Week 3 is where the Big Ten starts to show its shape, even if most of the league is still spending the weekend outside conference play. There are a few true Big Ten matchups on the board, with USC at Rutgers and Purdue opening league action at UCLA, and the rest of the slate is packed with games that figure to be one-sided on paper.
The headline game from a Big Ten perspective is Michigan State’s trip to Notre Dame. The Spartans are 2-0 and already showed some fight in a tricky opener against Toledo before looking sharper last week in a rout of Eastern Michigan.
That momentum gets tested in South Bend against the No. 3 Irish, who have won their first two games by an average of 40 points.
Notre Dame is a 29.5-point favorite, which tells you plenty about how oddsmakers see that one.
Another matchup with some real intrigue is Virginia Tech at Maryland. It’s not a giant national showcase, but it does bring a Big Ten-ACC collision with both teams off to clean starts.
Maryland has handled business with a 62-0 win over Hampton and a 38-14 win over UConn, while Virginia Tech has rolled past VMI 73-3 and Old Dominion 43-21. The Hokies are favored by 3.0, so this one should be tight.
Then there’s Purdue at UCLA, which opens Big Ten play for both. The Bruins are a 14.0-point favorite, but the game still carries some uncertainty because of UCLA’s passing game and injuries. Even with the expectation that UCLA controls things, the late kickoff factor could make it feel like a long night for Purdue.
The rest of the Big Ten schedule is loaded with heavy favorites, starting with Friday night’s Portland State at No. 21 Oregon matchup, where the Ducks are laying 57.5.
Ohio State is a massive 52.5-point favorite against Kent State, while Penn State is favored by 41.5 over Buffalo. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Washington are all expected to win comfortably as well.
USC’s visit to Rutgers stands out among the conference games. The Trojans are 3-0 and come in as 22.5-point favorites against a Rutgers team that is still looking for its first win.
Michigan hosts UTEP as a 35.5-point favorite, Indiana takes on Western Kentucky as a 44.5-point favorite, and Iowa is a 39.0-point favorite against Northern Iowa. Nebraska is favored by 24.5 against North Dakota, while Washington is a 42.5-point favorite against Eastern Washington.
Colorado at Northwestern is another small but interesting game on the schedule, with Northwestern favored by 3.5. But from a Big Ten standpoint, the main attraction in Week 3 is simple: a handful of conference games are finally here, and the league’s heavy hitters are mostly expected to handle business.
In Other News...
UCLA Sends A Clear Warning As Purdue Week Exposes One Concern
UCLAs weekly press conference circuit offered a pretty good snapshot of where the Bruins stand heading into Purdue week: encouraged by what they saw from quarterback Nico Iamaleava against San Diego State, but still sorting through some sloppier moments in practice that the staff would rather not repeat. Chip Kellys assessment of Iamaleava helped reinforce the belief that the offense has a higher ceiling, while Dean Kennedys admission that earlier sessions were not up to standard served as a useful reminder that progress around this team is still being judged day by day.
On the other side of the ball, Colin Hitschler spent part of the week laying out the challenge of Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne, a matchup that should test UCLAs discipline and communication. The late kickoff also adds another layer, because game-day routines will need to hold up when the usual rhythm is pushed back. For a Bruins team trying to build momentum, the concern is not whether the talent is there, but whether the details stay sharp enough when the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's First Real Test Could Hinge On These Emerging Bruins
UCLAs trip to Purdue arrives with enough early-season optimism to make the matchup feel like a checkpoint as much as a measuring stick. The Bruins have already shown enough to believe they can open 3-0, but this is the kind of game where the new faces and emerging contributors have to hold up under real pressure. Morgan has quickly become a top receiving option, while linebackers Woods and Omosigho have given the defense a steadier middle, and Landon Ellis is expected back after dealing with a head injury, adding another layer to the passing game.
Purdue brings its own challenge with running back Fame Ijeboi, whose production could put UCLAs run defense in a stressful spot. That is where the Bruins first real test may be decided, with the front seven needing to match Purdues physicality and the offense needing enough balance to keep pace. For UCLA, the question is not just whether the early momentum is real, but whether these rising players can help carry it through a game that should reveal a lot more about this team. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Dailey Jr. Gave UCLA Fans An Encouraging Summer Sign
Eric Dailey Jr. spent part of the summer giving UCLA fans a reminder of why his arrival matters, even in a setting far from Westwood. In Wuhan, China, the Bruins forward was a force for Team USA at the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup, where he finished as the teams leading scorer and rebounder while playing under coach Tavaras Hardy.
Team USA went 2-2 in pool play and had to navigate the tournament with only three healthy players after Alex Fudges injury, a tough setup in a format where every possession is magnified. Dailey still managed 28 points and 21 rebounds across five games, a productive showing that offered UCLA a useful glimpse of his versatility and toughness, even if the final result in the quarterfinals left a little more to be desired. [Read more 🡒]