(11-04-2021 04:32 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 04:54 AM)schmolik Wrote:  I mentioned this in the Man Cave thread this week.

For the first time this season, FOX is airing a prime time Big Ten game, Indiana at Michigan. They are also starting the game at 7:30pm ET instead of the usual start time of 8pm ET. ABC's Saturday Night Football starts at 7:30pm. This week on ABC is Oregon at Washington, the Pac-12. By the Pac-12's contract, at least one game per year must air in prime time on the East Coast. ABC decided to bite the bullet this week.

That seems like a strange matchup to go up against Oregon at Washington. Michigan is at home, they are favored by 20 points. Indiana did beat Michigan last year, but that was the first time since 1987. Michigan is 59-10 against Indiana. Oregon vs UW is a rivalry game. They have been playing each other since 1900 and this is the 113th meeting. Oregon is a seven point favorite. There's no love lost between the Ducks and the Huskies and as you pointed out in another thread, the UW head coach has already started the trash talking, inadvertently.

(snip)

I agree that Indiana @ Michigan is not much of a matchup for FOX to put in prime time. Indiana has been a major disappointment this year.

But contractually, they might be obligated to show a B1G game in that slot, and there may not be anything better to show. Unfortunately, not all conference games are Ohio State vs Penn State.