Michigan Thursday: Previews A Rough Big Ten Weekend

Wow, this is a really bad weekend for Big Ten Football.   The lowest line for a Big Ten favorite, is Minnesota -10 over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.   There are a few games where Big Ten teams are the underdogs and that is where we will start:


Big Ten Game of the Week


Purdue at Missouri:   When has Purdue had the Big Ten game of the week?  Was Drew Brees the QB?  Probably.   People are getting excited about the Boilermakers this year and this would be a huge win on the road over an SEC team.   Fox is also excited about Purdue and has made the Michigan - Purdue game next weekend their 4:00 game.  Purdue is getting 7.5 points in this game.   This is a very interesting game:  Mizzou 34 Purdue 28


Illinois at South Florida:  This is a Friday night game and it hasn't been cancelled.   As South Florida is excited to host a Big Ten Team.   South Florida is ranked (#22) but has struggled for two games that they ended up winning. Illinois is getting 17 points in this one.   Take Lovie and the points!  South Florida 28 Illinois 21


Northern Illinois at Nebraska:  I started watching the Nebraska - Oregon game last week and the Ducks scored 42 points in the first half.   I turned it off and it seems the Cornhuskers made a little bit of a comeback in the second half.   Nebraska is a 2 TD favorite.  Nebraska 38 NIU 14


Wisconsin at BYU:  I give a lot of credit for Wisconsin to travel to play BYU.   Most years that would be a dangerous trip, but this year BYU is struggling on offense and the Badgers should leave with a W.  The Badgers are -17.   Wisconsin 48 BYU 10


North Texas Mean Green vs. Iowa:   The Hawkeyes are a 3 TD favorite in this one and coming off an overtime win at Iowa State.   I just like saying, "The Mean Green!"  Reminds me of the Incredible Hulk!   Iowa 41 Mean Green 10


Middle Tennessee at Minnesota:  The Golden Gophers looked better in a nice road win over a poor Oregon State team (side note, when is the former Wisconsin head coach who's name we can't remember, going to turn that program around?).  Minnesota better be careful in this one as Middle Tennessee might be sneaky good.   Minnesota is -10.    Golden Gophers  21 Blue Raiders 14 


Army at OSU:   Earlier this week if you asked Siri who owns Ohio Stadium? She would have replied, Baker Mayfield.   The Buckeyes quickly got that fixed.   I have a hard time remembering a time when a Urban Meyer team got blown out.   That has now happened twice in the last three games.   Army comes in to an angry Ohio Stadium, I expect OSU to struggle early but pull away in the second half.   OSU is -30.   OSU 34 Army 14


Bowling Green at Northwestern:  The Wildcats looked bad in week one and looked terrible in week two in a blowout loss in the SAT Bowl to Duke.  Bowling Green has yet to win a game but did play MSU a little tough before losing in week 1.   This game will be closer then we think,  NW is a 21.5 favorite.   Northwestern 24 Bowling Green 17


Georgia State at Penn State:  It's not Penn State's fault that Pitt is so bad this year but their non-conference schedule has been embarrassing.  PSU is -37.   Penn State 51 Georgia State 6


Morgan State at Rutgers:  No Line.  Rutgers 31 Morgan State 7


FIU at IU has been cancelled.


MSU is off this week before facing ND, Iowa, and Michigan 3 weeks in a row.
Maryland is also off and will host UCF next weekend.


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Michigan coaches quotes:


Mike Zordich:

What unique challenges doe the Air Force offense pose for the secondary?

“Well, for us, certainly all the misdirection on almost a down basis. The offenses that we play, the misdirection isn’t—it’s here and there. Now you have to be ready for it on just about every down, and the fact that they’re gonna run the ball, we think, the majority of the time, so the run game comes into play for our guys big time, too. Those two things are the areas that we’ve got to concentrate on this week.”

Tim Drevno:


How have you seen Wilton handle the outside criticism the past week or two with his play?
“To be quite honest with you, I don’t know the outside criticism. I don’t pay any attention to it, so I can’t make a comment on that. I know that Wilton comes in here every day and he brings his A game and wants to be the best and knows the game plan inside and out and leads this team. I’m very pleased with Wilton.
“We all have things we’ve got to correct. It’s not all Wilton. We’ve got to do better offensively as coaches, as players. That’s what we get paid to do. And that’s the exciting thing is when there’s things you can fix that are easy fixes, that’s the exciting thing. And keep motivating.”