Ohio State vs Oregon and Iowa vs Iowa State headline a week of non-conference games
Week two presents an opportunity for those who won in week one to build on early season momentum. For everyone else, it’s time to prevent a losing streak. I review the coming week’s games and give you our week two predictions in the Big Ten.
Last week I went seven out of ten, and with our week zero prediction sit seven for eleven this season. Now, onto the predictions.
Illinois @ Virginia – Saturday, 11 am EST
The Fighting Illini got to experience what it’s like to play against a prepared team last week. (cough, Nebraska, cough.) UTSA pulled out the 37-30 win in Champaign, and I know some Illini fans were upset not to be 2-0 right now. Still, this was always going to be a learning year and one of growth as the program is built back up. Unfortunately things won’t get easier as Illinois travels to Virginia, who beat FCS William & Mary 43-0 last week. The biggest thing I’ll be looking for is quarterback Artur Sitkowski and if he can continue his good play. Since taking over for Brandon Peters who was injured in the first game of the season, he has thrown for 390 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
Virginia: 34 – 24
#12 Oregon @ #3 Ohio State – Saturday, 12 pm EST
It’s the Ducks and the Bucks, which sounds like a horrible hunting game show on the Discovery channel. However, it’s the Big Noon match up on Fox this week. #12 Oregon comes to Columbus, OH to face the #3 Buckeyes in what was supposed to be a rematch of 2020’s game, before the pandemic changed that. Ohio State will be looking to build off the second half showing in Minnesota when C.J. Stroud got into a groove with his receivers and threw for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 5 completions. OSU will also be looking for their starting cornerbacks, Cam Brown and Sevyn Banks, to play this week after missing week one. Their presence will be needed in slowing down the talented receivers on Oregon’s side.
Ohio State: 45 – 35
Miami OH @ Minnesota – Saturday, 12 pm EST
The Golden Gophers are looking to rebound from their opening game against OSU with a win against the Redhawks of Miami. Minnesota put on a strong show last week with an impressive ground game, but unfortunately lost starting tailback Mohamed Ibrahim to a season ending injury. Still, this shouldn’t be a game where Ibrahim is missed. The Gophers can start working on their contingency plan for the backfield by beating up on Miami. Whether one guy grabs the job, or it’s running back by committee remains to be seen. Though consider me interested in seeing more Tanner Morgan to Dylan Wright highlights.
Youngstown State @ Michigan State – Saturday, 12 pm EST
Michigan State looks to improve to 2-0 on the year when they host the Penguins of Youngstown State this week. The Spartans should be able to handle the Penguins with ease, and can use this game as a way to get less experienced guys some playing time. Don’t expect this to be close, and don’t expect the starters to stay in long past halftime. Sparty cruises in their home opener.
Michigan State: 63 – 7
Indiana State @ Northwestern – Saturday, 12 pm EST
The Wildcats came out last week against Michigan State and didn’t look ready for the physicality MSU brought to the start of the game. I have a feeling Pat Fitzgerald isn’t going to have that happen again. So tip of the hat to Indiana State as they prepare to play what I’ll assume is an angry and motivated Northwestern team. Look for QB Hunter Johnson to build off his second half performance in week one, and for the running game to work on consistency. Nothing like beating up on the FBS to solve some issues.
Northwestern: 40 – 13
Rutgers @ Syracuse – Saturday, 2:00 pm EST
It’s time for some old Big East action! Old rivals square off as Rutgers travels to Syracuse. The Scarlet Knights looked well prepared for week one, dismantling Temple 61-14. Syracuse on the other hand took care of Ohio 29-9. Betting lines have Rutgers as a two point favorite in this game, and for those not paying attention, that may come as a shock. My view though is I don’t think this is that close of a game. I might be drinking the scarlet kool-aid, but I really like the way Schiano has built his roster so far. It possesses too much talent at the skill positions for below average teams, like Syracuse, to handle.
Rutgers: 37 – 17
Purdue @ Connecticut – Saturday, 3:00 pm EST
Can we stop covering UConn football like it’s a FBS school? They are the Bishop Sycamore of college football. In a week loaded with FCS games for Big Ten teams, this feels like another one for the conference. Purdue and their passing game really shouldn’t have much difficulty taking apart a severely suspect UConn secondary. On top of that, Purdue’s defense showed signs of life in week one, and should continue to establish itself against a poor Husky offense. I fully expect Purdue to welcome in the Lou Spanos era at UConn, after Randy Edsall stepped down immediately following last week’s loss to FCS Holy Cross, like a locomotive hitting a pile of cardboard on the railway.
