Well, that two-week run of a lot of predictions comes to a screeching halt. Thanks to both Wisconsin and Purdue being unranked -- and the Badgers being around a 24-point favorite and the Boilermakers not having won a Big Ten game since I think the Truman administration -- the malaise of the nonconference home season is back in fashion.
Also, after nearly a split in predictions of who will win last week when Wisconsin played at Nebraska, as you might expect this week is a bit more one-sided. OK, a lot more one-side. OK, completely one-sided. I guess how quickly it is forgotten the Badgers' struggles against Iowa and how the Boilermakers nearly upset Michigan State.
How will it play out? Well, here's this week's paucity of picks:
All three Big Ten Network analysts are picking Wisconsin to win. The scores: Tom Dienhart -- 48-0; Sean Merriman -- 38-10; Brent Yarina -- 38-7.
Pete Fiutak of Collegefootballnews.com: Wisconsin 38, Purdue 13. "Wisconsin is at home against a bad team. You know the drill â the defense will dominate, the offense will be sufficient, and everyone will be relaxing in the fourth."
All four Athlon Sports analysts have Wisconsin winning. The scores: David Fox, 31-10; Braden Gall, 40-17; Steven Lassan, 38-10; Mitch Light, no score given.
Whatifsports.com simulation: An average score of Wisconsin 27.1, Purdue 22.4. The sim gives the Badgers a 63.9 percent chance of winning.
Phil Steele: Wisconsin 38, Purdue 6.
By way of the PickCenter, Teamrankings.com has an average score of Wisconsin 35.9, Purdue 12.2 while numberFire has the average score Wisconsin 41.3, Purdue 15.3 (and also gives the Badgers a 61.6% likelihood of covering a 24-point spread).
The Sports Xchange has it Wisconsin 34, Purdue 13.
All six ESPN.com Big Ten contributors picked Wisconsin to win.
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