A bigger Big Ten means more games for MLive's college football writers to predict, and with a schedule as full as opening week is, there will be 18 matchups before the 2024 season kicks off. Below, we'll predict every game against the spread.
Many of these games will be won by big margins — 11 of them have a margin of victory of at least 20 points — but opening weekend will feature a tight contest in Las Vegas between USC and LSU. USC is one of four new schools in the Big Ten, and all of them will play Thursday through Sunday this weekend.
Here are the picks from MLive's Kyle Austin, Andrew Kahn, Aaron McMann, Matt Wenzel and Ryan Zuke. Matchups will be on Saturday unless otherwise noted. All times are Eastern Time.
Howard Rutgers
When: Thursday, noon TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Rutgers -36.5
Is Rutgers the Big Ten's dark horse? (Zook certainly thinks so.) One thing's for sure: No other team is happy about the league's expansion. The Scarlet Knights, who will face Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State in the Big Ten East, won't have to face those teams in the regular season, nor will they face Oregon, the best newcomer.
MLive staff picks:
Rutgers (-36): Zuke Howard (+36): Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Khan
North Carolina vs. Minnesota
Air Date: Thursday, 8pm TV: FOX | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: North Carolina -1.5
“Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer, a New Hampshire standout, is hoping to become the next FCS-to-FBS transfer and make it big,” read a CBS Sports headline this week. Minnesota hasn't seen strong quarterback play in years, and reversing that trend would go a long way to helping the team beat North Carolina and bounce back from a 6-7 start last season.
MLive staff picks:
North Carolina (-1.5): McMann Minnesota (+1.5): Zook, Wenzel, Austin, Kahn
University of Illinois Eastern Illinois
Air Date: Thursday, 9pm TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Illinois -27.5
Illinois opens its 100th anniversary season at Memorial Stadium against Tony Romo's alma mater, with tickets available for purchase on the second-hand market for $2 and hot dogs reduced to $4 (up from $6 last season).
MLive staff picks:
Illinois (-27.5): McMann, Austin Eastern Illinois (+27.5): Zook, Wenzel, Kahn
Florida Atlantic University vs. Michigan State University
When: Friday, 7 p.m. TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Michigan State -13.5
At one point this week, two headlines appeared side-by-side at the top of MLive's Wolverines page: “FAU coach says Spartan Stadium is 'a lot louder' than the Big House” and “Fresno State coach relishes Michigan trip: 'I love the hostile environment.'” Should Tom Herman call Tim Skipper and tell him Michigan Stadium isn't that hostile? Maybe that would just disappoint Skipper.
MLive staff picks:
Michigan State (-13.5): Zook, Wenzel, Austin, Kern Florida Atlantic (+13.5): McMann
Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin
Airs: Friday, 9 p.m. TV: FS1 | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Wisconsin -23.5
Luke Fickell's return to the Big Ten last season was…good, let's see how he performs in year two.
MLive staff picks:
Wisconsin (-23.5): McMann, Zook, Austin Western Michigan (+23.5): Wenzel, Kahn
Penn State v. West Virginia
Airdate: NoonTV: FOX | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Penn State -8.5
Is this finally Penn State's year? The Nittany Lions no longer need to be better than Ohio State or Michigan to reach the Big Ten Championship. With no divisions, a 12-team playoff and a schedule that features only one of the Big Ten's elite teams (Ohio State, at home), there's no excuse for James Franklin in 2024. Penn State is ranked No. 8 in the preseason Associated Press poll.
MLive staff picks:
Penn State (-8.5): McMann, Zook (Lock), Wenzel, Austin, Kahn.
Illinois State University vs. University of Iowa
Iowa, ranked 25th in the world, will be without coach Kirk Ferentz, who is serving a one-game suspension in connection with the recruiting of former University of Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara.
MLive staff picks:
Iowa (-22.5): McMann, Zook, Kahn Illinois State (+22.5): Wenzel, Austin
Connecticut v. Maryland
Airdate: NoonTV: FS1 | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Maryland -20.5
Maryland, which went 8-5 the past two years, will likely do so again in 2024. Connecticut hasn't won its season opener since 2019.
MLive staff picks:
Maryland (-20.5): Zook, Wenzel, Austin Connecticut (+20.5): McMann, Kahn (lock)
Indiana State University vs. Purdue University
The Boilermarkers will be looking to bounce back from a 4-8 record last season that began with a loss at home to Fresno State.
MLive staff picks:
Indiana State (+33.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel, Austin, Kahn
Akron vs. Ohio State
Time: 3:30pm TV: CBS | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Iowa -495
The best team $20 million can buy, No. 2 Ohio State, will take the field for the first time with a shot at a national championship.
MLive staff picks:
Ohio State (-49.5): Austin, Kern Akron (+49.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel (lock)
Florida International University vs. Indiana University
Time: 3:30pmTV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Indiana -21.5
So, Week 1 of the Big Ten will feature Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Eastern Illinois and Illinois State among 14 non-power conference opponents.
MLive staff picks:
Indiana (-21.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel Florida International (+21.5): Austin, Kahn
UTEP vs. Nebraska
Time: 3:30pm TV: FOX | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Nebraska -26.5
When will Nebraska football truly return, and frankly, a return will require a winning season like the one they last achieved in 2016 at Lincoln.
MLive staff picks:
Nebraska (-26.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel, Austin, Kern
Miami-Ohio vs. Northwestern
Time: 3:30pmTV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Northwestern -2.5
Northwestern was one of college football's most pleasant surprises last season, going 8-5 and winning a bowl game in head coach David Brown's first season.
MLive staff picks:
Northwestern (-2.5): McMann (lock), Zook, Wenzel, Austin, Kahn.
Idaho vs. Oregon
Time: 7:30pmTV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Oregon -44.5
The Oregon-Idaho game on the Big Ten Network will take some getting used to. The Ducks are ranked No. 3 in the country.
MLive staff picks:
Oregon (-44.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel Idaho (+44.5): Austin, Kahn
Fresno State vs. University of Michigan
Time: 7:30pm TV: NBC | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV | Peacock Line: Michigan -21.5
The defending national champions, who haven't lost since Dec. 31, 2022, will face Fresno State for the first time. Also, for the first time, alcohol will be sold on the Big House concourse. The Wolverines are ranked ninth.
MLive staff picks:
Michigan (-21.5): Wenzel, Austin, Kahn Fresno State (+21.5): McMann, Zook
UCLA Hawaii
Time: 7:30pm TV: CBS | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: UCLA -14.5
UCLA already has plenty of road trips in the new Big Ten, so why not add a trip to Hawaii to start the season?
MLive staff picks:
UCLA (-14.5): Wenzel Hawaii (+14.5): McMann, Zook, Austin, Kahn
Weber State University vs. University of Washington
Time: 11pm TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Washington -26.5
We're experiencing our first “Big Ten in Darkness” with Washington, last year's national runner-up but missing its head coach and most of the talent on that team.
MLive staff picks:
Washington (-26.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel, Austin Weber State (+26.5): Kahn
USC vs LSU
Airs: Sunday, 7:30pm TV: ABC | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TVLine: Washington -26.5
USC, which starts the season ranked 23rd in the Associated Press preseason rankings, will face 13th-ranked LSU in Las Vegas on the night before Labor Day.
MLive staff picks:
LSU (-4.5): McMann, Zook, Wenzel, Austin (lock), Kahn.
Source link
