Category: Big Ten

Big Ten Football Schedule 2021: Winners, Losers, 5 Things You Need To Know

Big Ten football schedule 2021 – what are the five things you need to know? What are the five things that matter?

Big Ten football schedule 2021 – what are the five things you need to know? What are the five things that matter?

Big Ten Football Schedule 2021: 5 Things You Need To Know

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Big Ten Schedules, Analysis, Best/Worst Scenarios
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan St | Ohio St | Penn St | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota | Nebraska
Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin

Here are five things about the 2021 Big Ten football schedule that matter including who misses the big teams from the other division, the non-conference analysis, the one big difference in this year’s slate, the winners and losers, and starting out with …

5.  Who gets the rested teams?

The Big Ten does a terrific job of not letting any one team’s schedule get loaded up with games against teams that get a break. If possible, everyone would love to have an extra week to rest and prepare for Ohio State, Wisconsin, or Penn State, but that doesn’t happen.

Ask Alabama over in the SEC what it’s been like over the years to seemingly get everyone with fresh legs.

Every team gets at least one week off, and every team has at least one total layup against an FCS team or against a lightweight FBSer. What teams then get hit with the relaxed opponents?

Again, the Big Ten does a good job of this. It’s relatively fair.

Big Ten East

Indiana
The open date comes before: Michigan State, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: Idaho, Sept. 11 before Cincinnati

Maryland
The open date comes before: at Minnesota, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: Howard, Sept. 11 before at Illinois

Michigan
The open date comes before: Northwestern, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …)  Northern Illinois, Sept. 18 before Rutgers

Michigan State
The open date comes before: Michigan, Oct. 30
The FCS scrimmage:  Youngstown State, Sept. 11 before at Miami

Ohio State
The open date comes before: at Indiana, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …)  Akron, Sept. 25 before at Rutgers

 Penn State
The open date comes before: Illinois, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: Villanova, Sept. 25 before Indiana

Rutgers
The open date comes before: at Illinois, Oct. 30
The FCS scrimmage: Delaware, Sept. 18 before at Michigan

Big Ten West

Illinois
The open date comes before: at Penn State, Oct. 23; at Iowa, Nov. 20
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …)  Charlotte before Wisconsin

Iowa
The open date comes before: at Wisconsin, Oct. 30
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) Kent State before at Colorado State

Minnesota
The open date comes before: Nebraska, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) Bowling Green before at Purdue

Nebraska
The open date comes before: Buffalo, Sept. 11; Purdue, Oct. 23
The FCS scrimmage: SE Louisiana, Nov. 13 before at Wisconsin

Northwestern
The open date comes before: Rutgers, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: Indiana State, Sept. 11 before at Duke

Purdue
The open date comes before: at Iowa, Oct. 16
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) at UConn, Sept. 11 before at Notre Dame

Wisconsin
The open date comes before: Notre Dame (in Chicago), Sept. 25
The FCS scrimmage: (none, so easiest game …) Eastern Michigan, Sept. 11 before Notre Dame two weeks later

– The games against the teams from the other division

NEXT: Who misses the big boys from the other division?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Iowa vs Indiana Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Indiana Hoosiers prediction and college basketball game preview.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Indiana Hoosiers prediction and college basketball game preview.

Iowa vs Indiana Broadcast

Date: Sunday, February 7
Game Time:12:00 ET
Venue: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, IN
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Iowa (13-5) vs Indiana (9-8) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Iowa Will Win

It’s been a rough run over the last few games for the Hawkeyes, but the team is still able to score, the outside shooting is great, and the problems are almost all on the defensive side.

There are plenty of offensive rebounds on the rare times when the shooting is off, and the threes are dropping. If Indiana is off at all – the team is usually miserable from three and doesn’t do enough on the boards to matchup with the Hawkeyes – then Iowa has the firepower to put this away with a big run.

However …

Why Indiana Will Win

The Hoosiers didn’t have any problems scoring a few games ago in a shocking 81-69 road win over the Hawkeyes.

Iowa isn’t averse to playing defense, but it’s just not very good at it. Just about everyone is able to score at will with 80 being the magic mark for the league’s worst scoring D.

Iowa is 1-5 when allowing 80 points or more, and three of those losses came in the last four games.

Everyone is getting fat from three against this defense with Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State having no problems whatsoever coming up with points when needed.

Indiana doesn’t normally have the scoring pop, but it’s at home, so …

What’s Going To Happen

Being in Simon Skjodt has been a problem for the Hoosiers. In their last five games they’re 0-3 at home and 2-0 on the road, but Iowa isn’t having a whole lot of luck anywhere because of that D.

The relentless Hawkeye offense that had one of its worst shooting days of the season against IU the first time around won’t be that bad again. The defense will continue to give up way too many easy baskets and won’t force enough mistakes, but the offense will make up for it.

