Griffiths: Big Ten Picks – Week #1
By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Assistant Editor
Thankfully, the college football season has finally arrived!
As we celebrate this Labor Day weekend, college football officially kicks off.
In fact, three Big Ten teams got things going prior to Saturday.
On Thursday night, Indiana destroyed Indiana State, scoring 73 points – the most for a Hoosier football team since 1901. The FCS Sycamores looked more like a high school team than anything, putting up absolutely no fight against IU.
Minnesota used big play after big play to cruise past visiting UNLV 51-23.
Meanwhile as I finish my first Big Ten predictions piece of the football season, Western Michigan at Michigan State are in a weather delay, so at this rate, they’ll finish on Saturday.
That leads us to the first official opening Saturday of the season in which the other nine Big Ten teams are in action.
There are several storylines to keep an eye this Big Ten season.
First and foremost, the league is trying to rebuild its reputation nationwide as being one of the top football conferences in America. Recently, the Big Ten has been anything but. It’s mired in a decade-long national championship drought and has been somewhat forgotten by national pundits – and rightfully so – due to its lack of success on the national stage and in the postseason.
If preseason rankings mean anything, Ohio State might be the Big Ten’s torchbearer this fall. After all, the Buckeyes enter the season ranked second in both polls behind two-time defending national champion Alabama.
Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin – the Big Ten’s four other top-25 teams – all figure to challenge Ohio State for the conference title and will have a lot to say about restoring the once-proud Big Ten football tradition come bowl time.
The conference’s image could get a boost, too, if it has a finalist for the prestigious Heisman Trophy.
Ohio State’s Braxton Miller is considered to have the Big Ten’s best shot at winning the coveted award. Only one Big Ten player – Buckeye QB Troy Smith (2006) – has won the honor in the 21st century.
Of course, Miller has his work cut out when you figure 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel – if he’s eligible – is back and ultra-talented Jadeveon Clowney returns, not to mention Clemson’s Tajh Boyd and Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas.
Here are some other storylines to keep tabs on:
• Will Nebraska get it figured out on the defensive side of the ball?
• How good is Michigan and are the Wolverines the team to beat in the Legends Division?
• Will Wisconsin dip in the post-Bret Bielema era?
• Will Northwestern be in a BCS bowl game?
• Will Michigan State’s offense continue to struggle?
• Will Indiana continue to show improvement under Kevin Wilson and qualify for a bowl game for just the second time since 1993?
• Will Penn State surprise once again as it did last year, or will the harsh NCAA sanctions begin to be felt?
• Purdue has made two straight bowl appearances, but will a holiday trip be in the cards for the Boilermakers under new boss Darrell Hazell?
• Will the dean of Big Ten coaches Kirk Ferentz turn things around in Iowa City after a disappointing 2012 campaign?
• Is Year Two it for embattled Illini coach Tim Beckman?
So with all that said, lets take a look at Saturday’s Big Ten matchups.
Below, IndySportsLegends helps you decide which conference contests you’ll want to keep an eye on and which ones aren’t DVR worthy.
We also give you a handful of games around the country you’ll want to closely follow.
Big Ten Game-Of-The-Week
• #22 Northwestern at California
Saturday
10:30 p.m.
ESPN2
Berkeley, Calif. (Memorial Stadium 63,186)
This is one you won’t want to miss. How does Northwestern handle being ranked, the long travel out to the West Coast and the late start? This won’t be an easy one for Pat Fitzgerald’s Cats. Are games out West ever easy for Big Ten teams? Cal’s speed might cause NU fits, but go with the Fitz’s veteran club, particularly with the one-two punch of Venric Mark and Kain Colter/Trevor Siemian in the backfield, 33-30.
Must See TV
• Purdue @ Cincinnati
Saturday
Noon
ESPNU
Cincinnati, Ohio (Nippert Stadium 35,000)
Perhaps this is the game with the most intrigue. After all, it features a pair of new coaches at their respective schools with Darrell Hazell at Purdue and Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati. The Bearcats are somewhat unsettled at the QB position with incumbent Brendon Kay having been limited in practice due to a sore shoulder. As of Tuesday, Tuberville hadn’t decided on a starter between Kay and Munchie Legaux. Both likely will play. Legaux is more dangerous as a runner, just like Purdue starter Rob Henry is. The team that has the most success throwing the football will be victorious. Now, that’s going out on a limb isn’t it? Go with the home team, 31-17.
