No MNWildcat this week and I’m at work, so no interesting article-looking theme either. Just the picks.

About Last Week

Notes:

• Look at the weekly straight-up vs ATS. Remarkably little variance this week.
• Having Connor Stallions on my payroll is really working out!

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This Week’s Picks

(all times EDT)

Friday, October 25

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Southern California Trojans

7:00pm | FOX | USC -14 | O/U 55.5

Straight-Up: USC 14-0
Against the Spread: USC 8-6

Buffkomodo: This game very much feels like a game that Rutgers should lose. On the other hand, it very much feels like a game and moment in the season where a Lincoln Riley team would give up on the rest of the year because they’re firmly out of playoff contention. USC wins but let’s pick the ‘Gers to cover and hope for the best.

Thumpasaurus: Zuzu Bowl 2 on the year and it feels like this battle between two fairly assy teams is decided by who has to travel across the country. The Gers will be able to run all day on the soft-ass Trojan defense, but the second they take to the air there will be complications.

RUReady4Brazil: What a joke. USC is a mess and yet Rutgers still has at best a 20% chance of winning. Past Rutgers teams would be salivating at a chance like that, but this team doesn’t seem to be cut from the same cloth. USC rolls or I will be psyched.

misdreavus79: At worst, I see this playing out like the Wisconsin game. At best, USC takes a first half lead they don’t relinquish, for once. Trojans 37, Scarlet Knights 10

AlmaOtter: Man, this is a game that had much higher expectations in the preseason, huh?

RockyMtnBlue: I really thought I had a bead on the Big10 a few weeks ago. Now I don’t know what to think. Except SoCal isn’t all that good, appears to be significantly better at home (like most teams), and Rutgers is beat to hell. USC 31-13

Larry31: USC to cover. Cross-continent travel + Rutgers hasn’t gotten any healthier.

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Saturday, October 26

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ (4) Ohio State Buckeyes

noon | FOX | Ohio State -25.5 | O/U 48.5

Straight-Up: Death Star Jr. 14-0
Against the Spread: Death Star Jr. 9-5

Buffkomodo: ............it’s too bad Nebraska doesn’t get to play schools like Indiana. Why do they need to get Ohio State in their crossover game?

Thumpasaurus: I still think Nebraska is fairly good, just not good enough to get close in this one. Ohio State has just enough doofus in them to fail to cover here though

RUReady4Brazil: Matt Rhule pushed as hard as he could so far, but this is a tall order. Not yet, Huskers.

misdreavus79: Ohio State pissed off with a week to stew on their loss, vs Nebraska with their tails between their legs coming off a humbling dismantling at the hands of Death Star. But hey, at least this one won’t be a close loss either. Ohio State 45, Nebraska 10

AlmaOtter: Man, back to back games against juggernauts for Nebraska. That’s rough, buddy. Ohio State by a million.

RockyMtnBlue: Nebby continues its Deluxe All Expenses Paid Tour of the Death Stars. Personally, I’d have picked a different vacation plan. I think the Huskers are game, but I also think Ohio State will add “pissed” to its “preposterously talented” description list. Ohio State 42-10.

Larry31: I’m with misdreavus. OSU’s last second loss to Oregon has them extremely pissed off. This will rattle Nebraska’s confidence, especially at a sold-out hroseshoe. 25.5 is ALOT of points. I think OSU wants to prove something with a mollywhopping. OSU covers.

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Washington Huskies @ (13) Indiana Hoosiers

noon | BTN | Indiana -6.5 | O/U 52.5

Straight-Up: Death Star Sr. 11-3
Against the Spread: Death Star Sr. 11-3

Buffkomodo: Indiana, even without Kurtis Rourke, will cover in this game against a team that is averaging 22 points per game in B1G play.

Thumpasaurus: 9AM local time for the Huskies is a hell of a time to kick off. For that reason I take Indiana here.

