Breaking Down the B1G: Week 2

Week 1 picks: 10-2
Season total: 10-2 (.833)

All times eastern. My picks in bold.


Saturday, September 8th:
Illinois @ Arizona State
10:30 - ESPN

Indiana @ UMass
3:30 - ESPN3

Iowa State @ Iowa
3:30 - BTN

Air Force @ #19/19 Michigan
3:30 - ABC/ESPN2

#11/11 Michigan State @ Central Michigan
3:30 - ESPNU

New Hampshire @ Minnesota
12:00 - BTN

#16/14 Nebraska @ UCLA
7:30 - FOX

Vanderbilt @ Northwestern
8:00 - BTN

Central Florida @ #14/- Ohio State
12:00 - ESPN2

Penn State @ Virginia
12:00 - ABC

Purdue @ #22/22 Notre Dame
3:30 - NBC

#13/13 Wisconsin @ Oregon State
4:00 - FX

Biggest must-watch:
There are many intriguing games on the week 2 schedule. Michigan-Air Force should peak most of this blog's readers' interest. There are 3 B1G teams heading west (which never typically ends well for us). Nebraska at UCLA will be good prime time viewing Saturday night and Illinois at Arizona State will be interesting.

Iowa State at Iowa is always a good game. Purdue, my Leaders Division dark horse will have their hands full in South Bend. Vanderbilt at Northwestern could be a good one.

But ultimately, I think the game of the week in the Big Ten is Wisconsin at Oregon State. The Badgers had a tough time getting through their opener against Northern Iowa in week 1. A trip out west typically exposes any weakness a B1G team has...no matter the opponent.

Upset Alert!
Calling an Iowa loss to Iowa State an upset might be a stretch, but that won't stop me, even though the game is at Kinnick. Penn State is already a 10-point underdog at Virginia, so that wouldn't surprise anyone.

But given the B1G's inability to play well on the west coast, I'm taking Illinois at Arizona State. ASU is a 3-point dog. Illinois, coming off a 24-7 win against Western Michigan will be tested on their first road test under new head coach Tim Beckman.

Snoozer of the week:
Indiana at UMass is only interesting because Massachusetts, new to the FBS, is Michigan's week 3 opponent. Minnesota hosting New Hampshire is a very close second.

Bold predictions!
Like I said before, the B1G teams heading out west should be interesting to see how their fare. If we can come home with two wins, which I think we will, that would be acceptable. All eyes will be on Michigan to see how they bounce back against Air Force...which I suspect they will in a big way. All eyes will also be on Ohio State and Urban Meyer...because, well, he's Urban Meyer. They should win by 50.

I like Michigan State on the road in Mount Pleasant, although that game could be closer than Sparty fan would like. And I would keep an eye on Purdue, they could surprise the Irish...but that game should be fun to watch b/c I think both of those squads are on the rise.

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