The first week of Big 10 football is in the books and it was an impressive start from top to bottom. The Maryland Terrapins, who were picked dead last in the conference, pulled off a huge upset by putting up 51 points on No. 23 Texas and winning by ten points.
Powerhouses Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan all were victorious. The Buckeyes got off to a slow start against Indiana but rolled in the second half and won going away, 49-21. Wisconsin thumped Utah State 59-10. Penn State shutout Akron 52-0 and the Wolverines shut down Florida, 33-17 in a battle of top 20 teams.
Elsewhere, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota and Northwestern all got off to good starts with wins. The only two teams that lost were Rutgers and Purdue, but both were very competitive against ranked teams.
This week all teams are in action highlighted by the huge game in Columbus where the Buckeyes take on the Sooners in a game that will make or break each team’s season. Penn State hosts Pittsburgh in a intrastate battle and the Iowa Hawkeyes make the short trip to Ames to take on their bitter rival, Iowa State.
Let's’ take a look at all the Big Ten games for week 2.
BIG 10 GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Oklahoma Sooners +7.5 at Ohio State Buckeyes -7.5, Total 64
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio - 7:30 p.m., ET - ABC
This is the marquee matchup in all of college football for week No. 2. Last year the Buckeyes hammered the Sooners on the road, 42-24. Ohio State lost their entire secondary to the draft and it showed last week against Indiana, especially in the first half. The Bucks are young and will get better, but now much face Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield and the potent Sooners passing attack. This game will be won in the fourth quarter and 7.5 points is too much. Buckeyes win, but Sooners cover the spread.
All-time series record - Ohio State 2-1-0
Let’s take a look at the other Week 2 Big Ten games
Friday, September 8, 2017
Ohio Bobcats +3.5 at Purdue Boilermakers -3.5, Total 56
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana - 8:00 p.m.,ET - FS1
Purdue took Louisville right down to the wire before falling short by a touchdown. The Boilermakers looked much improved and actually looked like a football team under first year head coach, Jeff Brohm. Ohio is a favorite to win the MAC Conference, but Purdue has the deeper team and the better athletes. Purdue wins 35 - 27.
All-time series record - Purdue 7-0-0
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Pittsburgh Panthers +20.5 at Penn State Nittany Lions -20.5, Total 67.5
Beaver Stadium, University Park , PA. - 3:30 p.m., ET - ABC
The battle of Pennsylvania and a heated rivalry is on display in this one. Pitt had trouble with Youngstown State, winning in overtime. Penn State looks loaded on both sides of the ball and deep as well. The Nittany Lions are one of the best teams in the country and will show it this week. Penn State rolls, 49 - 21.
All-time series record - Penn State 50-43-4
Nebraska Cornhuskers +14 at Oregon Ducks -14, Total 72.5
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon - 4:30 p.m., ET - FOX
This line is the biggest mover on the board. Oregon opened up as a 10-point favorite and quickly climbed to 14. It appears that the Corn Huskers haven’t improved on defense and that will be a huge problem against an Oregon team that plays an uptempo offense and will exploit the pathetic Corn defense. Oregon stomps Nebraska, 48 - 24.
All-time series record - Nebraska 6-1-0
Minnesota Gophers +1 at Oregon State Beavers -1, Total 52
Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon - 10:00 p.m., ET - FS1
Oregon State opened the season up with a disappointing pounding to Colorado State. Minnesota is a team on the rise under first year head coach P.J. Fleck. The Gophers have better athletes and will win this game. Take the points, Gophers win!
All-time series record - Minnesota 3-1-0
Iowa Hawkeyes -2.5 at Iowa State Cyclones +2.5, Total 48
Jack Trice Stadium, Ames Iowa - Noon, ET - ESPN2
The total in this game is too low. I know Iowa has a great defense and shut down Wyoming last week, but the Cyclones like to play at a rapid pace and their defense has a few holes in it which the Hawks will exploit. Both teams will put points on the board and eclipse the total midway through the fourth quarter. OVER is the play.
All-time series record - Iowa 42-22-0
Northwestern Wildcats -3 at Duke Blue Devils +3, Total 53
Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, North Carolina - Noon, ET - ESPNU
Duke at home catching points, I like it. The Blue Devils are a pretty good team, especially on offense. The Wildcats struggled to beat Nevada last week and will find it difficult playing on the road. Home team wins.
All-time series record - Northwestern 10-8-0
Cincinnati Bearcats +34 at Michigan Wolverines -34, Total 49.5
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan - Noon, ET - ESPN
The Wolverines looked great last week on defense and now face a Bearcats team that is undersized and lacks any kind of depth. Michigan wins this game by six touchdowns.
All-time series record - No Previous Matchups
Indiana Hoosiers -3 at Virginia Cavaliers +3, Total 55
Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia - 3:30 p.m., ET - ACCN
Indiana played Ohio State tough for about 2.5 quarters before running out of gas. Both teams in this matchup will struggle on offense and ride their defenses as much as they can. The game total of 55 is a bit high for two lackluster offenses. The play is the UNDER.
All-time series record - Virginia 2-0-0
Eastern Michigan Eagles +4 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights -4, Total 52.5
High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey - Noon, ET - BTN
Rutgers looked better against Washington last week and now face a MAC Conference team that had trouble putting points on the board a week ago. If the Scarlet Knights want to improve, they have to take care of business at home against a MAC team. Rutgers wins.
All-time series record - No Previous Matchups
FAU Owls +31.5 at Wisconsin Badgers -31.5, Total 57.5
Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin - Noon, ET - BTN
The Badgers will welcome first year Owls head coach Lane Kiffin and bury him from start to finish. FAU won’t be able to maintain the powerful Wisconsin rushing attack. Badgers will win this game by 40 points - it won’t even be close!
All-time series record - No Previous Matchups
Western Michigan Broncos +7 at Michigan State Spartans -7, Total 51.5
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan - 3:30 p.m., ET - BTN
This game should be a hard fought battle, settled late in the fourth quarter. The Broncos hung with USC last week for 3.5 quarters and now face a tough MSU squad that is hungry to rebound from a disappointing 4 - 8 record last year. Michigan State wins by four points - I like the underdog.
All-time series record - Michigan State 12-2-0
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -8.5 at Illinois Fighting Illini +8.5, Total 60.5
Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois - 3:30 p.m., ET - BTN
Illinois struggled to beat Ball State last week and now face a Western Kentucky team that can score and score a lot. The Illini are clearly one of the worst teams in the Big 10 and perhaps in the country and won’t be able to score enough points to keep up with a sharp Hilltoppers offense. Western Kentucky wins by 10.
Towson Tigers at Maryland Terrapins - No Line
Capital One Field, College Park, Maryland - Noon, ET - BTN
The College Football betting odds and props for this week’s games were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. Live wagering during commercials offers adjusted moneylines, totals and spreads. Log in and start gambling during the game now! The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 7:30 p.m., ET. ABC will televise the game live.