RUReady4Brazil: The kickoff time is a little rough, but I think Washington is going to surprise in this game. Indiana should not be able to chuck the ball all over the Huskies and if this comes down to a dog fight, I think it comes up for Washington.

misdreavus79: I picked Death Star originally, but, for whatever reason, went back and changed it to Washington. Death Star is going to smite me, ain’t? Washington 27, Death Start 23

AlmaOtter: Until proven otherwise with Coach Cig: smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em.

RockyMtnBlue: When is Vegas gonna learn? Death Star Sr favored by less than a TD at home? Unless they’re playing the Kansas City Chiefs, this feels like free money. Indiana 42-21

Larry31: Indiana is incredibly well-balance. Both, offense versus defense and their offensive attack. This is literally a team with no weaknesses to exploit. At home, Washington is playing three time zones earlier. Indiana can definitely cover by a touchdown.

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(20) Illinois Fighting Illini @ (1) Oregon Ducks

3:30pm | CBS / Paramount+ | Oregon -25 | O/U 54.5

Straight-Up: Oregon 12-2
Against the Spread: Illinois 11-3

Buffkomodo: I mean, let’s be real. Idaho took the Ducks the distance. Why would we think a pretty good Illinois team can’t be WITHIN 25 POINTS.....

Thumpasaurus: Illinois is going to try to shorten this game and that’s how they’ll stay within the spread. I don’t think they’ll threaten.

RUReady4Brazil: Oregon is on fire, but there is always a clunker. If presented this opportunity, I think Illinois has the intestinal fortitude to make this interesting.

misdreavus79: Can Illinois use the same strategy they did against Penn State, and capitalize on some red zone miscues by the Ducks? If they can, Oregon has shown to let teams hang that had no business doing so. Illinois 38, Oregon 35

AlmaOtter: “Last time that the Illini took on the #1 team in the country, they upset Ohio State in ...” Nah. Despite my history-addled brain, that ain’t happening again. We had what was pretty much a perfect celebration last week. It’s ok that we don’t cover against the best team in the country.

misdreavus79: Oregon is not the best team in the country.

Larry31: Man. Illinois is pretty good. And 25 is a lot of points to cover. Ducks for the W. Bert covers.

RockyMtnBlue: I’m not sure I’m buying the whole “Oregon will will the national title” bit. But if they cover this spread against a solid Illinois team I will. Oregon 34-20

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Northwestern Wildcats @ Iowa Hawkeyes

3:30pm | BTN | Iowa -13.5 | O/U 37.5

Straight-Up: Iowa 14-0
Against the Spread: Northwestern 10-4

Buffkomodo: Pass? [RMB: Not likely in this game.]

Thumpasaurus: The Brendan Sullivan Bowl. Everything about this game is annoying, so I’ll say nern covers.

RUReady4Brazil: Northwestern has shown signs of life, but I think Iowa has had enough humble pie this year to be focused enough to take this seriously. The home field advantage when the Hawkeyes have any semblance of offense is a great one.

misdreavus79: I don’t know why Iowa is favored by that much, but I’ll allow it. Iowa 24, Northwestern 14

AlmaOtter: But why, though? At least this won’t be at Wrigley like last year with that attempt to claw a hole in the turf down to the infernal plane. Oh. Um. Sure, Northwestern covers.

Larry31: Okay, MNW. I’m picking Iowa to cover based solely on MNW’s pathetic and angry shit posting.

RockyMtnBlue: I don’t know about y’all, but I’m excited to watch this one. Northwestern was showing real improvement until last week. Iowa has been Jekyll and Hyde. Who the hell knows? Let’s say home team close-ish in a classically garbage west division game. Iowa 24-14

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Maryland Terrapins @ Minnesota Golden Gophers

3:30pm | FS1 | Minnesota -4.5 | O/U 46.5

Straight-Up: Minnesota 11-3
Against the Spread: Minnesota 11-3

Buffkomodo: Give me Maryland because Minnesota should win this game it feels like another one of those. That or Maryland gets beat to a pulp. I actually believe more in Maryland than I should. Is that bad?

Thumpasaurus: Both of these teams were benefactors of USC being too soft to play in this conference, but I think the Minnesota defense is the best unit on the field.

