Don’t do it. Just don’t.
This is typically an article where someone will explain the key talking points and matchups of this week’s football game. Well this week, two of the worst teams in the Big Ten are facing each other. Unless you are a true sicko (which you might be if you are reading this website), there are better games out there to watch. So instead of three things to watch in the Northwestern game, I’m going to give you three other things to watch instead.
Duke at Miami (FL) – 11:00 a.m.
The storylines in this game are electric. The Hurricanes are facing their former coach in Manny Diaz in what is their best season since Diaz was Miami’s defensive coordinator. Can Diaz play spoiler during a revenge year for Miami or will Mario Cristobal prove that him replacing Diaz was the correct move? Northwestern fans have watched Jack Lausch throw for less than 100 yards in the previous two games. Cam Ward throws for 100 yards in his sleep. Miami is coming off of a smackdown of its rival, FSU, while Duke’s previous game against SMU had one of the crazier endings of the weekend. On the other hand, Northwestern has played three straight games that could have been turned off early in the fourth quarter. The ‘Cats have also already seen Duke once this year. Why not watch the Blue Devils once again since next year will be the first time in the last four years where the two teams do not meet? Tune in to see two teams who are already bowl eligible play since Northwestern won’t be sniffing that territory anytime soon.
Ohio State at Penn State – 11:00 a.m.
I could pretend like you should watch this game in order to scout a future Northwestern opponent but I wouldn’t be fooling anybody. Realistically, the Wildcats won’t play the Buckeyes close in a few weeks at Wrigley Field and the same would be true if they faced off against the Nittany Lions. However, this game should still be awesome. If we were still in the four team playoff system, this game would essentially be an elimination game. Nonetheless, this game means a ton for deciding who could potentially play in the Big Ten title game. It’s unfortunate the game is being played so early in the day, preventing us from an incredible possible white out atmosphere in University Park but it is still going to be a much better viewing experience than the offensive snooze fest that will be ongoing in West Lafayette.
Massachusetts at Mississippi State – 3:15 p.m.
Do I have any idea why this game got scheduled so late in the season? No. This feels like prime SEC conference play time but we get this game instead. However, this game gives the real college football sickos something awesome to watch. If you are sicko enough to watch Northwestern play Purdue, you are sicko enough to watch the one-win Bulldogs take on the two-win Minutemen. While Massachusetts has already gotten steamrolled by an SEC team in Missouri earlier this season, Mississippi State is no ordinary SEC team. In fact, the Bulldogs are similar to Purdue in the fact that both teams are yet to beat an FBS team. The same is true for Massachusetts, although its riding high after a dominant win over Wagner. This game probably won’t get huge viewership numbers so you can help add to it! Besides, the Minutemen were also 1-11 a few years ago so they know what Northwestern has gone through!