2/6/07 - This Week's Upcoming Games

Tuesday Michigan at Ohio State 6:00PM The Buckeyes return home after two impressive road wins over Purdue and Michigan State. Don't expect a letdown tonight against a Michigan team which has struggled very much on the road this season. Ohio State should dominate throughout this game and their remaining schedule is set up very nicely for a strong run to end the season and a possible 1-seed in the Big Dance. Ohio State 71 Michigan 55 Wednesday Illinois at Northwestern 6:00PM If you like Offensive basketball, stay away from Evanston on Wednesday night. The first team to reach 50 could very well win this game. I look for Illinois defense to continue to look very strong. Northwestern will surely try to slow up the game. I think the Wildcats can hang around, Illinois is not going to run away from anybody this year, but in the end the Illini defense should win this one. Illinois 54 Northwestern 49 Michigan State at Purdue 6:00PM This is the most intriguing matchup of the midweek games. Michigan State has dropped three straight and playing at Purdue has not been easy this season. This is a must win for the Spartans if they want to get themselves off the bubble. MSU still has a home date with Indiana and two matchups versus Wisconsin left on their schedule. A very winnable game for the Boilers, but the Spartans sneak away with this one. Michigan State 60 Purdue 58 Iowa at Minnesota 7:00PM Has anyone in the Big 10 played better than the Hawkeyes in their last 3 halves of basketball? After a very impressive come from behind win at Michigan, Iowa handed Indiana a loss at home over the weekend. The offense is starting to click, but the key will be their improved interior defense. Tollackson returns for the Gophers, he didn't play in their early matchup in Iowa City. But the Hawkeye D that held D.J. White to single digits on Saturday should be up for this challenge. Iowa 68 Minnesota 60 Wisconsin at Penn State 7:00PM Penn State has dropped seven straight conference games after winning their opener versus Northwestern. The Badgers have looked vulnerable on the road this conference season, but Wisconsin should make this one look easy and remain atop the Big 10 standings going into the weekend. Wisconsin 70 Penn State 58