Big Ten Weekend Preview: Temple at Purdue Highlights Week 4

This has to be one of the most "down" weeks in Big Ten scheduling history.  It is full of "Big Ten vs. MAC" teams and teams like Austin Peay and Northern Colorado.  Yikes, I'm not sure I can remember a Saturday when there wasn't at least one decent game in Big Ten country.  I wonder who Nebraska is playing?  Answer: South Dakota State.  Never mind.

Big Ten Game of the Week (Big Reach)

Temple at Penn State

I did a Big Ten preview for the Michigan Man podcast in August.  Two things I predicted was Arizona would beat Iowa and that Temple would upset Penn State.  Temple is a pretty good team that has wins over Villanova, Central Michigan, and UConn already this year.  If Penn State sleeps on Temple they will find themselves with an "L" on Saturday.  The line is PSU minus-13.5.  So Vegas is buying this won't be a blow out.  I will stay with my prediction.

Temple 21, PSU 20

The Other Games

Northern Colorado at MSU

This will be the first game for the Spartans without their head coach after his heart attack on Sunday morning.  MSU will be inspired and this one won't be close.  Line is MSU minus-30.5. 

MSU 42, NCU 10

Austin Peay at Wisconsin

Wow, is this a basketball game?  It seems more like a December basketball game and not a football game in September.  Expect a huge day on the ground from the Badgers.  Line is minus-43 for Wisky.  Take the points with AP! 

Wisconsin 40, AP 3

EMU at Ohio State

I feel bad for former Michigan DC Ron English.  He is still trying to get his first win at Eastern and this is not the week.  I hope the Eagles got paid.  Line is OSU minus-44.  Yes, 44.  

Vest 51, EMU 14

Akron at Indiana

IU likes to score points and Akron has to travel from Ohio.  That's about all.  IU is favored by 22.5 points.  I think this one is a little closer than that. 

IU 28, Akron 14

Northern Illinois at Minnesota

Vegas thinks this will be the closet Big Ten game of the week with the Golden Gophers favored by 4.5.  The gophers are a mess right now and some people are predicting that their head coach might not make it until Halloween.  Minnesota needs a win dearly.  I think they get one on Saturday. 

Minnesota 24, NIU 17

Toledo at Purdue

The Boilermakers are beat up and haven't been playing very well when healthy.  Toledo might make this game interesting.  The line has Purdue by 11.5.  I think Toledo will play well. 

Purdue 17, Toledo 14

Central Michigan at Northwestern

Central Michigan is a pretty good team and they are not having post-Butch Jones problems.  On the other hand, Butch already has two losses at Cincinnati and they host Oklahoma this weekend.  I wonder if Butch looked at the schedule before taking the job at UC?  

Central has been known for their high-powered offense, but would you be surprised to learn that CMU has the fourth-ranked defense in the country?  They are giving up nine points a game.  I had high hopes for NW this year and they are starting to turn the corner with a 30-13 win over Rice last week.  These teams seem very similar (NW only gives up 12 points a game) and the line is NW minus-6.5.  

NW 14, CMU 10

Illinois has a bye. 

I will preview the Michigan-BGSU game on Friday. 


A Thought to Ponder Today:  What should this weekend be called?  MAC Attack?  MAC invasion?  Big MAC Weekend?