Purdue: 56 – 3
Ball State @ Penn State – Saturday, 3:30 pm EST
Happy Valley welcomes back their Nittany Lions after an impressive win on the road at Wisconsin. The defense carried the day last week, and provided hope it may be one of the better units in the conference. Offensively Penn State struggled, though that could be in because of Wisconsin’s strong defense. Ball State is one of the better MAC teams out there, but are not a Wisconsin caliber team. Expect Mike Yurcich to start rounding his offense into shape against a team that can challenge his unit in some areas, but will not hold for four quarters of play.
Penn State: 40 – 7
Buffalo @ Nebraska – Saturday, 3:30 pm EST
Nebraska football is why I have trust issues. I picked them to make a bowl game this year, thinking they would start rounding into shape in year four under Scott Frost. Then Illinois happened. Now they face Buffalo, who as I said about Ball State, is one of the better teams in the MAC. This Buffalo squad came out hot against FCS school Wagner, demolishing them 69-7. Yes, it’s FCS. However, it’s how efficient they looked that gives me pause. Efficiency is something that has eluded Nebraska since the Bo Pelini days. Do I pick Nebraska to win? I want to. I want them to be back and a strong consistent challenger in the West. But I just can’t do it. Buffalo wins. Cue the pitchforks in Lincoln afterwards.
Buffalo: 27 – 21
#10 Iowa @ #9 Iowa State – Saturday, 4:30 pm EST
This is what college football is all about. For the 68th all-time meeting between Iowa and Iowa State, the two teams have never been ranked when playing. The Hawkeyes have won the last five meetings, but these are the type of games where records and streaks don’t matter. Iowa enters Ames, IA after an impressive opening weekend against Indiana, beating them 34-6. DB Riley Moss had an impressive showing, returning two interceptions for scores. The Hawkeyes will need to continue to rely on that defense, as any offense that has RB Breece Hall can be dangerous. Look for Iowa to use its own strong rushing attack with Tyler Goodson leading the way, and tight end Sam LaPorta working the underneath coverage.
Iowa: 23 – 17
Eastern Michigan @ #18 Wisconsin – Saturday, 7:00 pm EST
A tough loss at home to Penn State in week one where the Badger offense kept imploding in the red zone has thrown early season expectations into a tizzy. Wisconsin still gets to the Big Ten title game by winning their division, but any chance at a CFP birth requires them to win out. For the Badgers, this is their new week one. QB Graham Mertz and the offense will get back to work establishing a rhythm and fixing those red zone blues. The defense looked good in week one, but will have worked on fixing up some of those blown coverages Penn State exploited last Saturday. Eastern Michigan may hang around for a quarter, but it’ll be all Badgers after that.
Wisconsin: 49 – 3
Idaho @ Indiana – Saturday, 7:30 pm EST
The preseason hype for the Hoosiers to be a contender in the East entered life support after the drubbing by Iowa. Head Coach Tom Allen and his squad will need to address a multitude of issues on offense and defense, but mainly fixing that passing game so it’s as explosive as its 2020 form. Whatever adjustments they make will be put to the test against Idaho in their home opener. The Vandals, who recently dropped down to the FCS level, demolished D-2 Simon Fraser 68 – 0. Expect Indiana to give Idaho a lot more than what Simon Fraser did. Indiana rolls at home.
Indiana: 44 – 7
Howard @ Maryland – Saturday, 7:30 pm EST
The Terrapins are coming off a strong opening week win over rival West Virginia, winning 30 – 24. It’s the early season momentum Mike Locksley was looking for this season, and the best part was the passing attack for Maryland was on point. QB Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 332 yards, 3 touchdowns, and completed 72% of this throws. FCS Howard should not stand in the way of this team, and like other games this week, Maryland should cruise with backups seeing playing time in the second half.
Washington @ Michigan – Saturday, 8:00 pm EST
Before week one, Michigan and their fans had this game circled as an early season test against a ranked opponent at home. Then #20 Washington lost to FCS Eastern Washington, 13 – 7. The narrative of this game has changed quite a bit now, as instead of a measuring stick against a quality opponent, Michigan now has to beat Washington after the Huskies looked horrible on offense. Washington is sticking with freshman QB Dylan Morris as its starter, even after throwing three interceptions. Michigan’s defensive front should tee off on the Huskies offensive line as Washington could not push anyone around in the ground game, and allowed Morris to be under duress most of the game. The Washington defense may keep the score close for a bit, and Michigan is going to have to find out who replaces WR Ronnie Bell in the passing game. Have to like the Wolverines here though, if only because of how bad Washington looked in week one.
Michigan: 31 – 0