Big Ten Week Three Preview

(This article originally appeared on www.orangeandbluenews.com.)

Once again, here’s our look around the conference on Week Three, in order of how much I’m looking forward to each game.

Game of the Week

Pittsburgh (2-0) at Michigan State (2-0) – I’m going out on a bit of a limb here. Ohio State makes a big trip to the west coast, Iowa plays a rival game, and of course Michigan plays Notre Dame in the stinkiest matchup in their history. But the 11 AM contest in East Lansing, between two programs that seem similarly tempered, intrigues me the most. I wasn’t impressed with Mark D’Antonio at first, but after declaring “I will not tolerate a weak defense” to the Spartan media, it’s the MSU offense that has my attention. Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick are an interesting 1-2 punch, and Brian Hoyer might be headed for a QB career that surpasses the oft-heralded, more-oft disappointing Drew Stanton. The Spartans have posted 83 points in a throttling over UAB and a quality win over the Bowling Green team that beat Minnesota the previous week. Pitt has similar early numbers, with easy wins over Eastern Michigan and Grambling State. Here’s why this game intrigues me: for both squads, this the kind of game they’re used to losing. For Mark D’Antonio, this game represents his first chance to show that times have changed. For Dave Wannstedt, it might be the last chance. Michigan State 33, Pitt 20.

Best of the Rest

Notre Dame (0-2) at Michigan (0-2) – OK, here we go. Michigan and Notre Dame have both stunk horribly, to high heaven, in their first two contests. The Wolverines were booted, famously, by Appalachian State, and the proud program was the nation’s biggest punchline until Britney took the stage on Sunday night. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has been pitiful, and they lack a rusher or receiver over 50 yards on the year. What’s the difference between these two squads? One is a decent football team playing very, very badly. The other is just very, very bad. Michigan will bounce back from the early season letdowns and be winning, and bowling, by season’s end. Notre Dame is awful, and could be staring at an 0-8 start. Hope they haven’t finalized the plans for that Charlie Weis statue just yet. Michigan 27, Notre Dame 9.

Ohio State (2-0) at Washington (2-0) – Without bad boys Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, AJ Hawk and a bunch of other beasties, the Bucks just don’t feel like Supermen anymore. Maybe that’s just the lingering stench of January’s Gator Chompfest, but this is OSU’s first chance to show the world that was a one game aberration, and they’re still a top-five program. The future is now for OSU QB Todd Boeckman, who looked positively unspectacular against Akron, but got the job done. Washington got the biggest win of the Ty Willingham era with a sound beating of Boise State last week. If Jake Locker can lead the Huskies to this win, it’ll be even bigger. And if Willingham beats Ohio State on the same day Charlie Weis loses to Michigan, don’t think a few heads won’t turn in South Bend. Unfortunately for Washington, they’re not quite there yet. Ohio State 26, Washington 17.

Ho Hum

Central Michigan (1-1) at Purdue (2-0) – I’m kind of over going ga-ga over Purdue’s shoot outs against MAC squads. To be sure, CMU is significantly better than Toledo, but still doesn’t have the defensive backfield to contend with Purdue’s exceptional wideouts. Both these teams hung 52 on Toledo, and there’s no reason this game won’t resemble those two. Chippewa QB Dan LeFevour is the best player in the MAC as a sophomore, but he doesn’t have the help Curtis Painter does, and their supporting casts will make all the difference. Purdue 44, Central Michigan 24.

Iowa (2-0) at Iowa State (0-2) – This is already starting to look like one of those Iowa squads that doesn’t impress anyone all year and somehow goes 9-2 and waltzes in to the CapitalOne bowl. The defensive line will terrorize people all year long, led by Mitch King and Kenny Iwebema. Iowa hasn’t beaten a good team yet, and they won’t face one Saturday. Iowa State is in the midst of a major overhaul, upgrading from Dan McCarney to Gene Chizik, and it is still considered a near given that plenty of Cyclone players are still wedded to their old boss. The Cyclones always play Iowa tough, but I think the trend gets bucked this year and Iowa plasters their in-state rival. Iowa 31, Iowa State 7.

Buffalo (1-1) at Penn State (2-0) – Yeah, this one will be over in a hurry, but I’m intrigued to see how the Bulls respond after a thundering 42-7 win over Temple. One week after what was easily the statement game of the young Turner Gill era, the Bulls really aren’t the laughingstock folks think they are anymore. Buffalo led the MAC East in conference scoring last season, and have plenty of young talent with Drew Willy and James Starks in the backfield. Wedged between Notre Dame and Michigan, I suppose there’s some concern of a letdown game, but Paterno will have the troops ready, and Penn State will win easily. Penn State 30, Buffalo 10.

Akron (1-1) at Indiana (2-0) – Another MAC/Big Ten matchup, with an Akron defense that bottled up Ohio State for a half headed to Bloomington. Kellen Lewis has torched some weak secondaries, including Western Michigan’s, who he stung for 221 and three scores last week. Akron is a hard-nosed football team with a quality defense. The effort against the Buckeyes was no fluke. The Zips held Army to 7 points for the first 59 minutes of the season opener, and Jabari Arthur is maybe the best WR in the conference. If Akron wins here, they’ll establish themselves as serious contenders for one of the MAC’s bowl spots. This’ll be close, but I think the Hoosiers hold on. Indiana 30, Akron 27.

Booooooooooooooring

Citadel (2-0) at Wisconsin (2-0) – I’m guessing ex-LB Bret Bielema has his team’s attention after last week’s near disaster at UNLV. Wisconsin now has the nation’s longest winning streak, at 12, and they should extend it easily, taking on a Southern Conference compatriot of Appalachian State. Citadel absolutely laid the wood to Webber College last week, 76-0, getting truckloads of yards and points from QB Duran Lawson, RB Tory Cooper and WR Andre Roberts. However, the Webber College squad that got pounded by the pride of Charleston, SC, probably plays in a conference with University of Phoenix Online, and Citadel will be no match for Camp Randall. Run it to 13. Wisconsin 48, Citadel 10.

Minnesota (1-1) at Florida Atlantic (1-1) – The only exciting thing about this game would be having the chance to see the two teams’ fans interact in Miami. Since that’s not an option for me, I’m downgrading this to a snoozer. I was excited about this Minnesota team preseason, but two lackluster outings against MAC foes have me pretty confident this team can’t win five games. The Gophs were a Miami field goal gag from going down again last week, and this FAU team might have a chance to do them in. I’m going to call this my upset of the week, as Tim Brewster comes up empty handed on his first trip outside the land of ten million lakes. FAU 17, Minnesota 16.

Duke (0-2) at Northwestern (2-0) – The Brain Bowl hits Evanston Saturday, as 40,000 fans will descend on Ryan Field looking for a Quiz Bowl, disappointed to find a football game breaking out. Northwestern has been capable, avoiding some of last year’s early season gagging, thanks to some nice play from the trench guys and QB C.J. Bacher. Duke is brutal, with a Notre Dame like offense leading the way to a 20-something game losing streak. This is probably the Dukies’ best chance for a win the rest of the season, and don’t think Wildcat coach Pat Fitzgerald will let his troops forget it. Northwestern 29, Duke 12.