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Welcome to the Big Ten/MAC challenge week! This is the annual week of the football season where Big Ten teams try to avoid being the one that gets tripped up by a MAC school. Last week the conference went 2-0 with Illinois beating Kent State and Iowa beating Northern Illinois. There was also a Nebraska-Akron rainout. This week there are three more games of delicious MACtion along with a pair of out of conference rivalry (don’t tell Penn State) games.
New Mexico (1-0) at #5 Wisconsin (1-0) Noon, Fox Sports 1
New Mexico scored 62 points last week, but that was against FCS Incarnate Word. They still gave up 30. This will be much more difficult for the Lobos. The Badgers are a 35 point favorite and had very little trouble last week against Western Kentucky. Wisconsin 45, New Mexico 10
Western Michigan (0-1) at #21 Michigan (0-1) Noon, Fox Sports 1
Former Purdue QB coach Tim Lester got Syracuse to come to Kalamazoo last week and WMU racked up over 600 yards of offense and 42 points. The defense gave up 55, however. They now have to face a Michigan offense that was averse to protecting the quarterback and scoring points. With a couple breaks this could get a little scary for Michigan. The Wolverines should win, but keep an eye out here just in case things get wild. Michigan 31, Western Michigan 17
Duke (1-0) at Northwestern (1-0) Noon, ESPNU
The annual NERD bowl is in Evanston this season after Duke won in Durham last year. Personally, I am hoping Northwestern wins this because the better they look the better our week 1 loss looks. If we have a four-point home loss to another 10-win Northwestern team that is not exactly horrid. Jeremy Larkin is also coming off of a big game. The Wildcats are lethal when creating turnovers and that will be the difference in a second straight week. Northwestern 28, Duke 21
Eastern Michigan (1-0) at Purdue (0-1) Noon, BTN
I really, really hope this is as easy as I hope it will be. I still feel burned from the Hazell/Hope era when we were a pitiful 4-5 against the MAC. I think we’re going to have a game similar to the Ohio game last year where Purdue is in control throughout and wins by 3-4 scores. We get a little bit of both quarterbacks and some general tweaking in all phases. That is what these MAC games are supposed to be when you’re a Big Ten team, not a “dear God please don’t let us blow this”. Purdue 41, Eastern Michigan 17
Rutgers (1-0) at #4 Ohio State (1-0) 3:30pm, BTN
On the Banks Preview
Rutgers is 0-4 all-time against Ohio State since joining the Big Ten, has been outscored 219-24, and hasn’t even scored on the Buckeyes in the last two games. I think they score here, and even a full touchdown! Ohio State 52, Rutgers 7
Colorado (1-0) at Nebraska (0-0) 3:30pm, ABC
This was always a fun little rivalry back in the Big 12 days for both teams. It should be interesting to see how it goes this year. Colorado demolished Colorado State last week and Nebraska forgot to play in a dome. That gives us a week’s delay on seeing if the Cornhuskers are going to do much this year under Scott Frost or not. I am going to give an edge to Colorado, but not by much. Colorado 27, Nebraska 24
Iowa State (0-0) at Iowa (1-0) 5pm, FOX
Black Heart Gold Pants Preview
¡EL ASSICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! In true ¡El Assico! tradition I feel the need to predict the strangest possible score here. The Hawkeyes are playing at home and surprisingly had little trouble last week. Iowa State was stormed out in their opener like Nebraska was. Even the starting time of this game is odd, as it is the only 5pm Saturday game across all of college football all year. Iowa 19, Iowa State 11
Maryland (1-0) at Bowling Green (1-0) 6pm, ESPN+
The terrapins were really good last week and played with a lot of emotion. Jeshaun Jones even shared B1G Freshman of the Week honors with Rondale Moore because he threw for a TD, caught a TD, and ran for a TD. Bowling Green struggled at Oregon, but everyone struggles at Oregon. It should be a fun little game due to the “MAC hosting B1G” factor. Maryland 31, Bowling Green 24
Virginia (1-0) at Indiana (1-0) 7:30pm, BTN
Both teams won relatively easily last week. Virginia was surprisingly good against Richmond while Indiana held off Florida International on the road. Even with the 7:30pm start I am betting the perpetual construction on State Road 37 will make for a late arriving crowd, but Indiana generally plays well in games like this. They need it for any bowl hopes. Indiana 27, Virginia 24
Western Illinois (0-1) at Illinois (1-0) 7:30pm, BTN
Western Illinois has won two straight games against FBS teams and lost a tough road game at a good Montana State team in overtime to start its season. Why do I say this? Well, Illinois is really bad. They barely got past Kent State last week and if there was going to be an FCS over B1G upset, this is the one. They were an FCS playoff team a year ago and really, couldn’t you see a live look-in of a backbreaking interception to seal the game for WIU? Just don’t do this, Lovie. Illinois 34, Western Illinois 21
Fresno State (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0) 7:30pm, Fox Sports 1
This is another interesting game where both teams won lopsided games against overmatched opponents last week. Fresno was a 10-win team a season ago with losses to Alabama and Washington. They are a good team and I am not that convinced yet that Minnesota is good. Fresno State 27, Minnesota 20
#13 Penn State (1-0) at Pittsburgh (1-0) 8pm, ABC
Penn State was very lucky to escape Appalachian State last week. We were a missed long field goal from having a great upset. Now they have to face their not rivals on the road in a prime time game. Pittsburgh ended Miami’s undefeated run last season and showed no issues in their opener. I think they can pull off the upset here, and it would be delicious. Pittsburgh 24, Penn State 21
#15 Michigan State (1-0) at Arizona State (1-0) 10:45pm, ESPN
Weird things always seem to happen late at night out in the desert. Remember that Wisconsin game at Arizona State a few years ago? Arizona State looked better than we thought in week one and Michigan State looked worse. That’s not what you want before a long road trip and a late start time. At the very least, this should be entertaining as I fall asleep on the couch.