Big Ten football recap - Week #10

The Big Ten Football season continued this weekend with 5 conference match-ups and a single non-conference game. I was again asked by the staff of BigTen-fans.com to provide my "Shull's Selections;" a list of picks for every Big Ten game and a single "bonus" game of regional interest. Week #10 was easily my worst week after back to back 7-0 weeks and I picked only 3 of 7 games correctly. Overall, I am now 22-5 on the season picking Big Ten winners.

As always, look to Big Ten Fans for your updated Big Ten football scores andstandings throughout the weekend.

#2 Michigan 34 - Ball State 26

In my preview I stated that Michigan "does not cover the 34 point spread thanks the Ball State offense and the QB tandem of Nate Davis and Joey Lynch." Davis, the outstanding freshman QB at Ball State, finished 18-34 for 250 yards and a 2nd half TD pass. Michigan's running game was key as they outrushed Ball State 352-47 and controlled the time of possession.

Shull's Selection was: Michigan 37 - Ball State 13

Minnesota 63 - Indiana 26

Anyone care to tell me what the heck this was? There were 1,042 yards of total offense in this game led by Minnesota QB Bryan Cupito's 378 yards passing and 4 TDs. While Indiana had a great day on offense as well, they found themselves down 35-0 in the 2nd quarter and had to play catch-up the entire day.

Shull's Selection was: Indiana 34 - Minnesota 20

#17 Wisconsin 13 - Penn State 3

Penn State head coach Joe Paterno went down with a knee injury and the Nittany Lions did not have the offensive firepower to come back as Wisconsin led 10-3 at the half and added a second half FG to run their record to 9-1 on the season. Freshman phenom PJ Hill, Jr. led the charge for the Badgers with 146 yards rushing on 31 carries.

Shull's Selection was: Penn State 16 - Wisconsin 14

Nortwestern 21 - Iowa 7

There was yet another Big Ten surprise over in Iowa when the Northwestern Wildcats took down the Iowa Hawkeyes 21-7. Tyrell Sutton rushed for 169 yards and a TD and CJ Bacher threw for 219 yards and a TD to lead the Wildcats to their first win of the Big Ten season. Iowa QB Drew Tate was ineffective as he threw for just 147 yards and 2 INT in his return to the lineup after missing last week's game with a hand injury and surgery.

Shull's Selection was: Iowa 31 - Northwestern 13

Purdue 17 - Michigan State 15

In my Week #10 Big Ten football preview I stated that "few games are as tough to call as this one" and that "I think Purdue is better on paper and should take this one," but I did not back that statement up with the pick. Curtis Painter threw for two TDs and 283 yards to lead Purdue to victory. The win puts Purdue one win away from bowl eligibility and puts Michigan State one loss away from being disqualified from bowl consideration.

Shull's Selection was: Michigan State 31 - Purdue 28

#1 Ohio State 17 - Illinois 10

Here's what I predicted about this game: "Blowout. Buckeyes win. Man, was that a tough pick or what?"

Oops. Had it not been for these stupid new clock rules in 2006, the Fighting Illini may have made this game even more interesting.

Shull's Selection was: Ohio State 44 - Illinois 6