Week 3 Big Ten Previews: Trojans Ready to Roll Purdue

New Mexico Lobos at UCLA Bruins

Friday, September 12
7:00 PM PT, Big Ten Network

Line: UCLA –15.5
Over/Under: 53.5

For the second week in a row, we have a Big Ten vs Mountain West matchup. And for the second straight week, the contest involves UCLA.

The Bruins have to hope this week’s game in the Rose Bowl goes better than last week’s trip to Las Vegas.

UCLA finished strong against the Rebels, racking up 318 yards in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a slow start.

New Mexico is also facing a Big Ten opponent for the second time this season, and the outcome ends better the their season opener at Michigan.

Like the Bruins, the Lobos were also slow out of the gate, falling behind to the Wolverines 17-0 in the second quarter before getting things going a bit.

The Bruins should be able to carry the strong offensive performance they ended last week into this one. After two games, the Lobos are 111th  in the nation against the pass, surrendering 252.5 yards per outing.

UNM has also been pretty bad against the run to open the season, ranking 101st in the nation in that category.

If Nico Iamaleava and the UCLA offense are not able to get going early and often, things are a lot worse than they appear for the winless Bruins.

The UCLA defense has also had its struggles this season, allowing 421.5 yards per game, ranking 111th in the nation.

The Lobos struggled to get the ground game going against Michigan, but were able to move the ball through the air.

Now, the Blue and Gold of the Bruins will not be confused with the Maize and Blue of that Wolverine run defense. UCLA has yet to stop anyone this season on the ground, allowing 217 yards per game.

In the win against Idaho State last week, the Lobos ran the ball at will. This will be a test for the UCLA run defense.

We will see where both of these units—the UNM offense and UCLA defense—really stand this week, and that could give us some insights into how the rest of the season may play out.

Either way, I like both offenses to move the ball and score some points. That 53.5 points total looks high, but I think it goes over. This one seems like a 38-20 type of game, in which UCLA pulls away late.

Against the spread: UCLA
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: UCLA

No. 4 Oregon Ducks at Northwestern Wildcats

Saturday, September 13
9:00 AM PT, FOX

Line: Oregon –27.5
Over/Under: 48.5

The Big Ten opener for both schools sees one of the hottest teams in the nation heads east for an early kickoff.

Oregon has been dominant this season and was nearly perfect in all phases of the game in their beatdown of Oklahoma State last week.

The Ducks are averaging 64 points per game and have scored at least 50 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2018.

UO has been just as impressive defensively, allowing just 10 points per game.  The Ducks are the only FBS team in the nation to rank in the Top 10 in both scoring offense and defense.

Last season, the issues early were keeping the QB protected; this season, that issue is long gone. Oregon has yet to allow a sack and has only given up three tackles for loss in two games.

Dante Moore has thrived in a clean pocket. Northwestern has produced three sacks in their two game this season but two of those came against lowly Western Illinois. Moore should be able to pick apart the Wildcats defense.

Against Tulane, NU was only able to produce just 3.8 yards per play on offense as the production was not there. The Oregon defense will make it difficult for Northwestern to mount much of an attack at all.

The Ducks have yet to lose a Big Ten regular-season game, I don’t think the first one is coming in this one.

Against the spread: Oregon
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: Oregon

Wisconsin Badgers at No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide

Saturday, September 13
9:00 AM PT, ABC

Line: Alabama –20.5
Over/Under: 46.5

This one features a pair of coaches who find themselves sitting on seats that are at the very least warming. The teams met last season in Madison, resulting in a 42-10 win for the Crimson Tide.

I don’t think we will see that many total points in this one.

The Wisconsin defense has allowed just 10 total points this season. Granted, the opposition has not been great. Alabama scored a bunch against ULM, but the offense was stagnant in the opener at Florida State.

The big issue in the loss to FSU for the Tide was the defense, and the linebackers in particular. Wisconsin lost Billy Edwards in the opener, and his status is in doubt for this one.

Danny O’Neil, formerly of San Diego State, stepped in last week and delivered the most passing yards ever in a Badger QB starting debut with 283 against the Blue Raiders.

Now, Middle Tennessee is a bad team, so slow reaction from the linebackers could be the difference. Alabama has yet to record a sack this season, so if the QB can deliver, the Badgers could pull the upset.

