Mitten Masterkey: Week 2

Welcome to the Week 2 edition of the Mitten Masterkey, a one-stop-shop for the Mitten teams going into the weekend.

Along with the game schedule and TV listings, we've got predictions, some reading from the week, and a bit of analysis and prediction for the weekend beyond straight up picks.

And from noon to the end of the night, there should be meaningful action for all five of the Mitten teams. Here's your guide to it all.

The schedule and TV assignments

All games are Saturday this week

Noon: Central Michigan at Pitt, ESPNU/ESPN streaming

3:30 p.m.: North Texas at Western Michigan, ESPN+ streaming

7:00 p.m.: LIU at Eastern Michigan, ESPN+ streaming

7:30 p.m.: Boston College at Michigan State, NBC/Peacock streaming

7:30 p.m.: Michigan at Oklahoma, ABC/ESPN streaming

And for the uninitiated, this master schedule absolutely rocks (just be aware times are central).

Pregame, halftime reading from Mitten Football, others

• How Michigan expects Bryce Underwood to handle his first road start (Detroit News, Sept. 1)
• On Eastern Michigan righting the ship defensively after a porous opener (Mitten Football, Sept. 2)
• Jack Velling’s mental appreciation after a foot injury cost him much of camp (Detroit News, Sept. 2)
• Previewing MSU’s deep defense handling Boston College in a big early test (Mitten Football, Sept. 3)
• Cole Sullivan ready to step in for Jaishawn Barham in 1st half vs. OU (Detroit Free Press, Sept. 3) 
• Dame Tucker emerging as defensive weapon for Western Michigan (Mitten Football, Sept. 4)
• MSU’s offense wants to put second-half lulls behind it (Detroit Free Press, Sept. 5)

Picks and preview

Check them out here with longer previews, but for a brief version (scores not included):

• Pitt over Central Michigan
• Western Michigan over North Texas
• Eastern Michigan over LIU
• Michigan State over Boston College
• Oklahoma over Michigan

A freshman to watch

It basically has to be Underwood this week. After looking the part in his starting debut for the Wolverines, the challenge jumps more than a few notches for Underwood, making his second college start on the road at Oklahoma. 

Along with the challenges of going on the road in a particularly hostile environment, the specific opponent, namely head coach Brent Venables and his penchant for cooking up dastardly defensive gameplans when given a head start, has the tools to make life hell for the young Wolverines signal caller. 

Underwood will certainly need his offensive line and the run game to play their roles, but a lot can be learned about his ability to stay in control of himself and in command of the offense when the pressure really cranks up. Even in a loss, seeing Underwood stay calm, cool and collected and not melt down would be a notable data point. 

A unit to watch

After a paltry opener against a Power 4 defense, Western Michigan’s offensive line needs to get something going against North Texas this weekend. North Texas finished No. 116 nationally in rushing yards allowed per game in 2024, and the Broncos want to be a run-first team behind Jalen Buckley and the rest of the stable of backs.

But the group just didn’t get it done against the Spartans, rushing for 61 sack adjusted yards and struggling to give clean looks in pass protection. 

A strong day keeping both quarterbacks upright and getting the ground game going would be a big step forward for this Western Michigan offense after the group fell short in the opener. 

A fun prediction

Sticking with the Central Michigan quarterback carousel, the pivot is from multiple QBs throwing touchdowns — the Chippewas didn’t have a touchdown pass in Week 1 — to multiple QBs being on the field at once.

Matt Drinkall has been unrepentant in playing multiple quarterbacks this season, and seems inclined to give a look where at least two of the quarterbacks are on the field at once. Which quarterbacks and how he wants to deploy them isn’t known, but it’s clear the designs are there. 

So why not this weekend?