Well thanks to the silly nine game league schedule (they do know a statistical analysis of the Pac 12 showed that it lowers the odds of making the playoffs, right?) starts soon so this is the last non-conference week. Time to ease into things, right? Not quite. In addition to that massive tilt in Norman, Oklahoma there are some real battles for the league this week and depending on how things shake out, some playoff dreams could take a massive step backwards. Not everyone in action though with Minnesota and both Indiana schools getting a bye. As always, these times are central.
Game of the Week:
Ohio State at Oklahoma
#3 Ohio State heads to #14 Oklahoma in what could be a tournament elimination game for OU. Difficult to see enough damage happening to allow a two loss Sooner team to get back in the fold. As for OSU, they have looked outstanding against Bowling Green and Tulsa but those were at home and this young club hasn’t faced off against anyone of note yet. Never totally sure how youth filled teams will react on the road, especially when it is in Norman. The necessity of Oklahoma to win will make this have the feeling of a semifinal match-up. Pins and needles from the coin toss on.
- Saturday, 6:30pm, FOX
Sleeper:
The 12th ranked Spartans head to 18th ranked Notre Dame for the first time since 2013 (the rivalry was on hold). Irish lost a shootout in Texas and their win against Nevada doesn’t settle all their woes in the secondary. Like Oklahoma, a loss almost surely ends any hope of the playoffs. MSU won their opener against Furman and while never in jeopardy, it wasn’t an explosive performance either. Having two weeks to prepare for this Irish attack can’t hurt though. This one might come down to who can get a timely stop because right now it looks like a track meet on paper. Not that I’m complaining about these talented teams racing up and down the field.
- Saturday, 6:30pm, NBC
Don’t Forget:
Each team is 2-0 but with greatly different levels of buzz. Nebraska has allowed just 27 points all year as they crushed Fresno State and Wyoming yet outside a few people in Lincoln, the assumption is the ceiling is a Big Ten West title. For Oregon they have given up 54 total points to hapless Virginia and FCS UC Davis yet they have a national rank and plenty of people thinking they can win the Pac 12 North and a league title. For people with lingering doubts about Mike Riley, this is a great opportunity for his team to make a bold statement.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ABC
Snoozer:
Admittedly Iowa is playing on a FCS team but they are a little different than most (see below) so Wisconsin goes here. Georgia State played in a bowl last year but graduated their QB and have looked lost in their 0-2 start, getting blown out a week ago by Air Force. For the record, I don’t know why GSU got rid of that awesome early 90’s cocky panther logo. It also seems somehow more hilarious next to the mid 1930s curious badger logo Wisconsin was rocking then.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN…It’s Madison, have a late Friday night at State Street Brats, sleep in and get to Camp Randall in time for Jump Around, then leave early to start early at State Street Brats.
Upset Watch:
Right End – Michigan State is a road underdog against a good Notre Dame team but higher ranked in the polls so that doesn’t feel like an upset. Illinois is a dog at home but it is against a MAC school, so that doesn’t feel like one either. Only Nebraska feels like an upset because of our perceptions of the two programs. Defending home field against a solid Pac 12 team well help the Huskers take that next step under Riley.
Wrong End – Northwestern is some how a favorite against Duke, probably because they are the home team. Admittedly both teams have had their ugly moments in their 0-2 and 1-1 starts but at least the Blue Devils have a win and weren’t held to seven points by a FCS school. Would you trust this Wildcat team at the moment because I sure as hell don’t.
- Saturday, 7pm, BTN
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois vs Western Michigan – A MAC team a road favorite against a Big Ten School not named Purdue? Wowza. Western knocking off Northwestern took a bit of a hit after the Cats lost to FCS Illinois State but the Broncos are the favorite in their league for a reason. Illinois’s loss to North Carolina wasn’t as bad as it seems. I still think Lovie’s club pulls this one off.
- Saturday, 3pm, ESPNN
Iowa vs North Dakota State – The Bison are the five time defending FCS champions so this isn’t your average FCS club showing up. When Carson Wentz missed some time last year, NDSU struggled a tad and this year they have opened up with two overtime wins against their fellow FCS clubs. They’re dangerous, no doubt about it, but if Iowa plays like they did against the Cyclones, they should win. The question is if they can duplicate that performance.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPN2
Maryland at UCF – UM is 2-0 after a solid showing against FCS Howard and a road victory at FIU. They head back to the sunshine state to take on UCF. The Knights famously went winless last year. They are 1-1 with a victory over a FCS school and then getting creamed at Michigan last week. Terps look strong so far but this is a road trip and a little bit step up in competition. I’m confident they win, but I doubt it’ll be a laugher like the previous two for Maryland.
- Saturday, 6pm, CBSSN
Michigan vs Colorado – The Buffs are vastly improved with their first 2-0 start since 2013 and just their second since 2008 as this team slowly claws its way back. The problem is they aren’t ready to tango with a team up to Michigan’s standards. Maybe they battle for the first thirty but even that feels like a stretch the way big blue is performing right now.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, BTN
Penn State vs Temple – Temple won this one a year ago thanks in large part to 10 sacks. Some of the key pieces from that unit moved on but after a shaky start to the season in the loss to Army, the Owls shutout Stony Brook last week. Still, Penn State’s offense showed a lot of potential against Pitt and I can’t imagine them losing to this team twice in a row, or a fellow Pennsylvania team in back-to-back weeks for that matter, either.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN
Rutgers vs New Mexico – The Lobos were feeling pretty good about a potential 2-0 start after a bowl appearance last year until the wheels came off against rival New Mexico State and they lost the Rio Grand Rivalry late. It was the Aggies’ first win in the series since 2011 and was certainly a blow for the Mountain West club. Rutgers gained a lot of confidence with an impressive day against Howard last week. Nothing is guaranteed for teams like RU and Purdue but they have to feel better about things going into this one than their opponent.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPNN
Random Musing
The Colorado-Michigan game marks the first time they will face each other since 1997 but of course the 1994 game was the most famous game in the three-time played series. The Miracle at Michigan saw the Buffs score two touchdowns in the final 2 minutes and change, the second one coming on a last second Hail Mary by Kordell Stewart.
1994 turned out to be a solid season for both teams. Colorado would go on to finish 11-1, destroy Notre Dame in the Fiesta bowl, end third in the polls, and have their lone loss be to the undefeated national champs Nebraska. Michigan would finish 8-4 but their losses were to undefeated #2 and Big Ten champ Penn State, nine-win OSU, and eight-win Wisconsin. The Wolverines would pick up their 8th victory in the Holiday bowl against 10th ranked Colorado State. Side note, the WAC that year would have three teams in the final polls – 16th CSU, the league champs, 10th ranked Utah, and 18th ranked BYU. The league doesn’t even exist anymore, sad.
Colorado and Michigan played each other because CU’s coach in the 80s and 90s, Bill McCartney, was a former Michigan assistant. He is battling late on-set Alzheimer’s so expect a rousing tribute Saturday in Michigan Stadium as they honor the hall of fame coach and winner of the 1990 national title.
Big Ten and Counting 