B1G Breakdown: Week 3

Last week, I predicted the B1G would go 9-3 after a decent 10-2 week 1. Unfortunately, Iowa threw me off my perfect start to the season when they fell to rival Iowa State in three overtimes. Penn State, Indiana and Purdue were my loss picks in week 2. Way to deliver you three!

All games are Saturday 9/17. All times eastern. B1G in CAPS. (Rankings: AP/USA Today)

#22/18 Arizona @ ILLINOIS - 7:00 - BTN
South Carolina State @ INDIANA - 3:30 - BTN
Pitt @ IOWA - 12:00 - ESPN2
Eastern Michigan @ MICHIGAN - 12:00 - BTN
#15/15 MICHIGAN STATE @ Notre Dame - 3:30 - NBC
Miami (Oh) @ MINNESOTA - 3:30 - BTN
Washington @ #10/10 NEBRASKA - 3:30 - ABC/ESPN2
NORTHWESTERN @ Army - 3:30 - CBS
#17/16 OHIO STATE @ Miami (Fl) - 7:30 - ESPN
PENN STATE @ Temple - 12:00 - ESPN
Southeast Missouri State @ PURDUE - 12:00 - BTN
Northern Illinois vs #7/8 WISCONSIN* - 3:30 - ESPN3.com

*Soldier Field, Chicago, IL.

Biggest "must-watch" games of the week (other than Michigan):
Only a couple really intriguing games in the league this week (for me anyway). They're calling this weekend "Road Test Weekend" or something like that. And by they, I mean the mothership. Twelve ranked team are playing on the road this week. Two of them are in the Big Ten.

I think OSU's trip to Miami (aka: the "Ineligi-bowl") is going to be a unique game because it's one of those games that you know going into it that eventually it will be forfeited by the team that wins. The fun part is, either team could win this game, and either could be forced to forfeit it.

Sparty's trip to South Bend is unique to me because obviously Brian Kelly's head is at already at defcon 2, and because undefeated Michigan State is a 4.5 point dog against a winless Irish squad. Wait. Is this right? Am I reading this correctly?

I don't know who to root for here. I dislike both programs equally.

Upset Alert!
Penn State was exposed last week against Alabama, and the proof is in the fact that Paterno has come out and said he will run two QB's this week at Temple. When a coach makes that information public very early the week of the Temple game...look out. Things are not good in Happy Valley. And this Temple squad is 2-0, has the nations #5 scoring defense and is 3rd in sacks...albeit against terrible opponents. But they hung nearly as many on Akron as OSU did the week before.

Snoozer of the week
Southeast Missouri State at Purdue. This could be a very bad week for the Boilers. Thankfully, no one cares.

Bold predictions!
This has the potential to be sort of an ugly week for the B1G. But I have faith. I'll take the league sans Illinois.

Speaking of predictions, I've broken away from the pack and have a commanding one-point lead in this season's Big Ten Bloggers weekly pick'em league. Head on over the Gopher Nation to check out the standings.