OT: 2016 B1G Football Season Openers: IU and Minnesota/Open Thread

Submitted by Steves_Wolverines on

Indiana @ FIU 7:30 PM ET on ESPNU and WatchESPN

Two B1G teams start their season tonight. Indiana starts the night off with the 2nd leg of their home/home with FIU. The Hoosiers beat FIU 36-22 last season in Bloomington. Tonight, they start their season in Miami. I don't know anything about FIU, other than seeing that they finished 5-7 last year, and we'll get another chance to see them against a B1G team, as they host Maryland next week. We are familiar with Team Chaos. They will likely score a lot of points. They will likely give up a lot of points. Should be a fun game to watch if you like high scoring affairs.

Oregon St @ Minnesota 9:00 PM ET on BTN

The headline for this game is future 1st rounder Mitch Leidner. Last season, Minnesota finished 6-7, beating the bad teams and losing to the good teams. This year, they are an upset darling to compete as B1G West Champs. They've got some good pieces, and I do think they'll actually beat one of the good teams this year (Wisconsin perhaps?). As for Oregon State, well, they were terrible last season. They finished 2-10. Maybe they'll be better this year? 

Predictions

Indiana 48 - FIU 27

Minnesota 31 - Oregon State 17

 

EDIT: I rushed this in the hopes of having a positive post to cover up all the calamities we've seen today. 

Teams of interest (to college football fans) also starting their seasons today:

#19 Louisville vs. Charlotte 7:00 pm EST on ACCN
#9 Tennessee vs. Appalachian St. 7:30 PM EST on SECN
South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt 8:00 PM EST on ESPN
(DII) GVSU vs. Tiffin 7:00 PM on ESPN3 and WatchESPN (GVSU is my alma mater)

Danwillhor

September 1st, 2016 at 9:25 PM ^

DeBord or Loeffler called Carr's final game? I've always heard it was one or the other by different people. Neither is a stud OC but I can't see DeBord calling that open and brilliant of a game.

Avant's Hands

September 1st, 2016 at 9:25 PM ^

I think that the was right call on the Minnesota targeting call. It wasn't a pure spear but he went and hit a guy who wasn't paying attention right under the chin and made contact with his helmet first. That will always get called (unles you are hitting Rudock).

Also, that was a total dick move after it was really clear that the ball was incomplete. And it cost Minnesota 7 points. Have to be smarter than that.

wahooverine

September 1st, 2016 at 9:44 PM ^

Does Danny Kanell have the most punchable face and voice in all of sports broadcasting? I hate everything that come out of his stupid mouth. No comment even necessary for Galloway. How can ESPN honestly think.."yep these are the two best guys for the job" ?

mi93

September 1st, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^

Does it bug anyone that the WWL is calling this the best opening weekend EVUH and we aren't part of the line-up?

Feels like we should be playing ND this weekend for it to be right.

m1jjb00

September 1st, 2016 at 10:04 PM ^

IU looks like it has major tackle problems

Saw Myrick of Minnesota, who's supposedly a very good corner just left on a crossing pattern in man.  Yeah, it's hard and there was a bit of a pick, but it looked like the receiver was leaving him.  Gophers made it up on a sack-fumble on the next play, but still, it's Oregon State.

m1jjb00

September 1st, 2016 at 10:04 PM ^

IU looks like it has major tackle problems

Saw Myrick of Minnesota, who's supposedly a very good corner just left on a crossing pattern in man.  Yeah, it's hard and there was a bit of a pick, but it looked like the receiver was leaving him.  Gophers made it up on a sack-fumble on the next play, but still, it's Oregon State.

SD Larry

September 1st, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

checking in on this game my cable company is now including BTN High Def.  If this holds, may never see a Michigan game in standard resolution again.  Sweet.  Hope  some of my fellow Wolverine fans and MGoBlog enthusiaists get the same pleasant surprise tonight or soon.

stephenrjking

September 1st, 2016 at 10:22 PM ^

Not totally true. I live in Minnesota's zone, and on occasion Michigan and Minnesota will be broadcast by BTN at the same time. In those situations the out-of-market game gets shunted to the alternate BTN channel, which on my system is low-def. Happens to me once or twice a year. Watch the listings.

Mr. Yost

September 1st, 2016 at 10:53 PM ^

I HATE poor clock management. It's my ultimate pet peeve. It's literally the ONE thing that I can do at a D1 football level.

The fact that you have 1 timeout and are moving the ball against a prevent defense is plenty...even if you want to play it safe and run the ball, I'm okay with that...but get as many plays as you can get!