2011 Big Ten Football: Week 1 Preview
by BoilerTMill on Sep 1, 2011 12:31 PM EDT
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PrintBig Ten football is less than eight hours away. It's awesome to finally say that and get some games going. The Big Ten Network is even making it easier this year by streaming all live events on BTN2Go. They will stream even the games showing overflow channels, so you will be able to watch those games if you have no overflow channels. When you combine that with March Madness On Demand is means I won't be getting a damn thing done until April.
I can't think of a better way to kick off a five day football orgy than by starting in Madison. The Badgers get underway tonight at home against UNLV, and the party continues until Monday night in College Park. I'll even be attending that game, as Mrs. T-Mill and I will be road-trippin' to DC after the MTSU game is over on Saturday. We'll be the two Miami Hurricanes fans in attendance.
But that is on Monday. For now, let's start with the Big Ten games this weekend:
Thursday
UNLV at Wisconsin, 8pm, ESPN
The Badgers are my pick to win the Big Ten. Their running game might be virtually unstoppable and Russell Wilson gives them an element at the quarterback position they have never had before. That's before you consider their defense will likely be as stout as always. Even good teams struggle to win in Madison, and the Badgers are a 35 point favorite. Wisconsin 45, UNLV 10
Friday
Youngtown State at Michigan State, 7:30pm, Big Ten Network
No Big Ten team ever has any excuse to lose to a 1-AA team, especially when you're considered to be one of the better teams in the league. As The Only Colors states, extreme panic is necessary if the Penguins pull this off. Michigan State 48, Youngstown State 7
Saturday
Middle Tennessee State at Purdue, Noon, Big Ten Network
We've discussed this a lot this week, and the Handsome Hour podcast last night was filled with more angst than the entire Twilight Saga (J Money is definitely Edward and Dowd is Jacob). Danny Hope's openers have been varied. In 2009 Ralph Bolden went apeshit and we had a comfortable win over Toledo. Last year we struggled to do anything offensively against Notre Dame. I think we see more of a Toledo-like performance, and Caleb TerBush will be fine in his first start. Also, Brian Cardinal is on hand to lead SHOUT. Excuse me, that's NBA WORLD CHAMPION Brian Cardinal. Purdue 31, MTSU 17
Northwestern at Boston College, Noon, ESPNU
Northwestern is one of the few Big Ten teams to go on the road this week, and they do so with a quarterback in Dan Persa that needs to prove he is totally recovered from his Achilles injury. Boston College has a solid defense, but there are some major questions on offense. I think Northwestern will be a surprise in the Big Ten this year. They have that look where they win 3-4 games they generally have no business winning. Northwestern 21, Boston College 17
Akron at Ohio State, Noon, ESPN
This is the first MACtion of the weekend with our usual parade through that conference. Purdue is abstaining this year, unless we make the Motor City Bowl. I am not sold on Ohio State, especially on offense, but they still take care of MAC teams at home better than anyone else in the league. Akron was also 1-11 last year, making them one of the worst teams in the MAC. The Buckeyes should be able to name their score in this one. Ohio State 42, Akron 3
Indiana State at Penn State, Noon, Big Ten Network
Once again, there is no excuse to ever lose to a I-AA team, especially when that team is Indiana State. The tees were light years better than usual last year. They even challenged for their conference title, but they are still a I-AA team. Penn State 52, Indiana State 10
Tennessee Tech at Iowa, Noon, Big Ten Network
Black Heart Gold Pants Preview
Our Most Hated Rival starts off like the bullies we know they are, picking on those smaller than them. The Open Thread at BHGP will likely be more entertaining than this game, although an Appy State like loss would be delicious. Remember: We have always hated Iowa. The Hawkeyes will win this day even though they aren't playing a real team. Iowa 44, Tennessee Tech 7
Minnesota at USC, 3:30pm, ABC
This is the only Big Ten loss I am picking this week. The Big Ten always struggles when it heads out west during the regular season, and Minnesota might be the worst team in the league this year. Even with the scholarship reductions USC has more talent. It remains to be seen if MarQueis Gray can get this offense going consistently through the air. USC 38, Minnesota 14
Western Michigan at Michigan, 3:30pm, ESPN2
Look at you, Michigan, showing off those fancy new lights against a MAC opponent. The Wolverines get the second game of the 2011 Big Ten-MAC challenge against their directional brothers from across the state. Can Michigan's defense get out of its own way? Expect disaster if the defense for Michigan somehow lets this game be close. Michigan 45, Western Michigan 21
Chattanooga at Nebraska, 3:30pm, Big Ten Network
Welcome to the Big Ten, Cornhuskers. Here is a nice, tasty cupcake to open the season with. Please, for the love of God, don't embarrass your new conference by losing this game. We can still send you back to the Big 12. Nebraska 49, Chattanooga 13
Arkansas State at Illinois, 3:30pm, Big Ten Network
Arkansas State last played a Big Ten team in 2010, when they pushed Indiana on homecoming in Bloomington. The Sun Belt conference is slowly becoming the new MAC, only with SEC leftovers. I like Nathan Scheelhaase as a poor man's Denard Robinson this year. Unfortunately, he lacks the standard stud running back that was key to the two seasons that have been successful under The Zooker. Illinois 31, Arkansas State 16
Indiana vs. Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium, 7pm, ESPN3.com
The last time these two met Ball State was in the middle of their best conference season ever and Indiana was, well, usual Indiana. The Cardinals won in Bloomington despite the frightening injury to Dante Love that cost him his football career. This time they meet at Lucas Oil Stadium, which is likely the only time that the Hoosiers will play there this year. Let's face it, it would be the shock of the college football world if they made it back. Indaina 30, Ball State 14
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This homonym-related spelling correction brought to you by OWL: Purdue's Online Writing Lab
Offering over 200 free resources, since 1995. OWL
>Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God
>Don't cry, MSU - It's just a game...
this dumbass mistake brought to you by T-Mill
Missing obvious grammatical errors in proofreading since 2006.
