Big Ten Week 1 Preview

Lots of Big Ten action prior to Saturday and even after.  How are the best Big Ten games of the week on a Sunday? It's finally here folks, let's get to it! 

Tonight:

UMass @ (-29.5) Rutgers:  UMass are no longer the fighting Don Brown's.  Maybe Don and Wink can start a podcast.  What a terrible game as UMass might be one of the worst college programs in the country. Relegate them to FCS  Rutgers 38 UMass 10

Eastern Illinois @ (-42.5) Minnesota:  Why does the Big Ten always roll out Rutgers and Minn on the first day of the regular season?  What is with that line?  I don't think there are many programs the Golden Gophers can beat by over 40 points.  Minn 40 Eastern Ill 13

UAB @ (-27.5) Illinois:  This is the closest matchup of Big Ten games on Thursday.  I really wish Dilfer was still the head coach.  He isn't.  Illinois 36 UAB 17

Friday: 

Indiana St @ (35.5) Purdue:  Larry Bird is not walking through that door.  ISU has already lost a game and it's not looking good for them in this one.  Purdue 42 ISU 3

Toledo @ (-9.5) MSU: Both Michigan teams might have bit off a Big MAC opponent more than they can chew.  The Rockets are no slouch and might make MSU uncomfortable for 3 quarters.  MSU 24 Toledo 17

Fresno St @ (-22.5) USC: Nobody showed up last weekend for USC, what is going to happen on a Friday night?  USC 31 FSU 20

Saturday:

N. Texas @ (-30.5) IU: Get out of here with that non-conference schedule IU 60 NTU 9

Ohio @ (-23.5) Nebraska:  I never complain about the Big 10 supporting MAC schools.  Nebraska 27 Ohio 13

Ball ST @ (-49.5) OSU: See above, I don't expect OSU will run the score up and win by 50.  OSU 48 Ball ST 7 

Marshall @ (-24.5) PSU: Randy Moss isn't walking through that door.  Fans will have plenty of time to  visit the Paterno Experience Museum.  Ok, that seems like a bad decision.  PSU 31 Marshall 20

N. Illinois @ (-31.5) Iowa:  Here is a fun fact, NIU is no longer in the MAC and now a Mt. West team.  That big head coach I think is also on the Rams staff.  NIU has been known to get an upset early in the season.  Can Iowa beat anyone by over 30 points? The pink locker rooms are the difference.   Iowa 37 NIU 14

Hampton @ (-45.5) Maryland:  This sounds like a Hotel not a football game.  Maryland 40 Hampton 3 (free breakfast included)

S.Dakota State @ (-13.5) Northwestern:  Be very careful here Northwestern.  They play tough football in the Dakota's.  This prediction is not very nice opening a new stadium.  SDSU 17 Northwestern 14

UCLA (-1.5) @ CAL:  Love the PAC 12 match-up.  Did you know UCLA is broke and just fired their AD?  That is a tough situation in a NIL environment.  CAL 28 UCLA 24

Sunday:

Wash St @ (-23.5) Wash:  Sunday Big Ten Football?  What is going on around here?  This is also the Apple Cup that used to be played on the last Saturday of the season.  Talk about another historic PAC 12 game.   Wash 24 WSU 20

Wisconsin @ (-20.5) ND:  Carr is the Heisman front runner before the season starts.  Wisconsin really needs a big win.  ND has been known to start a little sleepy.  This could reset the Badgers program with an upset.  Still Wisconsin hasn't been right for a few years. ND 30 Wisconsin 21

That is too many games to preview.  The Big Ten has way too many teams.  Let's send Rutgers and Maryland to the ACC, UCLA to the new PAC 10, and Nebraska to the Big 12. 

Wolverine Wednesday: A European Disaster

College Basketball teams take trips to Europe to experience new cultures and visits countries they have never been to before.  They also get a ton of extra practices and the ability to play together for the first time against some strong opponents.   That was the plan when Dusty put this trip together.  

