Showdown Saturday

It's not every year that we enter mid-November with a majority of Indiana college teams entering cruical matchups. However, that is certainly the case today. Both IU and Purdue will look to keep their bowl hopes alive, Notre Dame will try to save their season, Butler attempts to stay unbeaten, and the Monon Bell rivalry is renewed in Greencastle.

Purdue (4-6, 3-3) vs. Michigan State (5-5, 3-3)
I,had written off the Boilers' bowl chances after a 1-5 start, but you have to give them credit for what they've been able to do since. Purdue reminds me a lot of the 2001 Indiana team that started 0-5, but finished 5-1 (including a 4-4 in Big Ten mark) on their way to a 5-6 record. They were much better than their record would indicate, and I think the same can be said about Purdue. Historically, the Boilers have been prone to the letdown game after a big win, but this time I think they hold on.
Shots Pick: PURDUE (+3) 28, Michigan State 24

Indiana (4-6, 1-5) at #19 Penn State (8-2, 4-2)
The Hoosiers have to be kicking themselves for blowing that 28-3 lead at Northwestern. If they had held on there, this game would basically be a throw-away with a bowl berth riding on the Old Oaken Bucket Game in the season finale. The Nittany Lions have been underwhelming to say the least this season. They were smacked around at home in their only two big games, including a loss to Iowa and last week's embarrassing performance against Ohio State. IU has been competitive, but it's hard to see them winning at a place they've never won, against a team they've never beaten.
Shots pick: Penn State 42, INDIANA (+25) 20

Notre Dame (6-3) at Pittsburgh (9-1)
What should've been a big showdown and a test of Notre Dame's progress under Charlie Weis, is now nothing more than a spoiler game for the Irish. Thanks to last week's loss to Navy, the best Notre Dame can hope for is the Gator Bowl or potentially the Cotton Bowl, while Pittsburgh - still very much alive for a Big East title - could build some momentum heading into a crucial back-to-back against West Virginia and Cincinnati. After giving up 348 rushing yards to the Midshipmen last week, look for Pitt tailback Dion Lewis to have a big day.
Shots pick: PITTSBRUGH (-7) 31, Notre Dame 21

Butler (9-0, 6-0) at Jacksonvile (5-4, 4-2) - the unbeaten Bulldogs need a win to keep pace with co-leader Drake (6-0) who visits Dayton this afternoon. Two Bulldogs' wins would set up a psuedo Pioneer Football League title game next week when Butler hosts Drake.

Wabash (8-1) at DePauw (7-1) - without question the fiercest football rivalry in the entire state is renewed this afternoon from Greencastle. Wabash (8-1) needs a win to boost their chances for an at-large berth in the Division III playoffs, while DePauw, who has already secured a postseason spot, will look for their third straight victory against their archrival. The all-time series is dead even at 53-53-9.