The following games do not have a betting line this week:
- Illinois vs Western Illinois
Indiana vs Virginia
- IU -5.0, Over / Under 50.0
The Cavs made a bowl last year and then proceeded to graduate everyone. As long as Indiana cleans up a few mistakes that they made at FIU, they should be able to win by a touchdown or more. Also, based on their week one games, I think both teams have the ability to move the ball, snag the over while you are at it.
Iowa vs Iowa State
- UI -3.5, O/U 46.5
Ah yes, my annual torture game. I do know one thing, I’m not betting the over/under. Without any tape on ISU, we don’t know how their offense will look. As for Iowa, they are so feast or famine that it is impossible to guess which Hawkeye offense will actually show up. While I am expecting a tight one, I do think having an actual game under their belt helps as well as the leg up by playing at Kinnick. Iowa escapes and covers thanks to winning by exactly seven.
Maryland at Bowling Green
- UM -15.0, O/U 65.5
Based on giving up almost 60 points a week ago to Oregon, I have a feeling this one is sniffing 70, take that over. A home underdog is also very tempting but the Falcons are an extremely popular pick to finish at or near the bottom of the MAC standings because their defense is a mess right now. Terps find a way to cover.
Michigan vs Western Michigan
- UM -28.0, O/U 55.0
Western’s D was sliced and diced by Syracuse a week ago. Shea Patterson and the Michigan O finally looks like they have a game plan by covering this huge spread. Get it done, maize and blue.
Michigan State at Arizona State
- MSU -5.5, O/U 53.0
Heading out west makes me very, very nervous. I honestly can’t think of the last time a Big Ten team won at Arizona or Arizona State and yet here I go picking the Spartans. A lot went wrong week one, but I think some of it can be attributed to opening day rust, a little bit of it for a midweek game (I’m grasping at straws on this one), and a lot of it can be placed on Utah State being a good team. I’m not sure ASU can be called a good team solely based on roughing up UTSA. Taking what feels like more of a sure thing in this one.
Minnesota vs Fresno State
- Pick ’em, O/U 48.0
First of all, Fresno State dropped 79 points a week ago. Minnesota has a nice defense but You have to assume Fresno is it least getting into the 20s. That over is toast. Why is it below 50 points? I thought Vegas was designed to take my money? As for the winner…my gut is telling me Fresno. They made the Mountain West title game a year ago, Jeff Tedford is a really good coach, and it took Minnesota several drives to figure things out a week ago. I think another slow start will cost Goldy the game.
Nebraska vs Colorado
- NU -3.0, O/U 64.5
Just like the Cyclones in the Iowa-Iowa State game, there is no tape on the Huskers so I am avoiding that over/under. Colorado looked really sharp last week against Colorado State and Steven Montez is a really good college quarterback. Nebraska doesn’t have that as they will be starting true freshman QB Adrian Martinez. Worse, NU does not have a scholarship QB behind him. That doesn’t feel like a winning combo.
Northwestern vs Duke
- NU -2.5, O/U 47.5
I was pretty high on Army in the offseason and while I thought Duke would be able to take down the Black Knights, I didn’t think it would be that lopsided. Still, can’t linger on things like that and the fact of the matter is the Wildcats are a little bit deeper team, a fair amount more talented, and the home team. They should win by more than three points.
Ohio State vs Rutgers
- OSU -35.0, O/U 61.0
I am not ignoring last week’s silly decision not to bet the over and totally betting the over. Bucks might hit 63 alone! Oh, and they are for sure winning by five or more touchdowns. A few places have this at 35.5 but I would ignore those books because 35 even at least gives a bit of wiggle room for a push.
Penn State at Pitt
- PSU -7.5, O/U 55
What is with all these Big Ten teams being road favorites this week? This spread has actually been going down as Vegas continually adjusts things. Maybe earlier in the week when the spread ballooned to 9 points I would have been tempted to take Pitt but I think that crazy 28 point fourth quarter by Appalachian State was, while super exciting, a little fluky. I expect Penn State’s new-look defense to be much more settled in for week two and lord knows PSU can score at will. Give me yet another road favorite despite saying earlier this post that home dogs are intriguing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Purdue vs Eastern Michigan
- PU -16.5, O/U 52.0
Boilers would have routed Northwestern if they hadn’t been so careless with the ball. I expect them to be a much crisper product here in week two against an Eastern Michigan team that has some intriguing pieces but overall don’t have nearly the talent that Purdue does.
Wisconsin vs New Mexico
- UW -35.0, O/U 59.5
I got fancy picking the over last week and it cost me. No such mistake this week. New Mexico’s spread option feels beautifully designed to be one-dimensional against Wisconsin’s stout D. Badgers score early and often and cover this mammoth spread.
Lightning Round for Non-Readers:
Illinois/Western Illinois – Off
Indiana/Virginia – IU, Over
Iowa/Iowa State – UI
Maryland/Bowling Green – UM, Over
Michigan/Western Michigan – UM
Michigan State/Arizona State – MSU
Minnesota/Fresno State – Fresno (pick ’em), Over
Nebraska/Colorado – Points
Northwestern/Duke – NU
Ohio State/Rutgers – OSU, Over
Penn State/Pitt – PSU
Purdue/Eastern Michigan – PU
Wisconsin/New Mexico – UW
Big Ten and Counting 