It’s the second full week of Big Ten football. Here’s what you can watch, where you can watch it, and if you should watch it. Enjoy!
FRIDAY NIGHT
Rutgers (0-1) at Boston College (0-1), 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Details: It’s getting late early for both of these teams – and maybe even coaches. Rutgers was embarrassed at home against UMass, who had been on a 16-game losing streak. Our old friend Bill O’Brien saw his team get thrashed on the road at Cincinnati this past weekend and went 2-10 last year. It feels like these are two bad football teams who will be very desperate in this Friday night game.
Line: BC -3.5, O/U 54.5
Should I watch this one: Go watch high school football instead.
SATURDAY NOON WINDOW
Oregon (1-0) at Oklahoma State (0-1), 12 p.m. on ESPN
Details: Oregon survived a serious challenge from Boise State, while the Cowboys lost at Tulsa in a battle to just be the second best team in their own state. This game was not competitive at all last season. This figures to be the same this weekend with OSU’s team, mostly comprised of North Texas transfers, being a Power 4 team in name only. The Ducks will continue to iron things out and this figures to be a blowout.
Line: Oregon -22.5, O/U 57.5
Should I watch this one: Nope. You have other obligations.
Howard (1-1) at Indiana (1-0), 12 p.m. on BTN
Details: The defending national champions are back at home against an overmatched opponent. IU’s defense looked a little shaky on Saturday in their season-opening win against North Texas. It’s a little reminiscent of how the Hoosiers started their unbeaten season last year with an up-and-down win against Old Dominion. It figures that the Bison will feel some of Coach Cignetti’s wrath as it figures Indiana will be a little sharper in the second week.
Line: No line
Should I watch this one: Under no circumstance.
Oklahoma (1-0) at Michigan (1-0), 12 p.m. on FOX
Details: It’s Big Noon time for the Wolverines, who are the luckiest 1-0 imaginable. It’s not just that Michigan struggled all night against Western Michigan or that they were gifted another play. It’s that they still needed a Hail Mary to win. Now, here come the Sooners who are ranked in the Top Ten and coming off a playoff appearance. Will Bryce Underwood finally start playing up to the hype? He’ll get his chance on Saturday against a stout Sooner defense, who had 10 tackles for loss in a season-opening shutout.
Line: OU -5.5, O/U 43.5
Should I watch this one: Hopefully you can catch the second half – as Big Noon games take forever and we can hope that Penn State has already taken care of business in Philadelphia.
Wake Forest (1-0) at Purdue (1-0), 12 p.m. on FS1
Details: The Boilermakers have not beaten a Power 4 team since November 2023. Ironically, that was against Indiana. Purdue has a rebuilt roster and they cruised in their season opener against an overmatched Indiana State team. Now, things get interesting. The Boilermakers have a tough schedule with Notre Dame still ahead of its conference gauntlet. If there’s any hope of Purdue getting to a bowl game, this figures to be a must win.
Line: Wake -4, O/U 49.5
Should I watch this one: Probably not.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON WINDOW
Mississippi State (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on CBS
Details: Call this one a “narrative” bowl. It’s Mississippi State, historically a bottom tier team in the SEC, who is still touted as being better than what the Big Ten normally has in its cellar. Meanwhile, Minnesota is supposed to be trending up this year with an NFL caliber quarterback under center. This is the kind of game that helps shape the discussion when it comes to the final playoff spots in December. It’s also a home underdog spot for P.J. Fleck – who usually has his team playing its best early in the season.
Line: MSU -1.5, O/U 55.5
Should I watch this one: Yes. This is the best Big Ten game of the afternoon.
Utah State (0-1) at Washington (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on BTN
Details: The new Pac 12 vs. the old Pac 12. Utah State is coming off a loss against Idaho State. Meanwhile, the Huskies looked just “okay” against rival Washington State in a win on Sunday afternoon. Here’s guessing, much like Indiana above, that Washington irons some things out in practice and it shows on Saturday.
Line: Washington -26.5, O/U 55.5
Should I watch this one: Nope.
