03:20 PM ET  08.30 | And so begins the most glorious time of the year. The good news for all of the Big Ten (minus Northwestern and Minnesota) is that it's cupcake city and there should be little resistance for most teams. Northwestern has a competitive game, while Minnesota, well, they....it'll get better. Eventually

 

Cupcakes City

 

UNLV @ Wisconsin - We'll start off the boring right away. This will be a good time to see how well their two-headed running game. These two may not end up playing a long time, but Wisconsin is known to run up the score (maybe I'm still bitter). Wisconsin wins easily in a blowout 45-0.

 

Youngstown State @ MSU - Maybe one of the most interesting games, in my opinion, simply because I want to see Edwin Baker. He's written an awfully big check that he's going to have to perform incredibly to cash. Against YSU, he should have a big day. He'll need to to get to his 2000 yard goal. MSU wins as Baker gets 210 yards and 3 TDs, final score 35-7.

 

Akron @ OSU - First, a pet peeve. Don't ever expect me to refer to Ohio State as THE Ohio State. There's only one Ohio State in Ohio. Putting THE in front of it is unnecessary and arrogant. Rant finished.

 

As for the game, OSU should win easily, but it's going to be interesting to see who plays and how well they play. It'll also be interesting to see how well Luke Fickell has prepared his team. He has a seemingly impossible task as the coach, a team stripped of it's best player weeks before the season and without other players due to suspension. Despite all this, Ohio State wins, but not as easily as the others. OSU 38, Akron 10.

 

Indiana State @ PSU - This will likely be the least interesting of the games for everyone excluding PSU fans. This won't be anywhere near a close game and PSU could win blindfolded. This will be, however, a bit of a proving ground for who the QB will be for the team. Against ISU, they should face little resistance. And with their defense, they should have the ball a lot. The offense may not be efficient, but they'll have the ball too much to not win going away. 48-0, PSU wins.

 

Middle Tennessee State @ Purdue - All bias aside, this isn't as much a cupcake as the others. Purdue will have Robert Marve this year (No relation to Favre, but pronounce the same). He'll also have Keith Smith, the team's leading receiver with 91 catches and 1100 yards last year, returning. But the offensive line is inexperienced and the team's RB went down in spring practice. Purdue's talent will be too much for MTSU, but not by a lot. 31-13, Purdue.

 

Tennessee Tech @ Iowa - Given all the stock I have in Iowa, I hope this isn't close. I hope that Coker runs all over Tennessee Tech. I hope Micah Hyde has 2 INTs and 10 tackles. I hope the offense looks smooth outside of Coker. I hope the defense can replace Adrian Clayborn. For this game at least, my hopes should be met. Iowa 31-3.

 

Arkansas State @ Illinois - Not as much a cupcake and nearly into the level of mildly interesting with Minnesota and Northwestern. I don't think it'll be that bad, but Illinois is a mysterious team. Ron Zook was on the hot seat last year, and after a 3-9 year, I don't think the seat cooled any. Not much has been heard of the players. Despite that, it's Arkansas State, and they're awful. 24-10, Illinois.

 

Chattanooga @ Nebraska - Much of what I wrote about Iowa applies here. I'm high on Nebraska, but that's because they are a good team and less to do with the favorable schedule. Seeing if Taylor Martinez matured and if he's a better player now will be what to watch for here. Nebraska almost always has a great defense, it's the offense where the questions will be this year. I think Martinez will be much better this year, and he'll lead them to a blowout, 38-10.

 

Mildly Interesting

 

Western Michigan @ Michigan - I put this here only because I'm really interested as to what'll become of Denard Robinson. Hoke runs a pro-style offense and Robinson is not a pro-style QB. However, I don't think Hoke will force him into that type of role. I think this will be a very unique offense. You can't have someone of Robinson's talents and force him into a system he can't flourish in. All that said, I think Robinson will become even more dangerous this year. Michigan wins 42-17.

 

Ball State vs. Indiana at Lucas Oil - This is most likely the homer in me, but this game intrigues me. Kevin Wilson has talked the talk the whole time he's been here. He's put IU on the map with the recruitment of Gunner Kiel and he kept them there with his radio show blow-up. However, on the field, he's presented with a problem. In the depth chart released Monday, 2 QBs were listed as the possible starters, and Wilson said a 3rd could be used. Basically, he has no idea who's playing. There's Gunner's older brother Dusty, who's a pocket passer. There's Edward Wright-Baker, who's a runner with a decent arm, and there's Tre Roberson, who's a pure athlete. IU will win, but it'll be interesting how they do it. 31-21, IU.

 

Northwestern @ Boston College - Dan Persa might be one of the best QBs in the Big Ten and could win Northwestern many games, but the defense is awful. Every game this year will be a shootout. I think Northwestern can outshoot Boston College, 31-28.

 

You're the Cupcake, bud

 

Minnesota @ USC - Well this is pretty self explanatory. Minnesota is in rebuilding mode. I like the Jerry Kill hiring for them and I think it'll work out. But right now, they are in a bad place. USC wins big, 35-10.

 

The Next Best 3

 

1. Oregon @ LSU - This game may have lost some luster, but it'll still be a great game. LSU losing it's QB hurts, but not a ton as he isn't Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy for that team. I think LSU rises over the adversity still and wins 28-24.

 

2. Boise State @ Georgia - FINALLY! Boise State gets to battle a big dog. And not only do they get a big boy, they get a legit SEC contender. Boise State is missing Pettis and Young, but returning Kellen Moore. That alone makes this a tough game. And honestly, I think Boise State pulls this one off. Boise 21-17.

 

3. TCU @ Baylor - There are few interesting games after these two, but this one is intriguing. TCU lost half it's starters, but is still ranked 14th. Baylor has Robert Griffin and lots of talent at wide-out. I think TCU is overrated and I'm putting them on upset alert. Baylor over TCU 24-14.