OK, so it turns out Duke has been pretty decent through the years in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
How does 19-2 overall sound? How about 9-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium?
Yeah, well, lots of luck to whoever gets the Blue Devils this year. Uh-oh — that would be Illinois. The most promising Illini team since early on in the Bruce Weber years will visit Durham, North Carolina, on Tuesday and try to be something more than a sacrificial lamb.
Actually, that’s selling the Illini short. Brad Underwood’s top-10 team is good enough to beat anybody. But Ayo Dosunmu couldn’t buy a bucket, Kofi Cockburn couldn’t stay out of foul trouble and not a whole lot else went right in the Illini’s first major test of the early season, an 82-69 loss to No. 2 Baylor. This is a second high-profile shot to really arrive on the national scene.
Illinois hasn’t exactly held up its end of the bargain in this annual clash of conferences, compiling an 8-13 record that includes defeats in each of the last three seasons. Northwestern, which hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday, actually has been better at 10-11.
The Big Ten has moved on the ACC in a big way, though, since losing the first 10 challenges. In 2009, the Big Ten finally got on the board. It was the start of a 6-2-3 stretch — good times the league would love to keep rolling. It would help if the Illini, well, helped. Knocking off Duke would be a heck of a way to pitch in.
Here’s what’s happening:
SUN 6
Lions at Bears (noon, Fox-32)
Which is the bigger factor, the Bears’ five-game winning streak against the Lions or their five-game losing streak against teams not named the Lions? Yes, Mitch Trubisky, we see you in the back of the room with your hand raised. We don’t need to call on you to know your answer.
Eagles at Packers (3:25 p.m., Ch. 2)
If Trubisky couldn’t outplay Aaron Rodgers, maybe Philly’s Carson Wentz can? But seriously, folks.
Broncos at Chiefs (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)
Insert Trubisky-Patrick Mahomes comparison here, right? Nah, that has gotten old. And sad. And deeply depressing. We’re going to need a drink before halftime, aren’t we?
MON 7
Washington at Steelers (4 p.m., Fox-32)
A Monday matinee five days after a Wednesday game for the Steelers? This is the weirdest unbeaten team in the NFL. Also the only one, but who’s counting?
Bills at 49ers (7:15 p.m., ESPN)
Just imagine the home-field advantage the Niners will enjoy in — huh? — Glendale, Arizona. These are interesting times.
TUE 8
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: North Carolina at Iowa (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
Hawkeyes big man Luka Garza, still going strong in this, his 38th season of college basketball, is basically unstoppable. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams will throw a bunch of athletes at him anyway.
Cowboys at Ravens (7:05 p.m., Fox-32, NFLN)
We don’t know who’s going to play quarterback for either team in this matchup pushed back from last Thursday, but put it this way — we’re not expecting a masterpiece.
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: Illinois at Duke (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Illini surely have daydreamed about playing in front of — and shushing — the Cameron Crazies. At least having no fans in the stands will give them a head start on the shushing part.
WED 2
USMNT vs. El Salvador (6:30 p.m., UniMas, ESPN network TBD)
Will Fire players Mauricio Pineda and Djordje Mihailovic see action for the Americans in this international friendly? And is there any chance both of those names are spelled correctly?
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: Pittsburgh at Northwestern (8:15 p.m., ESPNU)
Chris Collins and the Wildcats sure could use a bounce-back season. Wait, haven’t we been saying that for a few years now?
THU 10
Patriots at Rams (7:20 p.m., Fox-32, NFLN)
Rams quarterback Jared Goff has had his share of struggles, but he has been great at times, too. You might say he has a lot in common with the Bears’ QBs, plus he’s great sometimes.
SAT 12
Michigan at Ohio State (11 a.m., Fox-32)
It’s the greatest rivalry in college football at pretending to be the greatest rivalry in college football. Blink and the Buckeyes will be up two touchdowns.
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan (11 a.m., ESPN3)
This is it — one last chance for the Huskies to win their first game of the season. Here’s looking at ’em.
Illinois at Northwestern (TBD)
The Wildcats already know they’re bound for the Big Ten title game, but they’re looking at this as much more than a simple tuneup. The Illini are almost kind of sneaky-good, people.
MLS Cup (7 p.m., Fox-32, UniMas)
It’ll be the Columbus Crew-New England Revolution winner against the Seattle Sounders-Minnesota United winner, for all the marbles. Someday, we’ll have to do this thing over atr 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive.
