It’s rivalry week, and there are a lot of intriguing storylines and angles in what also is the final week of the 2013 regular season. Can Michigan upset Ohio State and end its rival’s BCS title game dreams? Can Iowa snap its funk vs. Nebraska?

What’s the best game for Week 13? The top quarterback matchup? What team is on upset alert? Who’s in a must-win situation? As usual, I line up all of that and more in the Best of Week 13.

An interesting Saturday of action is headlined by what could be the Big Ten Game of the Year: Michigan State at Nebraska. Ohio State will look to remain unbeaten when it plays at Illinois. The Buckeyes have owned Illinois, winning the last five meetings and eight of the last nine. The lone Fighting Illini victory in that stretch was when they stunned No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus in 2007 on the way to the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes haven’t lost in Champaign since 1991.

Week 11 is highlighted by a key Legends Division clash, with Nebraska playing at Michigan. Let’s call this the “Sense of Urgency Bowl.” Sounds about right. The loser will have a difficult time getting back into the division hunt.

Another light, yet exciting week ahead, with four teams off–Indiana, Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin. Still, this Saturday has a marquee, prime-time game to hang its hat on with Penn State playing at Ohio State.

After first looking at the menu for Week 8, you may be inclined to rake leaves this Saturday. But, don’t. I have a funny feeling we could have an upset.

Yes, there are only four games this week, but there still are some interesting storylines. Northwestern’s trip to Wisconsin is a good cross-division clash between schools that haven’t met since 2010. Each has lost to Ohio State this year. Can the Badgers afford a third loss already? Can the Wildcats get up for a second big game in a row?

This is the first Saturday that features exclusively Big Ten games, with five on the slate. All eyes will be on Evanston, Ill., where a national TV audience will tune in for the Ohio State at Northwestern game.

There aren’t many high-calorie contests on this 10-game Big Ten menu for Saturday, just light fare for the most part.

Last week was a dud. This week is a doozy. This is the best week of non-conference action with the highlights being four games vs. Pac-12 foes. The only unappetizing clashes: three games vs. the MAC, and two vs. FCS foes. Still, there’s lots to like with UCLA at Nebraska; Wisconsin at Arizona State; Ohio State at Cal; and Illinois vs. Washington in Chicago.

This isn’t a Saturday filled with scintillating matchups, but it’s saved by the marquee Notre Dame at Michigan game. One problem: There are three games vs. FCS foes: Indiana State at Purdue; Tennessee Tech at Wisconsin; Missouri State at Iowa. And Penn State plays host to Eastern Michigan, which is like a FCS school. Also, South Florida (which is at Michigan State) and San Diego State (at Ohio State) are horrible.

Every season teems with promise. But this one glimmers a bit more brightly for the Big Ten, as No. 2 Ohio State looks primed to make a run at the BCS national championship. And several other schools dot the preseason polls, like Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

It has been a season of superlatives in the Big Ten in what most feel has been one of the best seasons in conference annals. No doubt, the regular season didn’t disappoint.

This week serves up a steady diet of cupcakes on the Big Ten men’s basketball schedule, but the weekend includes a number of high-profile games. And as we saw with Indiana’s stunning overtime loss to Butler that dropped the Hoosiers from No. 1 to No. 6 in the both polls, you always must be on guard.

The hoop season continues to gain speed and momentum, as a bit more clarity is apparent with each passing week. Still, there are many unknowns. And that will remain so, as this is a slow week of action with many schools in finals week. Here’s a look at the week ahead, with the best games coming on Saturday.