Duke (1-0) at Illinois (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on FS1
Details: Illinois thrashed Manny Diaz’s group last year in Durham. Here’s the return trip and the Illini have gotten some extra time to prep for this one. Illinois looked good offensively in its opener against UAB, but gave up a lot of points and yards to a team that isn’t expected to do much. Rinse and repeat what I said about Washington and Indiana: there were plenty of hiccups in the opener and things should be cleaner in this one.
Line: Ill -6.5, O/U 53.5
Should I watch this one: Put it in the Quad Box.
Eastern Michigan (1-1) at Michigan State (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on BTN
Details: The Pat Fitzgerald era opened with a win against a MAC team at Spartan Stadium. It continues with more of the same in Week 2 – albeit against a lesser caliber MAC team. EMU lost last week to San Jose State and there shouldn’t be much trouble for Sparty this week.
Line: MSU -17.5, O/U 50.5
Should I watch this one: Nah.
Maryland (1-0) at UConn (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on CBSSN
Details: September Maryland continues as a road favorite against the Huskies. The Terrapins rolled up nearly 650 yards of offense in their opening win against Hampton. Meanwhile, the Huskies are led by first-year head coach Jason Candle, who was one of the better coaches in the MAC the past few years. He’s had to rework UConn in the wake of Jim Mora Jr. leaving for Colorado State. This is a big spot for his team to earn a marquee win.
Line: Maryland -11.5, O/U 53.5
Should I watch this one: I will have it in the Quad Box and you should too.
SATURDAY NIGHT WINDOW
Bowling Green (0-1) at Nebraska (1-0), 7 p.m. on FS1
Details: Much like Michigan State, the Huskers are home for a second straight week against a MAC team. Bowling Green suffered a bad home loss in Week 1. Eddie George may be on that sideline coaching them, but he won’t be on the field for the Falcons. Nebraska should get an easy win.
Line: Nebraska -28.5, O/U 51.5
Should I watch this one: Nope.
San Diego State (1-0) at UCLA (1-0), 7:15 p.m. on BTN
Details: UCLA dominated the fourth quarter in a win against Cal. Bob Chesney gets to play in front of a home crowd for the first time as the Bruins face off against another California team in the Rose Bowl Stadium. Another win here and the Bruins can start California dreamin’ about a bowl bid.
Line: UCLA -11.5, O/U 53.5
Should I watch this one: It wouldn’t be my focus.
Western Illinois (1-1) at Wisconsin (0-1), 7:15 p.m. on BTN
Details: You last saw Wisconsin melting down in the second half at Lambeau Field against Notre Dame. The Badgers will be home for a get-well game against the Leathernecks, who lost by 31 to fellow FCS in-state school Illinois State last weekend.
Line: No Line
Should I watch this one: Nope.
Ohio State (1-0) at Texas (1-0), 7:30 p.m. on ABC
Details: Ohio State won the season opener a year ago, relying on its defense to shut down Arch Manning in his first start. It’s a chance for revenge for Manning and the Longhorns. Both of these teams figure to be in the mix for their respective conference titles and a shot at a national title. It’s a big, early season barometer for both of them. It’s easily the biggest game of the weekend.
Line: Texas -1.5, O/U 48.5
Should I watch this one: Yes. Absolutely.
Iowa State (1-0) at Iowa (1-0), 7:30 p.m. on NBC
Details: With Iowa State in a retooling mode, this is the largest line that this game has seen in a number of years. The series has been marked by the weird – and the low scoring – with plenty of focus on punting. The Hawkeyes, much like Penn State, had a simple, straightforward clean win in their season opener. There will be more eyeballs on this one and it’s a chance for Iowa to make a statement.
Line: Iowa -14, O/U 41.5
Should I watch this one: Quad Box it.
Louisiana (1-0) at USC (2-0), 11 p.m. on BTN
Details: USC closes out its non-conference schedule early thanks to their Week Zero win against San Jose State. It should be another snoozer for Lincoln Riley’s team before they open Big Ten play next weekend with a cross country trip to Rutgers.
Line: USC -30.5, O/U 60.5
Should I watch this one: Go to sleep.