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
well played, sir
>Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God
>Don't cry, MSU - It's just a game...
I was a copy editor for the Exponent once upon a time
I could do that for free for ya
I come from a land down unda
No offense,
but I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Depends on when you were at Purdue. If you were a copy editor in the time since I’ve been at Purdue, then I would seriously question your abilities.
To your call once more we rally....
It should be interesting to see how many empty seats there are in Lucas Oil....
saw something on Twitter that said IU has only sold 6k tickets to the game.
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
I saw that the Purdue Twittersphere was all…atwitter about that yesterday, but keep in mind that it’s a Ball State home game. The 6K is the number sold by IU’s box office only. A report I read today suggested that total sales to date, including those sold by IU, BSU, and the LOS box office, are 25,000. I would expect a crowd of about 35,000, which isn’t great, but is well over the capacity of BSU’s usual home field.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 1, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't notice anything about it
I am more concerned Purdue has sold less than 30,000 tickets, which is pathetic.
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
That's season tickets, by the way
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
You are overreacting....
They ran an AP article about a future opponent. Big deal.
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
Overreacting? I think not.
Nobody in WL cares about ND. Run articles about the effing school the paper is about, not one that pretty much everyone loathes. F$%# the Irish.
by Jackson Brunner on Sep 1, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
They probably just needed a space filler....
And its the sad truth that there are a lot of Purdue students that are ND fans.
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
Disagree
Purdue has a very large group of fans. You need to understand that Purdue students of the last 5-6 years haven’t seen any good football. Seniors in the current class have seen no winning seasons. Most of them are Purdue fans, and almost everyone here sports black and gold with pride. There aren’t “a lot” of Purdue students that are ND fans. It’s a very small minority compared to those of us that remain loyal. Those losers can suck it.
by Jackson Brunner on Sep 1, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
thank you
As a freshman from south bend I hated opening up the sports every morning and having to look at kelly’s face or a picture of Floyd. I thought I was done with all that now that I’m finally in God’s country! Can’t wait for Saturday!!
by CHoffman92 on Sep 2, 2011 7:21 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
I know enough ND fans that go to Purdue to know it's the sad truth
but we shouldn’t encourage them.
To your call once more we rally....
I worked for the Exponent as a copy editor
It was up to people (usually me, as I did most sports editing on my nights working) like me to fill in those gaps on the pages that our own writers couldn’t fill with Associated Press stories that are ‘relevant’ to the page’s theme. The unfortunate thing is that while I would go like 4 or 5 pages into the top sports stories on the AP to find something, the lazy copy editors would look at page one and just pick crap like that.
So it’s mostly laziness, and a low Purdue-ness score, that an editor would use that.
I come from a land down unda
Guesses on when we play our first Thursday night game in the future?
I can’t believe Wisky’s doing it.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
Weekday night games are more electric than high noon games...
from a strictly atmosphere perspective. Our fans are mellow as it is… let alone on a Saturday noon game. Not sure how a lot of people will feel about that from a tradition point. Also, methinks Purdue fans wouldn’t make the 1hr + drive from Indy/Region to come to the Thursday game. Then again that’s what the BTN is for… you will always have a guarantee of playing that Saturday Noon game that Purdue is accustomed to.
There is a way to stop this though. Don’t Suck, Purdue. I went to Purdue when 3:30 kickoffs were the norm. Took those games for granted. I will be honest with you, I’m ambivalent about whats going to happen with this Purdue football program… mostly because I feel like the program/athletic program HAS BEEN ambivalent for the last 5 years (here’s hoping that Paintergate has revived the Purdue athletic program mentality). That being said, I’m pulling for Hope, and the team… I feel like these guys are likable… but that doesn’t mean they can earn wins/and success without QUALITY effort and execution in all phases of the game.
To your call once more we rally...
I think you'd see about 20k on a Thursday night game at Ross Ade.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Sep 2, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree w you
Like I said nobody would make the hour plus drive needed to get to WL for a football game. People forget that for the most part, these Thursday night games are in higher populated areas than WL (Columbia S.C., Atlanta, Raleigh, Louisville.) commute is not that bad to and from the game when there are multiple escape routes to get home
To your call once more we rally...
by H Dot Jones on Sep 2, 2011 2:35 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
going into a 3 day weekend, it's brilliant. everyone gets a REALLY long weekend afterward.
To your call once more we rally....
HOLY CRAP!
Brian Cardinal is on hand to lead SHOUT. Excuse me, that’s NBA WORLD CHAMPION Brian Cardinal.
This weekend just got so much better!
In the marching band and a little bitter about being told we aren’t wearing our traditional uniforms.
Reaction images? I got 'em
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