College Football Week 4 is starting to look like a real Big Ten measuring stick weekend, with conference games that could say plenty about where several teams stand. Ohio State is favored by 27.5 points against Illinois on Saturday, according to ESPN, but there are a few matchups around the league worth tracking closely for what they might mean down the road.
The one that jumps out first is Northwestern at No. 5 Indiana on Friday night at 8 pm.
A year ago, this would not have landed on a list of notable games, but the Wildcats have injected some life into the program with a new stadium, a new head coach, and a 41-7 win over Colorado last week. Indiana is unbeaten and ranked fifth in the country, though the Hoosiers still haven’t faced a Power 4 opponent this season.
Their three wins have come against North Texas, Howard, and Western Kentucky, and those teams have combined for a 2-7 record entering the week. Indiana is a heavy favorite, but this one has the feel of a game that could be tighter than people expect in Bloomington.
UCLA’s trip to Maryland at 1:30 pm brings a different kind of test. The Bruins are 3-0 and handled Purdue 52-38 in their Big Ten opener last week, but now they have to make the cross-country trip east.
Maryland, meanwhile, is 2-1 after a loss to Virginia Tech in Week 3. ESPN has UCLA as a slight favorite at -1.5, and the early start time for the west coast team - 10:30 am PT - adds another wrinkle.
No. 17 Iowa at No.
18 Michigan at 3:30 pm has the look of a classic Big Ten grind. Both teams lean on defense, and the expected over/under is just 38.5.
Iowa has been strong at home but has had issues on the road in recent years, while Michigan’s first three games have produced a dominant win, a good win, and a fluky win. The Wolverines’ best showing came in Week 2, when they used a strong defensive effort to beat Oklahoma.
With Ohio State set to play at Iowa next week, this one also offers a useful preview of what the Buckeyes may run into.
The night game that could end up carrying the most buzz is No. 20 Oregon at No.
12 USC at 7:30 pm. Oregon’s start has been underwhelming by preseason standards, especially for a team that some had pegged for the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.
The Ducks are 2-1 and needed a comeback in Week 1 to beat Boise State. USC, on the other hand, is 4-0 and has become the trendy pick to win the conference, even if last week’s trip to Rutgers wasn’t exactly clean.
The Trojans don’t have a huge home-field edge, but that could matter if the Coliseum is full.
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Jeremiah Smith Is Forcing A Massive Ohio State Debate Already
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Urban Meyer recently raised the temperature even more by calling Smith the best receiver in college football history, and it is exactly the kind of claim that invites a bigger argument. The numbers behind Smiths start are elite, but when you stack him against some of the sports other great college receivers, the debate gets more complicated, especially with his NFL future still unwritten. [Read more 🡒]