• Northern Illinois @ Iowa
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
BTN
Iowa City, Iowa (Kinnick Stadium 70,585)
What’s a coach’s worst nightmare? Open the season with a very tough opponent at home after coming off a losing season. That’s Kirk Ferentz’s dilemma as his Hawkeyes entertain 2013 BCS bowl participant Northern Illinois and star QB Jordan Lynch. If Iowa doesn’t have an answer for Lynch, who was terrific last season (1,815 yards rushing and 3,138 yards passing), the Huskies could win this going away against a Hawkeye team that has little firepower. NIU adds fuel to Ferentz’s hot seat and pulls off the “upset,” 38-24.
May Be Worth A Look-see
• Wyoming @ #18 Nebraska
Saturday
8 p.m.
BTN
Lincoln, Neb. (Memorial Stadium 87,000_
The largest crowd to ever see a Nebraska home game will be on hand to see what could be a game filled with offensive fireworks. Wyoming Brett Smith is the Mountain West’s best QB and a strong case could be made that Taylor Martinez is the Big Ten’s best. Neither teams’ defense was anything to write home about last season so both of those units have a lot to prove. Nebraska has more playmakers with receiver Kenny Bell and running back Ameer Abdullah. Big Red wins first of many in ’13, 44-24.
• Penn State vs. Syracuse
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
ABC (regional), ESPN2 (outer market)
East Rutherford, N.J. MetLife Stadium (82,500)
We’ll begin to see if all the hype surrounding true freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg was warranted as he’ll get the call against the Orange after Bill O’Brien waited until late in the week to make his decision public. This game features a pair of eight-win teams from a year ago and likely will feature a heavy dose of running the football from each. Both have a couple of returning 1,000-yard rushers in Jerome Smith (1,171 yards for SU) and Zach Zwinak (1,000 for PSU). Let’s go Penn State, 21-20, in this toss-up.
• Southern Illinois @ Illinois
Saturday
Noon
BTN
Champaign, Ill. (Memorial Stadium 60,670)
Why is this one worth your time? I know, it’s Big Ten vs. FCS, but considering how poor the Fighting Illini played last year makes you think the Salukis might hang in there and make this one a game. SIU has a couple of offensive weapons in quarterback Kory Faulkner (1,865 yards passing and 11 TDs in 2013) and running back Mika’il McCall (who scored eight rushing TDs a year ago) that the Illini better contain. As is always the case with these so-called mismatches, the longer this remains a game, the more unsettled the home crowd will be. That means the potential for boo birds being out in full force in Champaign in Week One, something Tim Beckman definitely doesn’t want to have to hear. Illini less than impressive, 27-17.
Cupcake City
• Buffalo @ #2 Ohio State
Saturday
Noon
ESPN2
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium 102,329)
U-G-L-Y. First of four nonconference snoozers for Buckeyes. OSU 56-3.
• Central Michigan @ #17 Michigan
Saturday
3:30 p.m.
BTN
Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium 109,901)
Get ready to hear ‘Hail To The Victors’ early and often. Devin Gardner and the Big Blue offense roll, 49-13.
• Massachusetts @ #23 Wisconsin
Saturday
Noon
BTN
Madison, Wis. (Camp Randall Stadium 80,321)
Yes, Bret Bielema is gone, but don’t expect first-year Badger coach Gary Andersen to change things a whole lot in the Land of Cheese. That means a steady dose of running the football with ultra-talented James White. White had 12 rushing TDs in all of 2013. He might have 4 at halftime of this one. Bucky Badger in a laugher, 42-6.
Country Classics?
#5 Georgia @ #8 Clemson (8 p.m. ABC): If it’s offense you like, it’s offense you should get. Enjoy watching Heisman Trophy hopefuls QB Aaron Murray and TB Todd Gurley from Georgia and Clemson QB Tajh Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins. Dawgs in a thriller, 31-28.
#19 Boise State @ Washington (10 p.m. Fox Sports 1): Nothing like a bowl rematch from last season to kick off the 2013 season. UW is trying to resurrect its proud tradition and get a little respect with a 30-28 win to re-open Husky Stadium.
#1 Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (5:30 p.m. ESPN): What’s more frightening than facing two-time defending national champion in August? Facing them with their most explosive offensive since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007. All AJ McCarron vs. Hokies. Tide rolls, 37-10.
#12 LSU vs. #20 TCU (9 p.m., ESPN): Defense will be the name of this game. Turnovers will be critical as both these teams excelled in turnovers forced a year ago. LSU, 13-10.
#11 Florida State @ Pittsburgh (8 p.m., ESPN, Monday): The Panthers enter the ACC by playing defending conference champion FSU. The Seminoles feature a new QB in Jameis Winston and a new defense. Cause for concern? No. Noles, 28-16.
(All times ET)