The Tide will roll with Ty Simpson at QB, who was a perfect 17 for 17 in the win last week. Against FSU, he was pressured and sacked three times, and his completion rate was just 53%.

Needless to say, the line play on both sides of the ball will be big in this one.

Alabama has won 85 consecutive games against unranked opponents at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with the last loss coming in 2007 to ULM. I think that streak runs to 86 on Saturday.

Against the spread: Wisconsin
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Alabama

USC Trojans at Purdue Boilermakers

Saturday, September 13
12:30 PM PT, CBS

Line: USC –21
Over/Under: 58.5

Is Purdue a better team than they were last season? Probably.

Is USC a better team than they were last season? Most definitely. USC was a much better squad than the Boilers in 2024, and this season, they are far superior.

Through two games this season, the Trojans have scored 132 points and outscored their opponents by 99. The offense is clicking with explosive plays, and Jayden Maiava has been as good as it gets so far.

In just over five quarters of play this season, the QB has thrown for 707 yards and six TDs. He has the most passing yards in the Big Ten by 100 yards and has done so on the second fewest passing attempts in the league.

Purdue has gotten good play at QB from Ryan Browne so far this season and the veteran looks to be in good command of Odom’s offense but the real key to the offense is RB Devin Mockobee.

He is good enough that he will churn out some yards, but the Trojans should keep the explosive runs at bay.

With his two wins to open his tenure at Purdue, Barry Odom is the first head coach to open with a 2-0 mark in his debut season in West Lafayette since Cleo O’Donnell did so in 1916.

O’Donnell lost game three that season, Odom is also going to lose Game Three.

Against the spread: USC
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: USC

Western Michigan Broncos at No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini

Saturday, September 13
4:00 PM PT, FS1

Line: Illinois –27.5
Over/Under: 50.5

Well, they tell me to pick six games to highlight each week. This one is the sixth one.

Out of the possible options to choose from, these seemed to be the most intriguing, only because I have not written about Illinois yet.

Of the other FBS only matchups I have already covered Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State at some point….So here we are.

Illinois has won six in a row, tied for the longest active streak in the nation. The Illini are coming off a big win over Duke last week in which they scored 45 points, the most in a road game for the program since 2015.

Next week, the Illini have a big one at Indiana. Do I smell a trap game?

Illinois has forced six turnovers this season and has yet to give it away. WMU is not forcing many takeaways. The Broncos have fallen twice this season at Michigan State and at home to North Texas.

Luke Altmyer and this offense should be able to produce at will, while the defense should limit WMU at every turn. This will not be a trap game for Illinois.

Look for a dominant performance, the cake will be baked early and the Illini will rest the starters.

Against the spread: Illinois
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: Illinois

Minnesota Golden Gophers at California Golden Bears

Saturday, September 13
7:30 PM PT, ESPN

Line: Minnesota –1.5
Over/Under: 42.5

This one is a fun nonconference matchup. The Bears and Gophers have both been Golden this season as they are off to a pair of 2-0 starts.

Cal is starting hot for the second straight season and coming off a defensive performance against Texas Southern, in which they allowed just 194 yards of offense, the fewest they have allowed in a contest since 2021.

Minnesota’s defense has been even more potent. Minnesota is allowing just 96.5 yards per game this season. Yes, that is total yards—65 passing and 31.5 on the ground.

That venerable passing defense will get a test this week from Cal and their true freshman signal caller Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. The Bears are 31st in the nation throwing the ball for 264 yards per game this season.

The real key to this one will be the Minnesota rushing attack against the Cal run defense. As good as the young QB has been for the Bears, the strength of this squad is in the middle of the defense.

Cade Uluave and that LB unit will be tested by a Gopher team that likes to pound the ball on the ground. The Gophers are averaging 205.5 yards on the ground, led by Darius Taylor and Grant Washington.

Taylor is banged up and his stutus in up in the air. That could be big plus for Cal, but Minnesota has a stable of talented ball carriers. The Bear defense has held opponents to just 58.5 yards rushing per game in 2025.

Whoever wins this battle of rushing attack vs. run defense will likely win the game.

Against the spread: Minnesota
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Minnesota

[Next Read: Week 3 Big 12 Previews]