So Week 1 of the Upset Alert Siren came and went with just some noise but no carnage. And that’s a good thing, because one thing you should know about this Friday staple here on Saturday Tradition is that I never root for a Big Ten team to get upset. I’m just putting them on alert.

Last week I was concerned about the Iowa Hawkeyes in their home opener with Northern Illinois. Iowa had its two starting offensive tackles suspended for a game and NIU has one of the best defensive lines in the country. It looked like the perfect Upset Special to me, but Iowa answered the  bell and dominated in the second half, winning 33-7. So there I was, starting off 0-1 — and being just fine with it.

My other mini-alerts didn’t happen, either. Indiana looked great on the road in soupy Miami, beating Florida International. Illinois was on upset alert at home against Kent State, and they pulled out a win too, but just barely.

So, on to Week 2. Here’s the schedule and the point spreads:

  • Western Michigan at No. 21 Michigan (-28)
  • Eastern Michigan at Purdue (-16.5)
  • New Mexico at No. 5 Wisconsin (-35)\
  • Duke at Northwestern (-3)
  • Rutgers at No. 4 Ohio State (-35)
  • Colorado at Nebraska (-4.5)
  • Iowa State at Iowa (-4)
  • Maryland (-16) at  Bowling Green
  • Virginia at Indiana (-6.5)
  • Fresno State at Minnesota (-2.5)
  • Western Illinois at Illinois (NL)
  • No. 13 Penn State (-8) at Pitt
  • No. 15 Michigan State at (-6) at Arizona State

Who’s on upset alert in Week 2?

All the planets are aligned against Michigan State here. First off, the Spartans simply did not look good in their opener, barely getting past an average Utah State team at home. Now they have to travel to Arizona State for a 10:45 p.m ET kickoff in scorching weather. Game-time temperatures are still going to be pushing close to 100 degrees, and that’s going to be hard to adjust to for a bunch of guys from Michigan, even if it has been hot here for a few days.

Arizona State has a new coach and renewed vigor to get their program back on track and back in the national spotlight. This could be a statement game for new coach Herm Edwards and his Sun Devils, and knocking off a highly ranked — and highly regarded — team like  the Spartans is a good place to start.

No. 15 Michigan State is a 6-point favorite, but they’re in trouble here. Final score: Arizona State 31, Michigan State 28.

Who better be careful themselves?

Two other B1G schools better be careful as favorites this week. One is No. 13 Penn State, who had problems of its own in the opener, barely escaping at home against Appalachian State. The Nittany Lions travel to Pittsburgh to take on arch-rival Pitt and they are 8-point favorites. That’s way too many. Pitt has been average the past couple of years, but they’ve risen to the occasion to beat unbeaten and highly ranked Clemson in 2016 and Miami last year. It could happen again Saturday. Look out, Penn State. Not calling the upset, but this one will be close.

Another team to heed the siren is Minnesota. The Gophers are home against Fresno State, which sounds simple enough until you notice that Fresno scored 79 points in its opener against Idaho. They have plenty of weapons are aren’t the least bit intimidated playing a Power 5 school. Watch out here, Gophers.

(Ssssssh … I would also tell you that Iowa should be worried with a talented Iowa State team, but I learned my lesson last week.)