[NU Sports] Moo moo!

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

It's Purdooooo week!

After a day to digest that sour-taste from the MSU loss, the biggest thing our team needs to do right now is put Sparty behind them. They dug the early 17-0 hole yesterday and just couldn't recover. It was disappointing, but MSU is probably one of the best three teams in the league, so put it in the past.

Purdue is now our must-win game of the season, and not just because it's homecoming. The Big Ten is in turmoil right now ... yes, PSU/OSU/MSU seem to be the new "Big Three" at the top, but it's craziness from there on out. Illinois and Wisconsin are worse than expected -- Michigan is just abysmal. Meanwhile, Minnesota is better than a lot of folks give them credit for. I remember their loss at OSU - they came out with almost an SEC-like swagger, shoving the Bucks and not backing down. They're going to a bowl game and Purdue is our chance to join them in the "better than expected" club of the league.

Our two home games left with OSU and the Ill-whine-I will be tough -- I think we'll split 'em, but we'll be overmatched on talent in both. Plus, Indiana and Michigan are winnable road games, but by no mean gimmes. And the game at Minny is our toughest road test.

The point? Don't wait to get that sixth win. Purdue's D will be tough, but if we can not turn the ball over and dig an early hole, we should be able to play our game and get a much-needed win before the road swing.

I'll try and put together a Big Ten midterm report this week along with the picks standings. Needless to say, I think the bowl picture is wide open after those top three. After watching the Bucks and Nits yesterday, I'm not sure OSU can stop PSU (it'll take a heck of a game by Pryor), so that Sparty-Bucknut clash next week in East Lansing is big to stay in the race.

After that? Who knows. The Illini and Badgers probably should be next in line, but they've each dug early holes in league play. As for Indiana and Michigan, I think they can safely make plans at home for the holidsys (though both could be spoilers, as Wisky already found out in Ann Arbor).

That leaves NU and Purdue, and this Saturday's game is going to go a long way to see who goes bowling from the league. We need this win and Purdue knows they can't lose many more either, so it'll be a dogfight.

GO CATS!!! BEAT PURDOO!!!
-SjT

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!