Iowa vs Indiana Prediction, Line

Iowa 82, Indiana 77
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Iowa -3, o/u: 152
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

5: Waste Management Open final round
1: Puppy Bowl
-10: Kitten Bowl

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Purdue vs Northwestern Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats prediction and college basketball game preview.

Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats prediction and college basketball game preview.

Purdue vs Northwestern Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 6
Game Time: 4:30 ET
Venue: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN
Network:BTN

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Purdue (12-7) vs Northwestern (6-9) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Northwestern Will Win

The defense has to stop Purdue’s outside shooters.

This is a wildly inconsistent Boilermaker team that’s been able to get by from time to time when the threes aren’t falling, but when they’re off they’re really off.

How off? Purdue has failed to hit more than 25% from three four of the last five games and four of their last six.

Northwestern might struggle at guarding the three, but the defense isn’t all that bad, it’s been okay at times over the last few games at keeping things from getting out of hand, and the team is okay from three.

Why Purdue Will Win

Northwestern doesn’t score enough, and it doesn’t make life easy with second chance points – offensive rebounds are too often a rumor.

Purdue might not always shoot well, but it rebounds just about everything, it’s good enough on the offensive boards, and it can play a little defense, too.

There have been a few off days throughout the season, but for the most part, the team has tightened up defensively – it hasn’t allowed more than 72 points in any game in 2021.

What’s Going To Happen

This isn’t going to be the game when the Northwestern offense gets healthy.

Purdue is struggling a bit, and it has a way of letting teams hang around a bit too often, but it ends up winning. It’ll get out to a good early start and Northwestern won’t get hot enough from the outside to come back in the second half.

Purdue vs Northwestern Prediction, Line

Purdue 75, Northwestern 62
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Purdue -7.5, o/u: 137
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2

5: Watching Super Bowl on the coach (with power nap)
1: Watching Super Bowl with other people

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Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and college basketball game preview.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 6
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Wisconsin (14-5) vs Illinois (12-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Can the Badgers put together two decent shooting games in a row, at least from the outside?

They don’t have to be lights out from the field to win games – they know hot to clamp down when they have to – but threes matter. They were dead-cold on the road against Penn State and were never in it, and then in a rematch a few days later hit half of their threes and won easily.

They have yet to lose this year when hitting 40% from three, and only lost once when hitting 33% or better – Illinois is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten at defending from three. The Illini D has allowed 40% or more from there in four of the last five games and five of the last seven.

Why Illinois Will Win

Illinois continues to be outstanding on the boards. They skewed the stats with a ton of big boarding games over the first half of the season, but they really are just that good at going to grab misses.

This isn’t a bad rebounding Badger team, but there aren’t a slew of offensive boards – which is what happens when you hit your shots – and for all of the great things the defense does, it doesn’t take the ball away. Illinois moves the ball around too well and should be able to avoid a slew of big mistakes for easy UW points.

What’s Going To Happen

Illinois will be fine at home.

Wisconsin has alternated win-loss-win-loss-win over the last five games, and again, it’s all about whether or not it’s hitting from the outside. Illinois is shooting too well, too good on the boards, and it doesn’t turn the ball over enough to give away a close fight.

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Illinois 75, Wisconsin 69
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Illinois -4.5, o/u: 136.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Watching Super Bowl on the coach (with power nap)
1: Watching Super Bowl with other people

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Wisconsin Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Wisconsin Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Penn State

Sept. 11 Eastern Michigan

Sept. 18 OPEN DATE

Sept. 25 Notre Dame (in Chicago)

Oct. 2 Michigan

Oct. 9 at Illinois

Oct. 16 Army

Oct. 23 at Purdue

Oct. 30 Iowa

Nov. 6 at Rutgers

Nov. 13 Northwestern

Nov. 20 Nebraska

Nov. 27 at Minnesota

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The East: Michigan, Penn State, at Rutgers

Missed Teams From The East: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule Analysis: It’s not going to be a boring first half of the season.

On the negative side, the Badgers have to play Michigan and Penn State from the East. On the positive side, both games are at home. Those two along with the date with Notre Dame in Chicago come in the first games, and if that wasn’t annoying enough, playing Army in the middle of two road games stinks.

Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska are all in Camp Randall in the second half of the year, but the regular season finale is at Minnesota.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: The Badgers take care of home. They beat Penn State, Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska in Madison, and they hit the knuckleball against Army. Start there, throw in a great win over Notre Dame, and they can afford one off day against Minnesota or in one of those nasty home dates and still be in the College Football Playoff hunt.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: Realistically this won’t be a losing season, but there are enough gaffes early to finish with just six to seven wins.

