Big Ten Preview Week 1

Welcome to back to College Football my friends!  Tonight we tee it up for real.  The Big Ten even gets it going tonight as well.  Love it!

Tonight's Match Up:

UNLV and Wisconsin:  What a great match up between two teams that really can run the floor.  I expect Wisconsin to play tough physical defense and look for them to have the rebound edge.   UNLV will try to get out on the fast break.   Sorry, I guess I haven't figured out that we are in football season now. 

I'm glad they are playing this game tonight at 8:00 because it's usually at 10:00 on Saturday and nobody really watches it.  Wisconsin filled their QB void with NC State transfer Russell Wilson (he didn't marry Katy Perry right?) and it will be interesting to see how quickly he picks up the Wisconsin offense.  Then again all he has to learn is how to hand the ball off to a running back.   The Badgers are 35.5 point favorite, so expect lots of runs and not a very good game.   Wisconsin 41 UNLV 10
(best game of the night is Wake Forest at Syracuse)


Game of the Week:

Northwestern at BC:  This is a real football game and congratulations to The Wildcats playing a BCS opponent in week 1.  Both of these teams a evenly matched.  Northwestern showed glimpses of good football as well as some bad football yesterday.  BC is a bit more physical then Northwestern but both teams are well coached.  Northwestern's QB Persa is probably not going to play which will really hurt the Wildcats.   BC is favored by 3.  BC 21 NW 14


High School Game of the Week:

Youngstown State at MSU:  This game is on Friday night.  Yes, that's right Friday.   It makes me laugh how Dantonio is such a Tressel Slappy.  He even bought  brought The Vest's old school up to East Lansing for a pay day.  Tressel and Dantonio must have worked this out years ago. 

YSU used to be good when Tressel was paying players  was coaching there, those days are long gone.  The Spartans #1 goal in this game is to stay healthy so they can attend the prom later in the year.   Sparty is a 34.5 favorite in this game, so another Big Ten great game.  MSU 51 YSU 14


Akron at OSU:  Ohio State has it's first game under Luke Fickel and continues to help fund the other MAC schools is Ohio.  (Play Cincinnati every year!  They are a BCS school in your state!).  I expect OSU to start slowly on offense but play good defense.  There will be a punt block or a pick 6 and the blow will start.   Vegas has OSU -34.   I think it will be a bit closer OSU 28 Akron 7

Indiana State at PSU:  Is this a conference game?  No it isn't and the biggest question in this game will be if JoPA will be coaching on the sideline or in the press box.  Who cares!  PSU -37.   Penn State 44  ISU 17

Middle Tennessee State at Purdue:  Don't sleep on Middle Tennessee they can play some football down there.   I think Danny Hope's squad will win a close game as long as everyone has their ACL in tact.  Purdue -17 in this one.   Purdue 20 Tennessee State 10

Tennessee Tech at Iowa.  I guess the Big Ten is throwing some money into the Tennessee economy this weekend.  Which I am sure will help Bruce Pearl in his new "Marketing job".   Iowa -40.5  Wow these games suck!  Iowa 40.5 TT 0

Chattanooga at Nebraska;  Really?  Ok, this Tennessee thing has gone way to far now.  Something is up!  Does Delany have a hunting cabin in Tennessee? Nebraska plays it's first game as a member of the Big Ten and like any good member they follow the rules by blowing out school from Tennessee.   Nebraska -36.  Nebraska 64 Chatt 13

Minnesota at USC:  A real football game.  Congratulations!  I have heard Jerry Kill gets his teams prepared well and that they might give USC a run for their money on Saturday.  It might be closer then you think and USC hasn't had to cut their scholarships yet. Vegas has USC -28?   USC 28 Minn 17


Arkansas State at Illinois:  Some of said that Illinois is the team to watch this year in the Big Ten.  As Michigan fans we know they can score a few points but we also know they can give up some as well.  Zook's staff is now in year 2 and they should be better this year.   Vegas has Zook favored by 21.  I think it will be a bit closer then that.   Ill 31 ASU 21

Indiana at Ball State:  The battle of the state of Indiana!  It always makes me laugh when a Big Ten team goes on the road to a MAC School.  Could you imagine Michigan playing at Bowling Green?  I expect this is another close game.  Vegas has IU -6.   I think we might have an upset here, there will be a team full of kids had they didn't get an IU offer.   Ball State 21 IU 20.


Michigan - WMU Preview will be up on Friday. 

Enjoy Tonight!