TV: Big Ten Network

ZC: Northwestern loves to play spoiler, and they would surely love to do it to the Spartans. Just in case you forgot, last season MSU rallied to win 41-38, erasing a 35-point second-half deficit in Evanston, Ill. For the Wildcats, that game was essentially the equivalent to MSU’s loss to Notre Dame last fall. Bad blood, though, won’t be enough to propel Northwestern to victory. Plus, the Spartans aren’t about to lose to a team that wears purple. MSU 38, Northwestern 14

JS: If MSU follows the tradition of losing games they are supposed to win, then this would be the one. Northwestern suffered an emotional loss when MSU beat them last season in what was the biggest comeback in college football history. Think of it as their Notre Dame. But this year’s MSU team has a different mentality than the John L. Smith-era teams, and don’t expect one loss to collapse their program. Northwestern is at the bottom of nearly every statistical category in the conference. MSU 45, Northwestern 13

EF: Nothing like playing an injury-riddled team to cure the hangover left from last weekend’s tough loss on the road at Wisconsin. Northwestern played spoiler the last time they came into Spartan Stadium, but without Brett Basanez, who graduated, and minus its injured running back, the Spartans shouldn’t have a problem continuing to move this ship in the right direction. MSU 37, Northwestern 13

CT: Northwestern nearly joined Appalachian State and Oregon in becoming Spartans fans’ second favorite team of the week when they took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter Saturday against Michigan. Five turnovers and another 100-plus-yard effort from Mike Hart proved to be too much for the Wildcats. Look for Jehuu Caulcrick and Javon Ringer to combine for a 200-plus-yard rushing performance for the third straight game. MSU 31, Northwestern 10

Eastern Michigan at U-M

Noon Saturday

TV: Big Ten Network

ZC: Really? Eastern Michigan this late in the schedule? Good to see the Wolverines are challenging themselves this year. Hey, Lloyd Carr, call Grand Valley State and see what they’re doing next week. If that fails, I hear Michigan Tech isn’t doing anything. U-M 45, Eastern Michigan 10

JS: Directional Michigan teams are consistently bad, and the Eagles are no exception. Yes, Appalachian State comes to mind when predicting this game, but I don’t think lightning will strike the Wolverines twice. If losing at the half to Northwestern isn’t enough of a wake-up call, then this team is just hopeless. It might be anyway, but they’ll beat Eastern Michigan. U-M 34, Eastern Michigan 14

EF: Wide receiver Mario Manningham is suspended by the team for this game because he violated team rules. I’d be willing to bet he ‘violated team rules’ a couple of weeks ago but is conveniently sitting this one out instead. The Wolverines won’t need him in this one. U-M 30, Eastern Michigan 10

CT: U-M managed just seven points in the first half last week for the third time this season. I’m crossing my fingers that the game time changes, that a station other than the Big Ten Network picks up the game and that the offense gets off to another slow start this week so I can watch the “fans” in the Big House call for Lloyd Carr’s head just one more time. Unfortunately, all that might be a bit of a stretch. U-M 52, Eastern Michigan 16

No. 4 Ohio State at No. 23 Purdue

8 p.m. Saturday

TV: ABC

ZC: The Bucks stop here. I just plain don’t see what’s so great about the Ohio State offense, aside from wide receiver Brian Robiskie. The offense is streaky, even though it’s averaging nearly 36 points per game – but that isn’t too hard against awful defensive teams such as Youngstown State, Akron, Washington, Northwestern and Minnesota. Purdue has the conference’s best offense, so it will be interesting to see how they perform against the conference’s best defense. The Boilermakers will please the home crowd with a close victory. Purdue 27, Ohio State 24

JS: Thus far, Ohio State’s pass defense has been stellar, and it will battle it out with Purdue’s eighth best pass offense in the nation. With the passing game neutralized, Ohio State’s running back Chris Wells could prove to be the difference-maker in the game. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound power back will have a field day with Purdue’s weak run defense which has already given up a conference-worst seven touchdowns. Ohio State 38, Purdue 31.

EF: Ohio State clearly doesn’t have the offensive package that Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. provided last year, and I expect the Purdue offense to challenge the Buckeyes’ defense. All will be happy in West Lafayette, Ind., this Saturday as Ohio State’s hopes of returning to the national championship game come to an end. Purdue 26, Ohio State 24

CT: This Buckeyes’ defense, leading the Big Ten in scoring defense at 7.2 points per game, will get its first real test this week when Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter and running back Sheets come to town. Painter has thrown for 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions, and Sheets is averaging 5.8 yards a rush. The Boilermakers will knock off a top-five team that has played the humble likes of Youngstown State, Akron, Northwestern and Minnesota thus far. Purdue 31, Ohio State 17