Yes, yes, yes! The season is here! Glory, glory, hallelujah. All the predictions and speculation and trouble is over (somewhat) as we finally get to see these teams in action. A full slate this week as all 14 teams have their openers so let’s get to it. As always, all times listed are central.
Game of the Week:
Wisconsin vs Alabama (Dallas, TX)
Surprisingly, the only game between ranked opponents this week has the feel of a retro style game as both teams enter with questions about quarterback play. Expect a lot of smash mouth running as the game flies by with the clock rolling so much. The Tide’s defensive line will probably be the difference but barring the Tide having some ace up their sleeve in the passing game no one knows about, this should be a pretty tight battle.
- Saturday, 7pm, ABC
Sleeper:
Ah yes, nuts and birds. While this has all the trappings of a blowout on paper there is still plenty of intrigue. First and foremost, who will take the first snap at quarterback for the defending champs? Secondly, will the suspensions, chiefly Joey Bossa’s, impact this game any? Lastly, Tech is still a well coached team playing at home. I think OSU wins this game 8 out of 10 times with six of those eight being blowouts, but that still leaves a healthy 40% chance of something watchable. I’ll take it.
- Monday, 7pm, ESPN
Don’t Forget:
Damn, I wish BYU would wear those sweet, sweet uniforms all the time but they too have sadly joined the Oregon rat race of uniforms. Meanwhile, they travel to Lincoln in a compelling debut for new coach Mike Riley. A lot of questions about how this team will play offensively since Riley’s Oregon State clubs had a vastly different attack than the Nebraska fans are used to. For BYU they have a solid coach in Bronco Mendenhall and enjoy the services of a healthy Taysom Hill at QB again. Sneaky good game to watch.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ABC
Snoozer:
I mean honestly, even their logos beg you to fall asleep. Rutgers isn’t the most entertaining teams to start with but the Spartans are coming off a 4-8 FCS season. No thanks.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPNN…or see how many paper cuts you can give yourself before passing out from the pain, either sounds like a good use of time.
Upset Watch:
Right End – Go big or go home, right? The best time to pick off Alabama is going to be early in the year before they sort out their quarterback situation. The fact that the Badgers are ranked and it is a neutral site game helps. It’s not like picking Vandy to pull of the stunner in Tuscaloosa.
Wrong End – Iowa vs Illinois State. Thought I was going with OSU, didn’t you. Here is why Iowa needs to be on upset watch…despite a lot of wins in openers, Iowa has also been shaky in the last few. It is easy to overlook an FCS team but Illinois State was last year’s runner up and returns a fantastic duel threat qb in Tre Roberson. In the past Iowa has had fits trying to contain mobile quarterbacks. They better be on point.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois vs Kent State – Look for the Illini to be loose after a very stressful week leading up to the game. They have the horses, if they can put it together mentally, to blow out the Golden Flashes opening day.
- Friday, 8pm, BTN
Indiana vs Southern Illinois – SIU was an under .500 FCS club. If Kevin Wilson has any hopes of making a bowl they need to win this one and not lose anyone to injury or something silly like fighting.
- Saturday, 3pm, ESPNN
Maryland vs Richmond – Spiders are usually a strong FCS team and last year was no different with a nine win season. Terps lost a lot of talent, especially on offense, but they should still win this game, pulling away midway through the third.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPNU
Michigan at Utah – Interesting game on paper. Utah hosts in the altitude and is a sleeper Pac 12 South pick. Michigan meanwhile has had a huge upgrade at coach but is one off season enough to jump start a struggling offense? Guess we’ll find out tonight.
- Thursday, 7:30pm, Fox Sports 1
Michigan State vs Western Michigan – Assuming they live up to the hype, Sparty will obliterate an improving, but seriously over-matched, Bronco program.
- Friday, 6pm, ESPNU
Minnesota vs TCU – Gophers held the Frogs to their lowest 2014 point total but could barely score themselves in a multi-touchdown loss. This will most likely turn ugly, but don’t count out the crafty Jerry Kill to keep his team in this one longer than anyone would expect them too.
- Thursday, 8pm, ESPN
Northwestern vs Stanford – The high powered academic programs face off in what should be a win for the Cardinal. I’m having a hard time seeing how NU can score enough against a fundamentally sound defense like Stanford brings every year.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPN
Penn State at Temple – I love this PSU team. This will be the first of their ten wins this year and they’ll get it going away, too.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ESPN
Purdue at Marshall – Very intriguing game. I think Marshall wins (they are favored) but still looks like an upset since PU is a power 5 member. It’s too bad Rakeem Cato had to go and graduate from Marshall. Would love to see him flinging the ball around Huntington, WV for a few more years.
- Sunday, 2pm, Fox Sports 1
Random Musing
Which will do more damage to the Big Ten’s reputation…Ohio State winning but Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota all get blown out or the Bucks losing but the Badgers, Wolverines and Gophers all score big upsets as well as the Huskers holding home serve against pesky BYU? I feel like knowing ESPN, Ohio State losing will let them slam the league again and if they win, it doesn’t matter what the rest of the league does.
Big Ten and Counting 