This week feels right folks, all 14 teams are in action across seven league games. For several teams they are making their league debut. For some they hope to get to 2-0 and for four clubs they are desperately hoping to avoid an early 0-2 hole in conference action. Like always, times are central.
Game of the Week:
Michigan vs Wisconsin
Gee, tell me if this sounds familiar – Wisconsin traveling to the state of Michigan for a huge showdown between ranked teams. The fourth ranked team in the land hosting the eight ranked club is always appointment television but this one has some different wrinkles (astute readers will notice I totally ripped myself off from last week’s preview). Wisconsin’s amazing defense will try to survive their first of several games without star linebacker Vince Biegel. On Michigan’s side of things they have looked like world beaters but their best competition so far has been Colorado so going to work against that great Badger defense will be something different.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ABC
Sleeper:
Golden Gophers are 3-0 but haven’t left the Twin Cities. They are also an unpolished team with 27 penalties for 220 yards in just three games. Penn State meanwhile just got flattened at Michigan. The athletic director has insisted Franklin isn’t on the hot seat – which is code speak for he is – so all wins are at a premium for the Nittany Lions.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, BTN
Don’t Forget:
The Boilers are coming off one of their best coached wins in the Hazell era. We always ask what teams will do as a follow up performance after big wins so the question is fair for Purdue as they head to undefeated Maryland. For the Terps they have looked much better in D.J. Durkin’s debut season and stretching their hot start to 4-0 would do wonders for their bowl hopes as they have to navigate the brutal Big Ten East.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, BTN
Snoozer:
Since Ohio State doesn’t play Purdue this year, this is the game with the largest talent gap between league teams in the Big Ten 2016 schedule and it is in the Shoe. Yikes.
- Saturday, 11am, BTN…I mean I’m going to be watching my sorry Hawks at 11 in the morning but you can probably sleep in.
Upset Watch:
Sadly now that we’re in league play there is no real easy way to make the distinction between being on the right end or wrong end of an upset. That’s always a fun feature of the non-conference but now that we’re in league any upset is potentially season crippling or season defining.
Right and Wrong end:
Michigan State won the East last year by sweeping Michigan and Ohio State to nullify the loss to Nebraska. This year they have the loss to Wisconsin so in theory they can win out and make Indianapolis; however, any second loss will probably crush their dreams because it is difficult to see any team surviving an 0-2 hole in the East. As for Indiana their bowl hopes took a big hit by losing to Wake Forest last week. They now need to pull an upset along the way. MSU at home might be their best opportunity.
- Michigan State at Indiana, Saturday, 7pm, BTN
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Illinois at Nebraska – Illinois won this one last year with a brilliant defensive game. Unfortunately this year that defense has taken a surprising step back, ranking 79th nationally after a 41st finish last year. As for the Huskers they know that with Iowa’s struggles and Wisconsin’s extremely difficult schedule, if they rack up wins against the beatable clubs they will almost certainly win the West. Illinois is one of those beatable clubs.
- Saturday, 2:30pm, ESPN2
Iowa vs Northwestern – Iowa has looked awful for two straight weeks. The only silver lining is Northwestern hasn’t looked good at all this season outside the Duke game. Perhaps playing on homecoming will wake up the Hawkeyes but it seems doubtful. Expect another stinker of a game regardless of who wins.
- Saturday, 11am, ESPNU
Western Michigan at Central Michigan – Western is an honorary Big Ten member thanks to a 2-0 record against Big Ten clubs but the MAC, their real league, has some pretty good teams. Central Michigan is one of those clubs. The Chips are 3-1 and we all remember that insane Oklahoma State win. This is a big test for the Broncos, especially their pass defense, as Central’s Cooper Rush is a NFL caliber QB.
- Saturday, 6pm, CBSSN
Random Musing
Let’s focus more on the big tilt in Michigan this week. No, not the Wisconsin at Michigan game but the Broncos visiting their big rival Chippewas. This rivalry game dates back to 1907 and has been played 85 times. Western has won it 10 more times than Central (47-37-2) but CMU has a better winning percentage, more wins, more bowls, and more bowl wins than their rival. Interestingly Central sits at 399 losses in program history so the Broncos could make it a historic loss for the their nemesis.
This game is also the first leg of the Michigan MAC trophy. What’s that? Well Central, Western, and Eastern Michigan are all in the Mid American Conference. The team with the best record between the three team round robin gets extra bragging rights. This trophy started in 2005 and is insanely tight. Central leads the way with four wins. Western has won it three times and is riding a two season streak. Eastern has won it twice. There have also been two ties with each team going 1-1 in the round robin.
What happens in those situations? Great question, the trophy remains on the campus of the previous winner. Each year there was a tie came after an Eastern Michigan win so the trophy has spent four years on their campus, four years on Central’s, and just three at Western. A little confusing? Sure. A little bit awesome? Totally.
Big Ten and Counting 