A slightly more challenging slate of games for the Big Ten in week two, as the Big Ten teams are favored in seven games on the weekend (Illinois over Illinois State doesn’t have an official spread, but I think it’s pretty safe to assume that the Illini are facored over the Sycamores, despite getting taken to the woodshed by Missouri last week). I’ve got the Big Ten going 7-5 this week. Let’s break it down:
Greg Paulus came off the pick and roll, but missed the ally oop on the first snap of the game against Minnesota.
Syracuse at #7 Penn State
Line: Penn State -28
Prediction: Penn State Win
After losing the Minnesota last week, the Fighting Former Duke Point Guards look to get back on track against JoePa. Ehhh, Greg Paulus might have to wait three more weeks to get that first victory, since Syracuse will play Northwestern the next weekend. Penn State 51-7.
Eastern Michigan at Northwestern
Line: Northwestern -18
Prediction: Northwestern Win
Could Eastern Michigan possibly be worse than Northwestern’s week one opponent, Towson? Me thinks it is quite possible. Northwestern wins this one big. Let’s call it 35-3.
Western Michigan at Indiana
Line: Western Michigan -1
Prediction: Western Michigan Win
Indiana was barely able to get past Eastern Kentucky last weekend in Bloomington. Western Michigan was dominated against Michigan in week one, but appeared to get the defense together to hold Michigan scoreless in the second half. I’m predicting that Western keeps it rolling against Indiana and gets the win, 24-21.
Central Michigan at Michigan State
Line: Michigan State -14
Prediction: Michigan State Win
Central Michigan struggled against an Arizona team that brought pressure to the quarterback, so expect Michigan State to do the same. MSU will likely be too big and and too fast for CMU, but if Michigan State is not able to get pressure on LeFevour, the Chips may be able to keep up with State throughout the game. In the end, I say MSU wins 31-17. Click here to read our full MSU vs. Central Michigan preview.
Fresno State at Wisconsin
Line: Wisconsin -8
Prediction: Wisconsin Win
Difficulty closing games has been a consistent theme with Wisconsin, and that trait reared it’s ugly head when Wisconsin played Northern Illinois last weekend. Wisconsin was up 28-6 with less than nine minutes to go when Northern Illinois scored a two TDs and converted a 2-point conversion to pull within eight points. It’s hard to say that Northern was really “in” the game with just two minutes left and down by eight, but this is not the trend they want to see in Wisconsin early in the season. Inability to close games will come back to bite Wisconsin, but not this week. Wisconsin wins a close one, 21-18.
The Hawkeyes have won just 4 of the last 10 against Iowa State.
Iowa at Iowa State
Line: Iowa -6
Prediction: Iowa Win
Iowa was supposed to be an upper-tier Big Ten team, a team that could content with everyone in the Big Ten and would only be done in by an absolutely brutal schedule. And then they played Northern Iowa. Iowa was down most of the game, and had to block not one, but two field goals by Northern Iowa late in the game. Still, I think Iowa is a solid team that needed to shake the rust off. I see them bouncing back against the Cyclones, 28-17
#18 Notre Dame at Michigan
Line: Notre Dame -3 1/2
Prediction: Michigan Win
I seriously wrote and rewrote and rewrote this section too many times to count. I wanted to express my complete disgust with how much hype this game has received when the two competing teams are, frankly, probably slightly better than average. But to be honest, this is an intriguing game. There are seeds of talent on Michigan’s team. Anyone else see that Denard Robinson touchdown run on his first ever college snap? It’s pretty impressive.
I’m curious to see how good Michigan really is. I’m curious to see how good Notre Dame really is. Both teams played less than stellar opponents in week one. This game should tell us much more about both teams. I’m going with the upset in this one, Michigan defeats Notre Dame 24-21.
Air Force at Minnesota
Line: Minnesota -4 1/2
Prediction: Air Force Win
Air Force beat Nicholls State 72-0. Minnesota struggled to beat Syracuse 23-20. I understand that Syracuse is a better team than Nicholls State. But I’m just not buying Minnesota, not yet. Falcons soar, 31-28.
Illinois State at Illinois
Line: No line since Illinois State is FCS
Prediction: Illinois Win
Illinois melted down against Missouri for what, the fifth time now? Geez,they just can’t seem to get it together against the Tigers. They’ll bounce back against the Redbirds, Illinois wins 38-10.
The Song Girls are always victorious.
#3 USC at #8 Ohio State
Line: USC -7
Prediction: USC Win
I just don’t see this shaping up well for Ohio State. Not as much of a blowout as last year in the Colosseum, but not a victory. Oh well, at least we’ll get to see the Song Girls. In Conquest, Victory, 34-24.
Purdue at Oregon
Line: Oregon -12
Prediction: Oregon Win
Can we get the Ducks to run a play called the Flying V? No, wrong sport? Damn. Ducks had a terrible first week, Purdue rolled against the Rockets of Toledo. Role reversal! Ducks win, 28-10.
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