Some things to watch in the Big Ten in Week 5 of the season:GAME OF THE WEEKNo. 8 Wisconsin at No. 4 Michigan. Its the first time in 65 all-time meetings that these teams have played when both were in the top 10, and each will play with an eye on strengthening its resume for the College Football Playoff. Even after a convincing win at Michigan State last week, the Badgers believe theyre due more national respect. That wont be an issue if they get a second straight strong road performance from redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook. Michigan has scored 45 or more points in four straight games for the first time since 1947. The Badgers have allowed just three offensive touchdowns through four games.BEST MATCHUPNorthwestern at Iowa. This game could determine each teams direction for the balance of the season. Northwestern, winner of 10 games in 2015, is 1/3 and coming off a home loss to Nebraska. The defending West Division champion Hawkeyes followed a loss to FCS North Dakota State with an uninspired performance in a win at Rutgers, and now they are reeling from the loss of top receiver Matt VandeBerg to a broken foot.INSIDE THE NUMBERSThe Ohio State defenses nine interceptions are the Buckeyes most through three games since 1942. Ohio State, which hosts Rutgers, is the only FBS team to not allow a rushing TD this season. ... Rutgers leads the nation in red zone defense, having allowed points on three of its opponents eight trips inside the 20-yard line. ... Nebraska, which hosts Illinois, is a model of balance. The Cornhuskers average 242 yards rushing and 243 yards passing. ... Illinois Hardy Nickerson is averaging 9.7 tackles to lead the Big Ten. ... Marylands 123 points are second-most in program history through three games behind the 130 by the 1951 team. ... David Blough enters Purdues game at Maryland looking to tie a program record with three consecutive 300-yard passing games. ... Saquon Barkleys 77 receiving yards against Michigan last week were the most by a Penn State running back since 2008. ... Minnesota, which visits Penn State, has 119 points through three games, its most since 2005.LONG SHOTIndiana is a seven-point underdog at home against Michigan State and has lost seven straight to the Spartans since last winning the Old Brass Spittoon in 2006. The Hoosiers probably would be unbeaten entering their Big Ten opener if Richard Lagow hadnt been intercepted five times in a home loss to Wake Forest last week. Michigan State is looking to bounce back from a 24-point loss to Wisconsin that was its worse at home since 2009.PLAYER TO WATCHWisconsin LB T.J. Watt, younger brother of three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and ex-Badger J.J. 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LOUIS -- On paper, the Oakland Athletics are the kind of team the St. Louis Cardinals should beat.At 55-72, Oakland is 19 1/2 games out of first place in the American League West and going nowhere fast.However, the games arent played on 8 1/2-by-11 sheets of paper, and the way St. Louis continues to struggle at Busch Stadium, the Athletics look like a threat to play a spoilers role in a three-game weekend series that starts Friday night at Busch Stadium.Fresh off an off day Thursday, Oakland arrived in town after drumming the American League Central-leader Indians two out of three at home, holding Cleveland to a single run in each game. The As also dumped the Baltimore Orioles, an AL East contender, three out of four games at home earlier this month.This has been kind of a theme for us this year, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said after his teams 5-1 win over Cleveland on Wednesday. Weve played well at times against good teams, then not so well against teams that arent as good. I cant figure us out.On the other hand, the Cardinals (67-59) are as easy to read as a rookie quarterbacks eyes. They are the majors best team on the road at 38-24, yet they cant consistently win at home, where their 10-6 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday night dropped them to 29-35.Two frequent bugaboos -- sketchy starting pitching and defense -- hampered them in the latest loss. Adam Wainwright didnt throw well but wasnt helped by a pair of key errors that led to five unearned runs.I wouldnt say thats the whole story, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny saiid of his teams leaky defense.dddddddddddd We had a guy throw a good game against us. And thats a lot of runs that youre giving up.The Cardinals are guilty of 88 errors this year, the fourth-highest total in the majors. They also havent made several plays that werent counted as errors yet still extended innings and led to runs.Even so, St. Louis remains 1 1/2 games ahead of the Miami Marlins for the National Leagues second wild-card spot. And with two more long road trips coming up down the stretch, the Cardinals can be excused for liking their chances at notching a sixth consecutive postseason berth.St. Louis will send rookie right-hander Luke Weaver to the mound for his third major league start Friday. The hard-throwing Weaver (0-1, 5.00 ERA) is coming off a 4-2 loss Saturday night in Philadelphia, which nicked him for nine hits and three runs over five innings.He will be facing the As for the first time.The Athletics counter with left-hander Ross Detwiler (1-2, 5.91 ERA overall). He will be making his fourth start with Oakland since he was acquired from the Indians for cash last month, and he is 1-2 with a 5.94 ERA for the As.A product of Wentzville, Mo., about 30 miles west of St. Louis, Detwiler is coming off a 6-2 loss Sunday at the Chicago White Sox, which racked him for 10 hits and six runs over four innings.In five career games (two starts) against the Cardinals, Detwiler is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA. ' ' '