Howdy, football fans! It's a short show this week, with most of the top 25 playing unranked teams. And there's no recording because the missus has kept me busy doing work around the house. So let's take a quick look at this week's games.

Minnesota at Ohio State

Jim Tressel's nuts have to regroup after last week's surprise loss. They'll play host to the gilded rodents from the Great White North. The Gophers haven't lost two in a row yet, and they'll hope to catch the acorns while they're still on the ground. Unfortunately, the trees grow quickly in Columbus. Beonard's loser: Minnesota

Indiana at Northwestern

The canal diggers have only won a single game away from Basketballtown, so they'll need to bring their A game to Evanston. The purple kittens have proven to have sharp claws this year, and they'll get a chance to sharpen them against Bill Lynch's shaky squad. Indiana hasn't yet beaten a team they're not supposed to, and they're not supposed to beat Pat Fitzgerald. Beonard's loser: Indiana

Illinois at Purdue

The season couldn't get much worse for the Chambana tribe, and Chief Zook's job may be on the line. Meanwhile, Danny Hope is hoping to salvage the season after last week's upset of an Ohio State University. A win this weekend would give the locomotive a good head of steam to finish out the last third of the season. Illinois hasn't scored more than 17 points in a game all season, and Purdue has always reached 20 or more. Beonard's loser: Illinois

Penn State at Michigan

Joe Pa hasn't won in the Big House in 13 years, a streak he hopes to break on Saturday. A win keeps the cats in the hunt for the Big Ten title, but a loss puts RichRod in a bowl game. No visitors have won in Ann Arbor so far this season, but all streaks must end at some point. Beonard's loser, in a close one: Michigan

Boston College at Notre Dame

It's the annual Catholic Clash when the Eagles fly into the Indiana Vatican. The potato farmers haven't won the Holy War since the Clinton administration, and Charlie Weis needs a win here to keep from getting excommunicated. BC sits atop a weak ACC Atlantic, and lacks a signature win this season. Without a road win to their credit, the Eagles will find absolution hard to come by. Beonard's loser: Boston College

Iowa at Michigan State

After a rough start to the season, Mark Dantonio and the spear toters are in the thick of the conference battle. They've got a chance to clip Iowa's wings and prevent the corn birds from getting their first ever 8-0 start. Kirk Ferentz has other ideas, and would much rather see his team get a crack at the BCS title game. The fowl have lost their last four games in East Lansing, but this year they're a better team when they're away from the nest. Beonard's loser: Michigan State

TCU at Brigham Young

This week's other Holy War takes place in LaVell Edwards Stadium, when the Fort Worth amphibians hop in. The Mormons would like nothing better than to repay TCU for last year's loss. TCU has one of the best defenses in the country, but BYU knows how to score points, and at the end of the day, they won't mind the horns. Beonard's loser, in an upset: TCU