The wheels come off right away. The Badgers lose to both Penn State and Michigan, and start 1-3 with a loss to the Irish. Things get even rougher after not handling the Army option running game one week, and the Purdue passing attack the following week.

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Rutgers Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Rutgers Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Temple

Sept. 11 at Syracuse

Sept. 18 Delaware

Sept. 25 at Michigan

Oct. 2 Ohio State

Oct. 9 Michigan State

Oct. 16 at Northwestern

Oct. 23 OPEN DATE

Oct. 30 at Illinois

Nov. 6 Wisconsin

Nov. 13 at Indiana

Nov. 20 at Penn State

Nov. 27 Maryland

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The West: at Illinois, at Northwestern, Wisconsin

Missed Teams From The West: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule Analysis: COMING

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: COMING

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: COMING

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Purdue Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Purdue Boilermakers football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Purdue Boilermakers football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Purdue Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Oregon State

Sept. 11 at UConn

Sept. 18 at Notre Dame

Sept. 25 Illinois

Oct. 2 Minnesota

Oct. 9 OPEN DATE

Oct. 16 at Iowa

Oct. 23 Wisconsin

Oct. 30 at Nebraska

Nov. 6 Michigan State

Nov. 13 at Ohio State

Nov. 20 at Northwestern

Nov. 27 Indiana

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The East: Indiana, Michigan State at Ohio State

Missed Teams From The East: Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers

Purdue Boilermakers Football Schedule Analysis: COMING

Purdue Boilermakers Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: COMING

Purdue Boilermakers Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: COMING

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Penn State Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Penn State Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 4 at Wisconsin

Sept. 11 Ball State

Sept. 18 Auburn

Sept. 25 Villanova

Oct. 2 Indiana

Oct. 9 at Iowa

Oct. 16 OPEN DATE

Oct. 23 Illinois

Oct. 30 at Ohio State

Nov. 6 at Maryland

Nov. 13 Michigan

Nov. 20 Rutgers

Nov. 27 at Michigan State

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The West: Illinois, at Iowa, at Wisconsin

Missed Teams From The West: Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue

Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule Analysis: COMING

Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: COMING

Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: COMING

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Northwestern Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Northwestern Wildcats football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Northwestern Wildcats football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Northwestern Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Michigan State

Sept. 11 Indiana State

Sept. 18 at Duke

Sept. 25 Ohio

Oct. 2 at Nebraska

Oct. 9 OPEN DATE

Oct. 16 Rutgers

Oct. 23 at Michigan

Oct. 30 Minnesota

Nov. 6 Iowa

Nov. 13 at Wisconsin

Nov. 20 Purdue

Nov. 27 at Illinois

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The East: at Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers

Missed Teams From The East: Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State

Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule Analysis: COMING

Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: COMING

Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: COMING

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Ohio State Football Schedule 2021: Analysis, Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

Breaking down and analyzing the 2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football schedule with the best and worst case scenarios.

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Ohio State Football Schedule 2021

Full schedule analysis with best and worst scenarios below

– 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule

Sept. 2 at Minnesota

Sept. 11 Oregon

Sept. 18 Tulsa

Sept. 25 Akron

Oct. 2 at Rutgers

Oct. 9 Maryland

Oct. 16 OPEN DATE

Oct. 23 at Indiana

Oct. 30 Penn State

Nov. 6 at Nebraska

Nov. 13 Purdue

Nov. 20 Michigan State

Nov. 27 at Michigan

Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship (in Indianapolis)

Games vs. The West: at Minnesota, at Nebraska, Purdue

Missed Teams From The West: Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule Analysis: If you’re going to miss four teams from the Big Ten West, you’re a little ticked that you’re not getting Illinois, but if you’re missing Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern, there’s no beef whatsoever.

The home game against Oregon will be what everyone focuses on, but it doesn’t really matter – the Buckeyes should be able to roll through the rest of the slate. The road dates at Minnesota, Nebraska and Indiana will hardly be layups, but if Ohio State is national championship good, those can’t be a problem. Put it this way – Alabama wins all three of those games in ugly fashion.

The Michigan game is in Ann Arbor, but that’s hardly matters to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule Best Case Scenario: Ohio State rips through the schedule without breathing too hard. It beats Oregon, destroys Indiana after getting a week off to rest, and is happy to get Penn State at home.

There’s a bit of a brain-cramp battle at some point – like at Nebraska or maybe on the wrong day at home against Penn State – but the 12-0 team rolls into yet another Big Ten Championship.

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule Worst Case Scenario: The Buckeyes drop the date with the Ducks to put the pressure on the rest of the way, and they misfire on one other game. They lose to Penn State, and worst of all, they finally get caught by Michigan to not only make it another year without a national championship, but it’ll be a year without a Big Ten title.

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