The set-up: Neither team will likely challenge Wisconsin for the West Division race of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue is 2-3 and Illinois is 3-2 (both are 1-1 in conference play.) Each is looking to make it to the six win plateau and this is an important mid-season match-up. I'm expecting a tighter then expected battle and will therefore recommend grabbing as many pints as you can.

The teams: Purdue comes in rested off its bye, but I believe that rest does in fact lead to "rust." The Boilermakers opened with three straight losses, then they won two in a row before the untimely "bye." With that momentum now erased, I believe the stage is set for the hungry underdog home side to take advantage.

Illinois enters off a 38-17 win over Rutgers, a confidence building victory which snapped a 13-game conference losing streak dating to 2016.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but Purdue is just 9-10 ATS in its last 19 against conference opponents, while Illinois is 5-2 ATS in its last seven against teams with losing records. I do indeed feel that the conditions are correct for a war down to the end. Grab the points.