Will Jim Wacker finally get victory number four? Will Northwestern pull off yet another miracle on its last drive? Will Wisconsin blow a late lead and lose an upset bid again?
Nope.
While the Big Ten has had a crazy season so far, don't expect anything too crazy this weekend.
Northwestern (5-0 Big Ten, 7-1 Overall) at Penn State (3-2, 7-2):
Northwestern is a team possessed. The 11th-ranked Wildcats have won their last four games in the final minutes, and each game was decided by four points or less. Only a team with God on its side can win so many games in the final minutes. Well, this weekend, God will be looking the other way.
In the best Big Ten game of the weekend, and one of the best in the nation, the Wildcats go into Happy Valley with star running back and actor extraordinaire Darnell Autry returning to the lineup. Last week, Autry, the Big Ten's leading rusher who averages 5.1 yards per carry, was sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained two weeks ago. Understudy Adrian Autry, who is unrelated to Darnell, filled in, rushing for 128 yards on 30 carries against Illinois.
Much of the Wildcats' success will ride on the health of Darnell Autry. If he's 100 percent, the Nittany Lions' defense could be in for a long day. But if he's still not healthy, the Lions should be able to contain both him and Adrian.
After a fabulous start, the Penn State defense has cooled off of late. It allowed only 34 points in its first five games, but the Lions have allowed 99 points in their last four, and a healthy Darnell Autry could be trouble.
Penn State quarterback Wally Richardson has one of the worst passing-efficiency rankings in the Big Ten and was yanked last week in favor of Mike McQueary, creating a quarterback controversy in Happy Valley. Expect Joe Paterno to give McQueary some playing time if Richardson doesn't get off to a good start. The Lions will have to look to their running game to make up the difference. Running back Curtis Enis has been excellent this season, averaging five yards per carry, although he had a sub-par performance last week against Indiana.
The 15th-ranked Nittany Lions started out flat against Indiana last week and faced a 21-10 deficit at the half before waking up and routing the Hoosiers, 48-26. Don't expect to see a similar start to this one. After the 21-10 loss last season, this is a game the Penn State players have been looking forward to. Penn State will be out for revenge, but the game will go down to the wire. The Wildcats' last-minute drive will be stopped this time.
Penn State 27, Northwestern 24
Minnesota (0-4, 3-4) at Ohio State (4-0, 7-0):
In Minnesota, coach Jim Wacker's contract says if the Golden Gophers don't win five games this season, Wacker will lose his job. With only four games left on their schedule, the Gophers are two shy of the magic number. And don't expect victory number four to come in Columbus.
The Gophers are coming off a 44-10 drubbing at the hands of Michigan, a team that supposedly doesn't believe in running up the score. The second-ranked Buckeyes need to light up the scoreboard to impress pollsters. And we all know John Cooper's stance on running up the score.
Ohio State is undefeated and in the middle of both a Rose Bowl and a national championship race. With running back Pepe Pearson averaging five yards a carry, and quarterbacks Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson holding the one-two spots in Big Ten passing efficiency, the Gophers shouldn't be much of a road block for the Buckeyes.
Minnesota is 2-16 all-time in Columbus and hasn't beaten the Buckeyes since 1981. Last year, the Buckeyes blew Minnesota out, 49-21, amassing close to 600 yards on offense. This year, don't expect to see much different.
Ohio State 653, Minnesota 13
Purdue (1-3, 2-5) at Wisconsin (0-4, 3-4):
Wisconsin has to be the best 0-4 team in the conference. After just missing upsets over Penn State, Ohio State and Northwestern, an obviously demoralized Wisconsin team was blown out last week by Michigan State. Don't expect the same thing to happen this weekend.
The Badgers are led offensively by running back Ron Dayne. Dayne, one of the best freshman backs in the league, has averaged 5.2 yards per carry. While sophomore quarterback Mike Samuel has been less than stellar, junior wide receiver Donald Hayes has played well, averaging just under 60 receiving yards per game.
The Badgers, ranked fifth offensively in the conference, shouldn't have much trouble against Purdue's defense. The Boilermaker's D is last in the Big Ten, allowing a whopping 401.9 yards per game. If Samuel is going to have a good game, this Saturday is the day to do it.
The Badgers finally get their first Big Ten win - in fashionable style, too.
Wisconsin 24, Purdue 10
Iowa (3-1, 5-2) at Illinois (1-3, 2-5):
After a comeback bid against Ohio State failed last week, the 25th-ranked Hawkeyes look to right themselves and stay in the Rose Bowl race as they go into Champaign.
The Illini, coming off a heart-breaking loss to Northwestern in the Wildcats final drive - surprise, surprise - looks to repeat last year's performance, when they blew the Hawkeyes out, 27-6.
Illinois will look to running back Robert Holcombe. Holcombe, who gets virtually no recognition nationally - or even in the conference - has amassed 759 yards in seven games behind a weak offensive line.
The Hawkeyes will look to running back Sedrick Shaw, who has averaged close to 90 yards per game this season, to ignite them offensively.
Quarterback Matt Sherman must be better this week than he was last week if Iowa is going to win this game. Last week, Sherman was picked off four times. If he has a good day, this game should be all Iowa. It probably will be anyway.
Iowa 27, Illinois 17