Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, October 9, 2015

The first full slate of Big Ten games looms with all 14 teams in action vs. one another in seven contests. Top billing: Northwestern at Michigan on BTN/BTN2Go. Can NU remain perfect as it treks to play the white-hot Wolverines? Also, Illinois can show it?s legit by winning at unbeaten Iowa. And Wisconsin visits Nebraska with both teams desperate for success.

Here are some hard takes on this Saturday?s action.

1. My pal Mike Huguenin of Gridironnow.com-a site devoted to SEC coverage–compares this year?s Ohio State squad with the 2009 Florida team that finished 13-1 and ranked No. 3. Each was coached by Urban Meyer. Both squads are defending national champions that saw their offensive coordinator leave (Tom Herman at Ohio State; Dan Mullen at Florida). And, in each case, Meyer promoted an offensive line coach to run the attack (Ed Warinner at Ohio State; Steve Addazio at Florida). More similarities? Each team has a stout defense and is playing games that are way closer than they need to be-but still finding a way to grind out victories. UF?s lone loss was to Alabama in the SEC title game, knocking it from No. 1 and costing it a shot at the BCS title game and a chance to repeat.

2. Speaking of Ohio State, perhaps the Buckeyes should just go WAY conservative and ride Ezekiel Elliott the rest of the way. Why not? The junior has proven he can carry a big load. And, no one can seemingly stop him, as he has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in each of the last 10 games and paces the Big Ten with 729 yards rushing (7.3 ypc) with eight TDs. Defuse the quarterback tumult and just give the ball to Zeke. It?s similar to what Florida did in 2009, if you recall. The Gators became way too conservative and relied on defense and the rush game. Think about it, OSU. No sense in getting fancy if you don?t need to when you have a boffo offensive line and great running back.

[ MORE: Week 6 scoreboard | Week 6 previews | Polls: Pick Week 6 winners | Big Ten standings | Big Ten stats | Latest polls | Power Rankings | Bowl Projections | Player Rankings | Q&A: Shilique Calhoun | Big Ten Mailbag | Leonte Carroo reinstated | BTN to air No. 1, No. 4 & No. 13-No. 18 this week ]

3. Who is more desperate for a win this Saturday: Wisconsin or Nebraska? The teams meet in Lincoln with each coming off a tough loss to open the Big Ten season 0-1. Know this: Since the Big Ten went to divisions in 2011, only one team (the Badgers in 2011) has won a division with two Big Ten losses. So, the loser of this one could be in big trouble-especially if unbeaten Iowa and Northwestern keep rolling in the West. To me, I think there is more urgency for the Cornhuskers, who are 2-3 for the first time since 1959 and need to protect their home field as they search for mojo after a trio of difficult losses. Mike Riley needs to feed his antsy fan base a victory.

4. The most impressive unit in the Big Ten so far? How about the Michigan defense? After allowing 24 points in the season opener at Utah, the Wolverines have yielded 14 points combined over the last four games. They have allowed just one touchdown in the last 15 quarters, coming off consecutive shutouts in allowing 105 yards in each of the last two games. Want more? Michigan ranks in the Top 5 nationally in all four major defensive categories: second in scoring (7.6 ppg), fifth in rushing (71.4 ypg), third in passing (112.6 ypg), and second in total defense (184 ypg).

5. What is up with Michigan State?s issues after halftime? The Spartans have been outscored 73-50 in the second half. In five third quarters, the Spartans have scored just 24 points. The second-half struggles cost them their streak of scoring at least 30 points in 12 consecutive games, which was the longest in the nation until last week?s 24-21 victory vs. Purdue.

6. If Purdue is going to save its season, it probably needs to beat visiting Minnesota, a banged-up squad that looks vulnerable as it arrives in West Lafayette this Saturday. Most figured that RB David Cobb and TE Maxx Williams would be missed in Dinky Town. But it seems like neither void has been filled. How can this Minnesota offense get better? The unit averages 15.4 points, which is the second fewest nationally, and has been plagued by spotty quarterback play. The Boilermakers are 1-4 this season but are playing better than their record suggests. They were within three points or tied in the final 90 seconds in three of their losses. No doubt, Darrell Hazell needs a win badly. Purdue hasn?t won a conference home game under Hazell, going 0-8. The Boilers are also just 1-16 in Big Ten games overall under Hazell, with the only win coming last year at Illinois.

7. The offensive struggles may persist for Wisconsin. Why? The line just isn?t up to its usual high standards. The front looked fragile in camp. If injury struck, the line would be compromised. Well, it?s happening. The Badgers look set to start their fourth different line combination in six games this season coming off a six-point effort last week at home vs. Iowa.

8. Indiana will play one of its biggest games in recent memory when it travels to Penn State this Saturday. The Hoosiers have made steady progress under Kevin Wilson since he took over in 2011. Now, IU is primed for breakthrough. The Hoosiers are 4-1 and on course for the program?s first bowl since the 2007 season. How will Indiana play coming off an emotional home loss to No. 1 Ohio State? This is the type of game the Hoosiers need to win if they want to show that they truly have gotten over the proverbial hump. But history is against Indiana, which is 1-17 all-time against Penn State, including 0-8 in State College. The Hoosiers only win vs. PSU came two years ago in Bloomington. And Indiana is 1-15 in Big Ten road games under Wilson, including a 10-game losing streak. The Hoosiers? only win came in 2012 at Illinois.

9. A bowl game for Maryland is looking like a long shot-a REAL long shot. Sure, hope floats, but this team is struggling on both sides of the ball. In their last two games, the Terrapins have had only 326 yards against West Virginia and 105 yards against the Wolverines, which is the fewest yards they?ve had in a game since notching 91 in 2004 against NC State. The Terps have been outscored 73-6 the last two weeks. The defense? Maryland is 13th in the Big Ten in total defense (449.4 ypg), last in rushing defense (199.8 ypg), and 12th in scoring defense (31.8 ppg). And the next five games are brutal: at Ohio State, Penn State (Baltimore), at Iowa, Wisconsin, at Michigan State.

10. Injuries have hit the running back spot hard in the Big Ten. Illinois? Josh Ferguson is expected to miss this week?s game. Other top backs who are banged up and potentially out this Saturday are Penn State?s Saquon Barkley and Akeel Lynch; Purdue?s D.J. Knox; Michigan?s DeVeon Smith; Wisconsin?s Corey Clement; Indiana?s Jordan Howard.

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