Time for Big Ten Football: Chicago's Best Big Ten Bars

Oh Dirty Durkin’s….This is Purdue’s official alumni bar. Prepare to get wasted early and stay wasted the whole time you’re here.

In the past, I would have said to avoid the all-you-can eat pizza buffet and instead load up on the free popcorn. But word on the street is that Durkin’s is now ordering their pizza from Brazilian Pizza restaurant, FOGO to go. If the rumor is true, dive in. Their pizza is awesome!

Not the biggest or the best of the millions of Michigan State bars throughout the city. But honestly, who cares about the game. Michigan State kinda sucks anyway. This place is worth coming to just for the meatloaf.

Upside: They’re easy on fake ids if you’re under 21.
Downside: It’s also a Duke Bar. Duke? Really? Boo.

Saturday Specials:

$20 Coors Light ‘6-Pack’ Buckets
$5 Bloody Marys
$6 Orange Crush Bombs

More reserved than any of the other bars on this list, but it makes sense because it’s for Minnesota and they have pretty even temperaments up there. Not the awesomest bar in the world, but it’s a nice neighborhood meet up spot if you’re a Minnesota fan and want to catch the game.

Lots of TVs lots and lots of Dbags at this place…but usually also a fair amount of good looking women.

Specials

While most people will tell you that Duffy’s Tavern is the only place to watch a Michigan game, I prefer Matilda’s in Lake View. The place is very homey and feels kind of like you’re in a ski chalet with couches and a mish mosh of chairs and tables. The best part about this place — they make a concerted effort to cut down on the typical Lincoln Park douchebaggery by only allowing patrons 23 and older.

This is THE place to go if you went to THE Ohio state University. Located right off Waveland and Clark behind Wrigley Frield, this Wrigleyville mainstay has Delerium, Rogue, and Brooklyn Pennant Ales on tap, which I must admit is pretty cool.

Get “whiteout” drunk at the official alumni home for Penn State. Flounders is not a huge place, but the 15 flat screens and the garlic seasoned fries will keep you occupied.

Come here to commiserate with other nerds from Nerdwestern. Like your football team, the specials here are just mediocre.

$2.75 Bud Light Drafts

$2.75 Smirnoff Bloody Marys

25¢ Wings til 6pm

$6 32 oz Miller Lite refills
$5 Cheese Curds
$15 60 oz Bucky the Badger Fish Bowls

If you get here early enough I recommend the breakfast burrito. Much better than the one at Wishbone across the street.

Granted, there are probably better Iowa bars to watch a game, but I can promise you there are no better Iowa bars in Chicago to get a buffalo ranch chicken wrap. It’s phenomenal

Honestly, the wrap here is huge and the service is even better. I once split one with someone else and the kitchen divided everything perfectly in half from the pepper fries to the pickle spear. This place is awesome!