Well the outcome was much different then the intent.  Dusty is in Dallas and Michigan played 3 physical basketball teams and came away with a devastating injury.  5-star Brandon McCoy tore his ACL just seconds into Game 3 when he slipped and fell on the way to the basket.   Brandon was clearly going to be a starter, back up ball handler, and defensive stopper.  Yes, he would contribute on offense as he worked on his outside shooting.   He was clearly going to be Michigan's X-factor next season.  Now, he will just get to watch.  

Michigan is in trouble at the back up point.  Can the Columbia transfer fill that role?  He did not play in Europe or can Roddy Gayle come back for another year?  There are more questions then answers for the Wolverines right now.  This is pretty bad news for Mike Boynton who is on a 2-year make it or break it contract and who will have a new boss soon as well.   ACL's now have cost Michigan 2 starters for next season's squad. LJ who is in Miami and now McCoy.  Maybe Dusty can send Rez back?

Tomorrow we get the first Big Ten Week 1 predictions.  I know many of you won't sleep tonight with gleeful anticipation for the post to drop! 😂

• There is starting to be some question around next year's Michigan @ Texas game.  Michigan has moved the EMU game into the spot when Michigan was expected to travel to Austin.   Canceling this game does make some sense for both sides.   Both teams are now playing an extra conference game and Michigan just played Texas in the Citrus Bowl, after hosting them two years ago.   Yes, its good for the game to have match-ups like this, but is the juice worth the squeeze if both teams want to make the playoffs? The game could also be re-scheduled for another year or another date that season. 

Michigan Tuesday: September Roddy?

Roddy Gayle Jr. is suing the NCAA like everyone else to be able to come back to Michigan Basketball for another year and play on this years team.  The team does have a scholarship open when LJ decided to recover from his ACL on South Beach.  

Best of luck to him getting the outcome that we want for his return.  Not sure how the new Big Ten rule about Pro contracts would work since Roddy played in the Summer League.    The LSU NFL players are in camp and preparing for a game against Clemson this weekend. 

I'm still worried about the McCoy injury update, whenever that comes out. 

Coach Whitt did his game week presser on Monday and came out with a few nuggets:

• He is still not planning on releasing a depth chart.  I thought that was a rule now.  

• He did mention on his radio show that Goodwin won the #3 WR spot, I expect we will see a ton of WR's this year.  

• Tommy Carr is the #2 QB right now 

• Andrew Babalola continues his health issues and will not be available on Saturday. 

• John Henry Daley is 100% recovered and a full go! 

• Nate Marshall hasn't gotten a ton of camp buzz, but Coach said he had a good camp and will be a big factor this season.   If you remember he was a borderline 5-star a year ago. 

Michigan Monday: Welcome to Game Week

This is what we wait for all off season, Michigan Game Week and it's finally here!  Let's go! 

In traditional fashion let's look at this week's opponent in the Too Early Look:

Western Michigan Broncos

Record: 0-0 

Non-Conference Games after Michigan: Monmouth, Rice, and, Boise State 

2025 Stats:

Pass: 138 yards per (131th in the country)

Rush: 204 Per (16th)

Points scored: 24.9 (96th)

Points given up: 17.4 (9th) 

It's not a mystery on what the Broncos want to do.  They like to run the ball and play really good defense. Both stats were in the top 20 of all college football last year.  They were 10-4 as MAC 2025 Champions with a win in the Bowl Game.  

They played 2 Big Ten Teams last season, lost to both MSU 23-6 and Illinois 38-0.   This is no cake walk for the Wolverines on Saturday night.  This is a good physical match-up before The Sooners come to town.

• This weekend was a difficult weekend for many former Wolverine Football players, who go cut by NFL teams.  The list I've seen includes the following: Junior Colson (Chargers), Rayshaun Benny (Ravens), Ronnie Bell (Saints), Ryan Hayes (Carolina), Myles Hinton (Eagles), Greg Crippen (Steelers), Andrew Stueber Falcons), Donovan Edwards (Dolphins), Hassan Haskins (Patriots), Mazi Smith (Jets), and Ambry Thomas (Eagles).   Let's hope each find a spot on the practice squad or decide to find a new way to make a living that is less stressful on their bodies.  Reportedly 40 Wolverines made rosters. 

• Z won the Giants kicking job.