It's Back! The Big Ten Weekend Preview

You know the football season is here, when I break out my really bad Big Ten Weekend Preview post.    So don't throw your tablet or computer out the window and just enjoy my awful predictions for another year.  At least it's a sign that football is back!   It's back folks, it's really back!!

Tonight

Eastern Ill at Minnesota:  This game will kick off the Big Ten football games this season and could be interesting.   We know that Jerry Kill coached one of the 100 Illinois football teams so he should be familiar with Eastern's program.   Eastern had a nice year last year but Jimmy Garoppolo isn't walking through that door for this game.    This game isn't carrying a line.  Minnesota 28 Eastern Ill. 10


Rutgers at Washington State:  Hey Bob, why do you have a Big East vs. Pac 12 in your preview?   I know it's weird.  But Rutgers makes it in and they might have the first Big Ten loss of the year.   Rutgers is getting 8 points at Washington State.   Mike Leach has another year to put into his system and I think this one isn't going to be close.   WSU 41 Rutgers 21

Big Ten Game of the Week

#14 Wisconsin vs. #13 LSU in Houston.   What a great match up for week 1 on Saturday Night!  Wisconsin loves the power run game, while LSU loves the same they usually beat teams with superior talent.   This is like a good Capital One Bowl match-up in August.  It's hard to know what either team has this early in the season and Vegas has LSU favored by 4.5 points.    I'm always impressed and a little shocked how Wisconsin plays against good SEC teams.  I expect this to be low scoring and a good tough football game.   LSU 17 Wisconsin 14 



Friday

Jacksonville State at Michigan State:  This is a getting paid game and I'm not talking about the wise guys in Vegas.   This is another no-line game.   MSU won the Big Ten and a Rose Bowl last year and sent 1 player to the NFL.  MSU 31 JSU 3


Saturday
 
Penn State vs. Central Florida at 8:30AM:  Say what?  These two teams are playing in Ireland.  Could there be any less media attention on this game?  It's James Franklin's first game as Penn State head coach and he will be coaching in Dublin, Ireland.   There are also rumors that the NCAA might lift their final bowl ban this year.   For Central Florida, Blake Bortles is still in Florida just with Denard in Jacksonville.   Don't sleep on Central Florida in this one as Penn State has been recruiting great but that won't equal wins for a few years.    Penn State 27 UCF 24


OSU at Navy:  With the loss of Braxton Miller and Navy's triple option, I expect this game to be pretty close for a half, maybe 3 quarters before Ohio State pulls away.   It's hard to believe that Urban Meyer is on a two game losing streak at OSU and only a 14.5 favorite in this one.   The game is being played on a neutral field.  I like OSU in a close one here.   OSU 24 Navy 17


Western Michigan at Purdue:  I like the program they are building over there in Kalamazoo.   On the other hand, I'm not sure what they are doing in West Lafayette these days.   Purdue is a 10 point favorite and I'm ready to call my first upset of the year.   WMU 20 Purdue 14

Indiana State at IU:  Who cares? Larry Bird isn't walking through that door.  No line.  IU 52 ISU 14

Northern Iowa at Iowa:  Another who cares.  No line.  Iowa is pretty good now.  Iowa 41 N Iowa 12

California at Northwestern: This is really the 4th nice match-up on opening weekend for the Big Ten.   Northwestern players tried to unionize in the off season and the California players are probably mad they beat them to the punch.   The Wildcats are a 11 point favorite and I like them at home after a PAC 12 team has to come East.   NW 31 CAL 20

James Madison at Maryland:  Sorry, but I put in an NCAA Tournament first round basketball match-up in my preview.   No line.   Maryland out shoots them in the second half with the 3 ball.   Maryland 31 James Madison 17.


FAU at Nebraska:  It's hard to go into Lincoln and win a football game if your not from a major conference.   Nebraska is over a 3 touchdown favorite in this game.   Nebraska 34 FAU 13


We have Big Ten Football starting at 7:00 and 10:00 tonight.  Another game on Friday.  

Saturday kick's off with a 8:30 AM game and ends with a 9:00 PM kickoff.  That's 14 Big Ten games for your viewing pleasure.  

Of course the Michigan - App. State game will be previewed here on Friday morning.