Week 5: Getting the week started with Big Ten, Big East, and MAC previews. Welcome to Big Ten play Nebraska and South Florida sure is getting a lot of love as the only undefeated team in the Big (L)East.

Week 5 is here and TNG is feeling much better after a 7-1 showing in Week 4.  Some good games on tap as conference play starts to take shape.  Which Sparty team will show up?  Who isn't excited for Nebraska and Wisconsin under the lights?  and can South Florida continue their run?  We prime the pump for Week 5 in the Big Ten, Big East, and MAC.



B1G-

Indiana +16.5 vs. Penn St
Michigan -20 vs. Minnesota
Illinois -6.5 vs. Northwestern
Ohio St -3 vs. Michigan St
Wisconsin -9.5 vs. Nebraska




BIG EAST-

Pitt +3 vs. South Florida
Syracuse -3 vs. Rutgers
Cincinnati -14 @ Miami (OH)
Louisville -10.5 vs. Marshall
West Virginia -20.5 vs. Bowling Green



MAC-

Temple -7 vs. Toledo
Buffalo +28.5 @ Tennessee
Eastern Michigan -8.5 vs. Akron
Ohio -15.5 vs. Kent St
Western Michigan +3 @ Connecticut
Northern Illinois -9.5 @ Central Michigan





SUN BELT-

Arkansas St -12.5 @ Western Kentucky
North Texas +22 @ Tulsa
LA - Lafayette +9.5 vs. FAU
FIU OFF vs. Duke
Middle Tennessee St -22.5 vs. Memphis
Troy OFF vs. UAB




Marcus says...



Ohio St -3 vs. Michigan St
Sparty put a beat down on the hapless Central Michigan Chippewas last weekend to improve to 3-1.  That’s the upside.  The downside is that QB Kirk Cousins did not impress against a weak CMU defense and needs to improve, quickly, for MSU to compete for the Big Ten title.  The Buckeyes improved to 3-1 with a win over Colorado behind a gritty performance by the true freshmen QB Braxton Miller.  37 year old Joe Bauserman played poorly against Miami, so poorly that Coach Fickell decided to go with the athletic Miller.  As we said earlier in the year, the cupboard is not bare in Columbus and if Miller can captain the ship, they will be a factor in the conference race (well until the inevitable NCAA sanctions that is).  I don’t feel good about Sparty on the road given their performance at ND.  MSU only wins if the 3 headed monster at RB explodes and Sparty controls the ball.  Early feeling is OSU covers.



Wisconsin -9.5 vs. Nebraska
Wisconsin hosts Nebraska under the lights at Camp Randall on Saturday as the Huskers play their first Big Ten conference game.  Both teams are 4-0, but Vegas clearly likes the Badgers with a 9.5 point opening number.  Nebraska’s ground attack led by QB Taylor Martinez, continued to roll as they outlasted Washington last week in a shoot out.  Coach Pelini has to know his defense must play better to beat Wisconsin on the road.  The Badgers also continued to put points up on the board, overpowering South Dakota.  Russell Wilson has been a man among boys this season, completing over 75% of his passes and throwing for 11 TDs through 4 games.  Madison is embracing the transfer as if he was a Barry Alvarez recruit all along.  At the end of the day, 9.5 points is a big number to cover against the Husker option attack.  We’re leaning Nebraska and the points.



Pitt +3 vs. South Florida
The Panthers are getting little respect as home underdogs after two straight losses.  Pitt lost an ugly game against Notre Dame last week, watching a 4th quarter lead disappear.  QB Tino Sunseri talked about learning to finish games as they welcome in the 4-0 Bulls of South Florida.  USF beat ND in Week 1 and have been scoring in bunches, averaging 45.5 points per game.  QB BJ Daniels continues to be the real deal, albeit against fairly weak competition.  Pitt will be the Bulls toughest opponent to date, but will find a way to cover.



Western Michigan +3 @ Connecticut
The Broncos played well in Champaign-Urbana last weekend, but came up short in a loss to Illinois.  Two missed FGs and an inability to get a ground game going did the Broncos in.  On the other side of the ball, the Bronco run defense was atrocious as the Illini rushed for just under 300 yards.  Carder and White delivered another stellar performance, but had to watch from the sidelines as Illinois controlled the ball to seal the victory, dropping the Broncos to 2-2.  UConn hosts WMU sporting a 2-2 record as well.  The Huskies went on the road and knocked off Buffalo last week, as their defense held the Bulls to 3 points. Given Western’s run defense issues, UConn RB Lyle McCombs could be the key to the game.  If the Broncos can keep the Huskies off the field and allow Carder and White to put up points, they’ll get the W.  Gut feeling is WMU and the points.