Around the Big Ten: Matchups, Power Rankings for Week 7

Pregame Editor Robert Read previews this weekend’s conference matchups and updates the DI’s Big Ten Power Rankings ahead of the seventh week of the season.

Iowa+quarterback+Spencer+Petras+looks+to+pass+during+a+football+game+between+No.+3+Iowa+and+No.+4+Penn+State+at+Kinnick+Stadium+on+Saturday%2C+Oct.+9%2C+2021.+The+Hawkeyes+defeated+the+Nittany+Lions+23-20.+%28Grace+Smith%2FThe+Daily+Iowan%29

Grace Smith

Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras looks to pass during a football game between No. 3 Iowa and No. 4 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. The Hawkeyes defeated the Nittany Lions 23-20. (Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Robert Read, Pregame Editor


The Daily Iowan’s Pregame Editor Robert Read ranked all 14 Big Ten football teams and previewed every Week 7 conference contest in this week’s edition of Around the Big Ten.

Here are the full rankings, along with start time and betting information for every game.

Week 1 Big Ten Power Rankings

  1. Iowa — The Hawkeyes ARE the best team in the Big Ten.
  2. Ohio State — Everyone outside of Iowa thinks the Buckeyes are better than the Hawkeyes.
  3. Penn State — Much better when Sean Clifford is in the game.
  4. Michigan — The latest team to survive a game against Nebraska.
  5. Michigan State — Let’s see if the Spartans can survive the other top teams in the East.
  6. Wisconsin — I can’t wait for Iowa to beat Wisconsin 10-3.
  7. Nebraska — Imagine if the Huskers could actually win a close game.
  8. Purdue — The Boilermakers seem to play like an elite team against Iowa, though.
  9. Maryland — Tough last two weeks for the Terrapins.
  10. Minnesota — The 2019 season was a long, long time ago.
  11. Indiana — I’m not mad, Indiana. I’m just disappointed.
  12. Rutgers — Much better than the bottom two teams.
  13. Illinois — The Illini beat the Huskers, in case you forgot.
  14. Northwestern — At least a new stadium is coming soon?

Week 7 Big Ten matchups

No. 10 Michigan State vs. Indiana

When/where to watch: Saturday at 11 a.m. on FS1 | Line: MSU -4.5 | O/U: 49

Indiana just can’t catch a break with its schedule. The B1G East is loaded.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

When/where to watch: Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 | Line: NEB -4.0 | O/U: 48

Both of these teams could really use a win at the moment.

Rutgers vs. Northwestern

When/where to watch: Saturday at 11 a.m. on BTN | Line: RUTG: -2.0 | O/U: 45

Northwestern has an opportunity to get back to .500. This might be its last chance to do that this season.

Purdue vs. No. 2 Iowa

When/where to watch: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC | Line: IOWA -11.5 | O/U: 43

Iowa has lost three of its last four meetings with Purdue. This time around, I’d recommend covering David Bell.

Army vs. Wisconsin

When/where to watch: Saturday at 7 p.m. on BTN | Line: WISC -14.0 | O/U: 39

There are going to be like 12 pass attempts combined in this game.