A full slate with all fourteen Big Ten clubs in action. Four of those games are against power-five foes so we will learn a whole lot more about some of these teams by the end of Saturday. Let’s do this thing!! Oh, and as always, all times are central.
Game of the Week:
Iowa State at Iowa
El Assico is in the spotlight because this is the only rivalry game on the slate. Iowa State’s offense was in midseason form, albeit against a FCS club, so they will face a much stiffer D. For Iowa the objective is simple: score more than seven points and maybe have the offense even score a touchdown! Woaaah. Should be a classic El Assico goofball of a game in Iowa City.
- Saturday, 3:00 PM, BTN
Sleeper:
Washington State at Wisconsin
Wazzu was a bowl team a year ago and if in the Big Ten, they’d probably be slotted near that Illinois / Maryland mode of “should be a bowl team but not a contender” category. That means UW is facing a good, not great, test. If they blow ’em out, great sign. If they struggle or even get upset, could be an indicator of bigger concerns going forward for the Badgers.
- Saturday, 2:30 PM, Fox
Don’t Forget:
Virginia at Illinois
The Illini really, really want to go bowling this year and dropping that Indiana game did not help the cause. Losing this one would be a massive hit to those dreams. For Virginia they have one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the nation, Brennan Armstrong. Unfortunately for the Hoos there are questions all around him, including a brand new coaching staff.
- Saturday, 3:00 PM, ESPNU
Snoozer:
Hawai’i at Michigan
The Rainbow Warriors have looked god awful in their 0-2 start. Now they travel, what, like a third of the planet, to come to Michigan and get crushed in the Big House? No thanks.
- Saturday, 7:00 pm, BTN…hahaha, yeah, I’ll watch this one in primetime. Nope!
Upset Watch:
Georgia Southern at Nebraska
The Eagles had no problems moving the ball against Morgan State, putting up 59 points. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease racked up 367 passing yards and 4 TDs in the opener. Obviously Nebraska is better than an FCS cupcake but NU’s defensive issues have been seen in both the Northwestern and North Dakota games so you have to worry a little if you are a Big Red fan.
- Saturday, 6:30 PM, FS1
Elsewhere (Alphabetical Order):
Akron at Michigan State. – The Zips needed overtime to beat FCS St. Francis (PA) a week ago. That doesn’t bode well against a Big Ten heavyweight.
- Saturday, 3:00 PM, BTN
Arkansas State at Ohio State – After a tougher test than expected against the Irish, the Bucks look to dominate the Red Wolves. ASU had no issues in a 56-3 route over Grambling and they ran for an absurd 339 yards so this might not be as easy as it appears on paper, but OSU should still dominate by the second half.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, BTN
Duke at Northwestern – NU looked really good in Ireland but that was two weeks ago. Having the oddly placed bye week is, well, odd. Feels like a way to get out of rhythm. Duke meanwhile totally mopped the floor with Temple. I don’t know what Duke is since Temple projects to be awful this year, but maybe Duke isn’t the poop-fest most were expecting in 2022.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, FS1
Idaho at Indiana – The Vandals had some fight in them against Washington State…of course 3 WSU turnovers helped…if the Hoosiers aren’t sloppy, they should win big. If they are sloppy like WSU was, they should still win.
- Saturday, 7:00 PM, BTN
Indiana State at Purdue – The Sycamores don’t have much a football program due to their scholarship rules (don’t give full rides) so they are never much of a factor in the FCS. Long story short, Purdue should roll.
- Saturday, 3:00 PM, BTN
Maryland at Charlotte – The only Big Ten team on the road this week should have no problems versus the 49ers. Charlotte was a team I thought could contend for a bowl and maybe even their conference but they have looked DREADFUL, I mean beyond awful, in their 0-2 start. I have no idea why they are as bad as they are but they look like one of the 10 worst teams in the nation. Maryland should obliterate them.
- Saturday, 2:30 PM, Stadium
Ohio at Penn State – After surviving a nasty road trip to Purdue, the Nittany Lions hope to feast on some cupcake food in their home opener. Bobcats got an amazing performance from QB Kurtis Rourke to win their opener 41-38 in a crazy shootout versus FAU.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, ABC
Wagner at Rutgers – Wagner is one of the worst teams in FCS. Rutgers should have no issues in this one. Although maybe they will finally settle on a quarterback…maybe?…please?
Western Illinois at Minnesota – The Leathernecks haven’t been much of a factor in FCS for a while. Don’t expect them to hang with the Gophers this week, either.
- Saturday, 11:00 AM, BTN
Random Musing:
Iowa has won six straight, has never lost to Matt Campbell, and have zero offense. Gee, I wonder why I’m nervous…
Big Ten and Counting 