The following teams do not have odds or over/under bets listed:
- Indiana (bye)
- Iowa vs North Dakota State
- Minnesota (bye)
- Purdue (bye)
Illinois vs Western Michigan
Western Michigan -3, Over / Under 54
Umm, so the Broncos are the favorite. I think Illinois finds a way to gut out a victory so I’ll snag the points. My spidey sense tells me 21-17. So I’ll take the under as well. P.S. watch Western win 52-3 now. Damn you, gambling god(s)!
Maryland at UCF
Maryland -9.5, O/U 59
Central Florida came crashing back to Earth against Michigan a week ago. It was optimistic to think a 0-12 team from a year ago would have their act together. I’ll take Maryland and the over, 42-18. How do you get 18? Simple, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, broken play after a bad snap that somehow results in two points. Either way, it’s a sixty point total.
Michigan vs Colorado
Michigan -19.5, O/U 56
Man, I don’t know what to make of this game. CU looks much improved with two blowout victories and allowing just 14 points all year. Michigan has crushed two teams but one is Hawai’i and the other went 0-12 a year ago (UCF) so I’m at a loss. I think Colorado can keep this reasonably close. Maybe a garbage score late allows them to lose by 14-17 and cover. The game in general feels like a stay away though so I’m not touching that over with a ten foot pole to try and avoid damage if I go oh-for in this one. What a cop out.
Michigan State at Notre Dame
Notre Dame -8, O/U 50.5
Stay away, stay away, stay away!!! MSU has played just once this year and Notre Dame gave up yards and points at will against Texas. No clue how this one will play out. Admittedly that doesn’t make for great blogging so I have my first degenerate pick of the year. Gut tells me MSU wins. I don’t know why, but until I see a Dantonio coached team crash and burn, I will continue to ride them. Just because I take eight points, doesn’t mean the casual gambler should.
Nebraska vs Oregon
Nebraska -3, O/U 74
I know Nebraska is favored, but it still feels like an upset……that will come true! Oregon has been giving up points left and right. Nebraska wins a shoot out by a touchdown to maybe ten points, 42-35 (taking that insane over then too, I guess).
Northwestern vs Duke
Northwestern -3.5, O/U 44
I’m not sure why the Cats are favored, other than being the home team. Duke has a win and is capable of scoring more than 7 points in a game. Duke wins an ugly one, 21-14. Points and under baby, I’ve been hammering NU all year and until they prove me otherwise, I’ll continue to bet against ’em.
Ohio State at Oklahoma
Ohio State -1.5, O/U 63.5
Home team, advantage OU. Experience, advantage OU. Aggressive defense versus a QB with zero picks, advantage OU. Betting against Urban or the Buckeyes, foolish. Ohio State covers that. Staying away from that over though. Bowling Green and Tulsa haven’t given enough information yet on how OSU’s offense will do against a club up to Oklahoma’s standards.
Penn State vs Temple
Penn State -9, O/U 51.5
Franklin and the Lions cannot afford to lose to Temple twice in a row, they can’t afford to lose to a Pennsylvania school in two straight weeks, and they can’t afford to lose on a day when they honor Joe Pa’s 50th anniversary of his first game. Lions win and unlike the Pitt game the defense shows up for a score somewhere in the neighborhood of 28-10. Lions and under.
Rutgers vs New Mexico
Rutgers -5.5, O/U 57.5
New Mexico made a bowl last year and I thought they would be pretty decent out west again but their loss to woeful New Mexico State has my fleeing the boat like a rat on the Titanic. Rutgers covers. The Lobos gave up 32 to the Aggies and 21 to a FCS school while Rutgers dropped 52 last week as they sorted some things out against Howard. I’m thinking 35-28 if it’s close or 42-21 in a blowout. Either way the game is in the 60s and over.
Wisconsin vs Georgia State
Wisconsin -35, O/U 50
Is that over for Wisconsin alone? I mean, Vegas does realize the Panthers gave up 48 to Air Force a week ago, right? State was a pretty veteran team a year ago to make a bowl and so the youth has shown in a rough 0-2 start. Wisconsin covers and puts up at least 49 alone so the over is toast.
Lightning Round for Non Readers:
Illinois/Western Michigan – Points, Under
Maryland/UCF – UM, Over
Michigan/Colorado – Points
Michigan State/Notre Dame – Points (Degenerate Pick)
Nebraska/Oregon – NU, Over
Northwestern/Duke – Points, Under
Ohio State/Oklahoma – OSU
Penn State/Temple – PSU, Under
Rutgers/New Mexico – RU, Over
Wisconsin/Georgia State – UW, Over
Big Ten and Counting 