10 games, 11 teams in action and the Big Ten league debut for a team. Pretty action-packed Saturday on the docket even with Michigan State, Wisconsin and Northwestern getting a chance for some R and R. Although for State and the Wildcats, it might be more liking their wounds than truly relaxing. The thing that strikes me about this slate is how sneaky-good it is. I want to watch all but two of these games. It is almost like a small town jazz festival. There aren’t any national headlining acts but it is a solid line up that more than makes up for the lack of oomph from one or two superstars.
Game of the Week:
Minnesota at TCU
This is a huge opportunity for Minnesota to measure up to what they will face in the Big Ten. TCU is a formidable power-five league team and it is on the road in a nasty environment. The Gophers enter 2-0 but have only faced a FCS team and Middle Tennessee State. This is the real deal. The Gophers have jumped out to big leads but take the foot off the gas a little in the second frame. Of course TCU’s MO has always been defense so there is a good chance the Frogs prevent the Gophers from getting that early lead. Also of note, the UM passing attack has not had much teeth to it so far. Can a one-dimensional team with a good defense break through on the road? Let’s find out.
Saturday, 4 / 3 central, Fox Sports 1
Sleeper:
West Virginia at Maryland
The Terps are sitting at 2-0 but left a pretty bitter taste in people’s mouths with a rough performance at South Florida. They had six turnovers and needed a fourth quarter comeback to beat one of the worst teams in the nation. The Mountaineers meanwhile are about as impressive as a team can be with a 1-1 mark. They went toe to toe with mighty Alabama and then took Towson to the woodshed, 54-0. Through two games Clint Trickett has an impressive 713 yards, 75% completion percentage, over 8 yards per attempt and a 3 to 0 TD to INT ratio. Maryland’s defense seems up to the task though, they have held each of their first two opponents to under 200 yards but obviously this is their tallest test of the young season. Much like the Gopher game, this will give us a lot better idea of how Maryland might fare in league play now that they are taking on a power conference team.
Saturday, 12 / 11 central, Big Ten Network
Dont Ignore:
Penn State at Rutgers
We kick off league play with a gem of a game. Each team is 2-0 but have done it very different ways. PSU is only averaging 23.5 points per (100th) but the scoring defense is top 25 at 13.5 per. Rutgers flips this script. They may give up over 31 points a game (97th currently) but when you score almost 40 a game (33rd) you can live with it. Both Gary Nova and Christian Hackenberg have been sharp in the young season under center. This one should come down to which defense can actually get off the field. There is a lot more intrigue for this game two weeks in than there was to start the year for two reasons. First, Penn State has a bit more to fight for as their bowl ban has been lifted. The other is after shaky performances by Michigan and OSU coupled with MSU showing they are in fact human suddenly has a lot of Eastern teams interested about how they can navigate the waters. Whoever gets to 1-0 will certainly throw their hat into the ring to make a surprising run to Indy.
Saturday, 8 / 7 central, Big Ten Network
Snoozer:
Purdue vs Notre Dame (game in Indianapolis)
The Train is off the tracks early after a 21 point home loss to Central Michigan. Notre Dame meanwhile seems poised for a good season after dismantling Michigan. Optimistic Purdue fans might ask if Notre Dame would be looking past Purdue and let the Boilermakers hang around. The short answer is no…Syracuse isn’t any reason to look past an in-state nuisance (rival isn’t the right word). The Irish should also be (at least a little bit) fired up about playing the game in Indy. Remember how excited you were for a field trip back in the day?
Saturday, 7:30 / 6:30 central, NBC…or use a thumbscrew on yourself, each option has about the same level of enjoyment.
Upset Watch:
Right End – Only one Big Ten underdog this week so you are pretty much locked in to Illinois. Yes, Rutgers is technically the second but it is a league game and the spread is only four currently (meaning PSU is TD favorite on a neutral site). So what about the Illini? Can they find a way to get it done in Seattle? It’s tempting to yell “HELL NO!” from the top of a tall building but the Huskies haven’t exactly wowed through two weeks. They were one-point winners at Hawai’i to start the season and won a bonkers game against FCS Eastern Washington 59-52 a week ago. I think UW’s struggles on defense could keep Illinois around but remember, UI hasn’t been a thing of beauty themselves.
Illinois at Washington, Saturday, 4 /3 central, Fox
Wrong End – Pretty easy in this one, Iowa. The Hawks-Cyclone rivalry is a goofy one with the games frequently close no matter how one-sided the talent looks on paper. This season each team comes in with a lot of worried fans. Iowa is a very shaky 2-0 without looking good in either game. Iowa State is 0-2 but really had Kansas State on the ropes last week before a second half collapse. Cyclone fans are obviously dead worried about starting 0-3 before hosting top-ten Baylor. They really need to get on the board before the grueling Big 12 schedule begins in earnest. Expect this one to be closer than that double-figure spread Vegas currently has.
Iowa State at Iowa, Saturday, 3:30 / 2:30 central. ESPN / WatchESPN app
Elsewhere:
Indiana at Bowling Green, Sat, 12 /11, ESPN / WatchESPN app – Defending champ BGSU is expected to make a return trip to the MAC title game despite losing their head coach. Hoosiers will have to be on their game in this one. I’m wondering if having last week off will help or hurt the Hoosiers and their start. Remember, they looked a little sluggish week 1.
Kent State at Ohio State, Sat, 12 / 11, ABC / ESPN 2 – Kent has mustered just 27 points in their lousy 0-2 start. OSU should cruise after last week’s disappointment.
Miami (OH) at Michigan, Sat, 3:30 / 2:30, BTN – Miami hasn’t won a game since October 27th, 2012. This should be a welcome relief to the fans, players and coaches after last week’s nightmare in South Bend.
Nebraska at Fresno State, Sat, 10:30p / 9:30p, CBS Sports Network – The loss of NFL starter Derek Carr has obviously hurt the Bulldogs as they are 0-2 with just 40 total points. Meanwhile the defense has given up over 50 in each loss. Nebraska should be able to blow them out but I’m curious how they look in what can be a tough environment after a very shaky performance in week two.
Random Musing
Is it just me or does the TCU-Minnesota game feel really random. Like one of the ADs through a dart and it hit the other school so they called up to play the game. At least the Pac 12-Big Ten games make sense with the leagues decided to boost their schedules with each other. Since it feels very random means it is perfect for some random musings. After some digging, I discovered beating TCU doesn’t guarantee the Gopher season will turn into a gem of one. In the only other meeting between the two schools back in 1974 the Gophers got the victory but it was a forgettable season overall going just 4-7. For the Frog fans that day it was business as usual. Based on their record its safe to say there was more disco and prog rock than football in Fort Worth back then as they limped to a 25-81-3 mark for the decade.
Big Ten and Counting 