RUReady4Brazil: Hoping both teams get even more exposed, but Maryland is probably due for a letdown after their USC win when they got very, very lucky.

misdreavus79: October Maryland is owed a game from September Maryland, but I don’t think the Terps are going to collect. Minnesota 24, Maryland 17

AlmaOtter: Minny by a mile.

Larry31: Maryland’s boosted confidence from their crazy come-from-behind win agaisnt USC lifts them to a win, or they succomb to a very good Minnesota defense and their own stupic fucking self-destructive penalties and don’t even cover. I’m randomly choosing to be optimistic about Maryland because I’m an irrational Maryland fan. I don’t have much confidence at all with this pick.

RockyMtnBlue: I had Maryland completely written off until last week. Still, it’ll take more than one unexpected win outside of September to make me believe. Can they do it on the road? I predict not. Minnesota 27-20

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(3) Penn State Nittany Lions @ Wisconsin Badgers

7:30pm | NBC / Peacock | Penn State -6.5 | O/U 47.5

Straight-Up: PSU 12-2
Against the Spread: PSU 12-2

Buffkomodo: Yeah. Wisconsin is playing better. Penn State is now in control of their own destiny for once. I think Penn State walks Wisconsin.

Thumpasaurus: How the balls did Wisconsin lose to USC? Well, it’s getting pretty late in the year for James Franklin to not shit himself and disappoint, so it’s now or never.

RUReady4Brazil: I think Penn State rolls. Locke’s ducks won’t be completed against the Nittany Lions who seem to be a team of destiny as Buff said.

misdreavus79: I see this game going similarly to Wisconsin’s game against Ohio State last season. They come out with a good game plan, it’s competitive for a half, but eventually the depth catches up with them and they’re unable to keep up. Penn State 34, Wisconsin 20

AlmaOtter: The dicktrip cometh.

Larry31: I agree with Alma. The dicktrip cometh. Just not this week.

RockyMtnBlue: We still don’t really have any idea if the Nits are any good, right? Yeah. Was just checking. Penn State 28-20

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Michigan State Spartans @ Michigan Wolverines

7:30pm | BTN | Michigan -5 | O/U 40.5

Straight-Up: MSU 9-5
Against the Spread: MSU 10-4

Buffkomodo: Like...fuck it, right? Take Michigan State because it’d be the funniest thing? Right?

Thumpasaurus: No, take Michigan State because of the state of Michigan’s quarterback room. My goodness. How bad must Jadyn Davis be to not be able to get playing time from any of these dudes?

RUReady4Brazil: No matter what, the battle for Michigan is always worth watching even as a complete outsider. Trouble with the snap, the German socialist party on the scoreboard, TJ Duckett, little brother, etc. Michigan should win, but the wildcard that is the Spartan offense could pull this one out.

misdreavus79: Your guess is as good as mine. Michigan State a number, Michigan a smaller number

AlmaOtter: Random number generator vs reigning champ that has nothing left in the tank. Should be fun!

Larry31: Michigan to win. MSU to cover. Normally, I would pick MSU to win but, I’m giving UM the advantage due to home field,

RockyMtnBlue: Ok, first of all, HOW THE HELL IS MICHIGAN FAVORED IN THIS GAME?????

Michigan sits at four wins. 3 of the remaining 5 opponents are Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State. So this game isn’t just for the rivalry, it’s also for a chance at being bowl eligible. Ima be grumpy as hell after this game, so it’s nice that it’s at night so I can still enjoy the game threads. Michigan State 25-7

p.s. You’re on my fuckin’ list, BK.

misdreavus79: What did Brian Kelly do to you?

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Too cowardly to play this week:

Purdue Boilermakers
UCLA Bruins @

Buffkomodo: I mean....I think the question that has to be asked is “will the Boilers actually return from the bye week?” To which many will point out that Matt Painter really has his team ready to go this season.

misdreavus79: Always good to go on a bye after a win.

AlmaOtter: Extend Walters until the heat death of the sun!