Big Ten Week 7 Preview and Michigan - PSU Injury Report

This is one of the premier weekends that the Big Ten schedulers spit out for big TV ratings. Yes, its Rutgers - Maryland week! Buckle Up! 

Friday Night: 

Washington @ Purdue (-3.5):  How is the state of your program and/or defense?  Being an underdog to Purdue is not a great sign.  Purdue just rolled the Golden Gophers and Washington has big travel and a short week.  Did I mention they also can't stop the run?  Purdue 31 Wash 27 

Saturday:

Ohio State (-3.5) @ IU:  The last two national champions are facing off in the regular season.  IU survived a scare at Nebraska last weekend and Ohio State just keeps throwing the ball to the future Heisman winner.  Both teams are beatable and both have been living on Fox's Big Noon.  I like a low scoring battle here.  OSU 23 IU 17 

Northwestern (-7.5) @ MSU:  This is the Pat Fitz Bowl, sponsored by Gorton's Fish and Chips.  Pat is in his in first year at MSU but his former team is now 4-1 and plays in a new Billion Dollar stadium.  I think his old program where he played and coached is doing pretty well, current program, not so much.   Northwestern 33 MSU 23

Rutgers @ Maryland (-4.5):  The premier Big 10 match-up of the weekend.  This is your DO NOT WATCH Game of the weekend.  Maryland 20 Rutgers 17

Wisconsin @ UCLA (-2.5):  Who is the best young coach in the Big Ten?  Bob Chesney is.  UCLA is undefeated in the Big Ten and Wisconsin only loss this year is to ND.  Yes, the PSU - Michigan game was supposed to be the 2nd big game of the weekend, but this game is actually it!  I love UCLA and the points here.  UCLA 28 Wisconsin 20 

Nebraska @ Oregon (-7):  Both teams are coming off heart breaking loses.  Nebraska thought they were back to find out, you have to play a 4th quarter and Oregon found out that UCLA is for real and they have to have better QB play.  The biggest question is Riaola a double agent?  He got benched last weekend.  This is a 11PM EST kick.  Oregon 38 Nebraska 21

PSU - Michigan Injury Report 

They almost needed a 2nd page.  

Wolverine Wednesday: What and Why?

app.com

Former Miami TE Alex Bauman has received an injunction from the Washtenaw County court for a 5th year of eligibility.  He plans to use it a Michigan and become immediately eligible.  

Alex is 6'5 and 250 pounds and had 18 receptions for 166 yards and 1 TD last season.  Prior to Miami he spent 3 years at Tulane.   

My first reaction:  What?

Second reaction: Why?

Seems strange to want to join a team mid-season like this.   Also, Michigan has pretty much ignored the TE position this year.  Yes, that is a mistake but what is the upside here? A better blocking TE? 

Wait!  There is another one: Michigan is also expected to add former Boise State CB Jeremiah Earby who was also granted a TRO and has enrolled at Michigan.  Earby was an all conference selection last season and had 4 picks. 

Michigan Tuesday: News and Notes

• Blake had a nice game for the Rams on MNF. 19 yards rushing, 53 receiving, with 1 TD 

• Josaiah Stewart also had a sack last night 

• IU @ Michigan will be a noon kick on Fox 

• If you didn't hear this weeks game is on CBS 

• RG3 said he was offered to be the Michigan QB coach to coach up Bryce

• Mara last night: 17 POINTS - 10 REBOUNDS - 6 ASSISTS - 5 BLOCKS- 4/9 FGM- 33 MINUTES

Michigan Monday: Same Old Big Ten

The team Michigan beat, Oklahoma beat the #1 team in the nation Texas, who also has a win over Ohio State.   Predictably, the team Michigan lost to a week ago, thought they were CFP bound and got blown out by Purdue. 

The Big Ten started to show its old habits again.  Case in points:

-OSU blew out Maryland 

-Iowa ran over Washington who forget to play any defense 

-Illinois was dominating MSU, Sparty makes a comeback, new coach flips off the other sideline, and then loses in OT. 

-Minnesota remembers they are the Golden Gophers 

-Oregon over looks UCLA who could be a poor man's Indiana. 

-Nebraska looks to be back and ready to stop the streak of 30 loses in a row to ranked opponents, to lose it in the 4th to IU. 

-Penn State is 3-3 again, the exact same record that got James Franklin fired.

Just when I thought this was a weird year, the Big Ten says, "We're still the same!".

• Yes, Michigan fans.  Whoever Michigan hires as AD, needs to keep at eye on UCLA's coach.  The money cannon would be able to get him out of LA. 

• I forgot that Michigan Basketball played an exhibition against EMU on Sunday.  Sounds like they played well.  October Rodney did not play.  They must be waiting for some type of rubber stamp from the Big Ten.

• Z had a tough game for the Giants 

• Speaking of the Giants - Commanders, that might have been the dumbest thing I've seen on a football field and we all have seen a lot of dumb. 

• Coach's Whitt press conference this morning should be interesting.  5 days to get better Coach.
• Update on Presser:
• Bryce still the starter, Carr took 1/2 the 1st team snaps
• No change with Beck or play calling 
• Sprague is still out and still a mystery 
• Babalola will practice this week
• New punt returner on Saturday