Does the Big Ten have a true powerhouse this season? Although on paper it may seem that Ohio State and Northwestern have a clear path to sharing a Big Ten title, reality takes over on the playing field.
No team has yet shown itself to be completely dominant, leading to many closer-than-expected contests.
This week could provide some unexpected fireworks, so break out the sparklers and pay close attention.
Ohio State (3-0 Big Ten, 6-0 overall) at Iowa (3-0, 5-1):
By process of elimination, this becomes the Big Ten Game of the Week.
Iowa is coming off an impressive win on the road last week in Happy Valley. As a result, Iowa has found itself in a three-way tie atop the Big Ten. A win this weekend in Iowa City would give the Hawkeyes a serious chance at a Big Ten championship.
Iowa will look to its key players - quarterback Matt Sherman, running back Sedrick Shaw and wide receiver/kick returner Tim Dwight - to lead it to victory.
While the Buckeyes started the season by blowing out lesser opponents, their explosive atack may have started to run out of gas. The past two weeks, Ohio State has looked beatable, narrowly escaping Wisconsin and limping into halftime tie with lowly Purdue, before waking up in the second half.
Does a confident Iowa team plus an Ohio State team looking ahead equal upset? Not quite. This will be a close game, but Ohio State will eke out another victory.
Ohio State 27, Iowa 23
Wisconsin (0-3, 3-3) at Michigan State (3-1, 4-3):
The curse of the purple pants seems to have bewitched Badger coach Barry Alvarez last weekend as his team blew it in the final seconds against Northwestern.
The press has badgered Wisconsin's coach all week about his clock management at the end of the game and for allowing the Wildcats to add another chapter to their never-ending Cinderella story. The defeat left the Badgers still in search of a conference victory.
Michigan State remains in the hunt for a Rose Bowl berth and is hungry enough to not look past a Wisconsin team that has lost its confidence. But, as evidenced by the Badgers' last three losses, it won't be easy.
This game comes down to home field advantage.
Michigan State 20, Wisconsin 16
Illinois (1-2, 2-4) at Northwestern (4-0, 6-1):
Does anyone see a pattern developing? Northwestern seems to tease its opponents by letting them lead for three quarters, then pulling the game out in the fourth quarter.
The trip to Pasadena last year has given Northwestern the tenacity to not give up, evidenced by the leadership of quarterback Steve Schnur, who completed the game-winning touchdown last week in Madison.
While Northwestern is on the rise in the Big Ten, the Illini have begun in just the opposite way, struggling just to score.
Illinois will, once again, be at the mercy of a much superior team. Northwestern will have pity on them, though, only teasing them for the first half.
Northwestern 28, Illinois 9
Penn State (2-2, 6-2) at Indiana (0-4,2-5):
Once again, things do not look good for the Hoosiers this week. They have yet to win a conference game, and now they have to try to do it against an angry Penn State team which was taken out of the Rose Bowl race last week with a loss to Iowa.
Although running back Alex Smith had 99 yards against Michigan, he only averaged 2.9 per carry. That's not going to get it done against Penn State.
Will Curtis Enis regain the form he displayed in blowing out Southern Cal? Against the Hoosiers, it probably won't even matter.
Penn State 34, Indiana 20