tide just about on the surface wanting in on the playoff image. But it surely’s nonetheless an opportunity for Nick Saban, Bryce Younger and Co. to kick their rival whereas it’s manner, manner down. Bama, 41-17.

No. 9 Oregon (-3) at No. 21 Oregon State (2:30 p.m., Ch. 7): The Beavers have taken two of the final three Civil Struggle video games in Corvallis. In the event that they do it once more, they might knock the Geese out of a spot within the Pac-12 title recreation. I’ll be dammed — Beavers in an upset.

No. 15 Notre Dame (+5) at No. 6 USC (6:30 p.m., Ch. 7, 780-AM): The Irish have had the Jewelled Shillelagh since pummeling USC in 2017 — working a head-to-head successful streak to 4 for the primary time because the early Nineties — however now they’re in Caleb Williams’ home. With an enormous evening and an eleventh “W,” the Trojans’ sensational QB most likely locks up the Heisman Trophy. Time to offer again that shillelagh, regardless of the heck it’s. Battle On, 34-27.

My favourite favourite: Wisconsin (-3) vs. Minnesota (2:30 p.m., ESPN): The Badgers and Gophers, bless ’em, have combined it up extra occasions than some other FBS rivals. Badgers take again Paul Bunyan’s Axe and interim coach Jim Leonhard will get the top gig, all in in the future.

My favourite underdog: South Carolina (+14½) at No. 8 Clemson (11 a.m., Ch. 7): Final outing, the Gamecocks hung 63 on Tennessee. They lose an eight straight Palmetto Bowl however cowl the outsized quantity.

Final week: 9-1 straight up, 7-3 vs. the unfold.

Season thus far: 66-38 straight up, 53-51 vs. the unfold.