Brett Ludwiczak
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MC&J: Ohio State and Indiana meet in Week 13’s monster Big Ten battle
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are nearly two touchdown favorites over the Hoosiers in Columbus on Saturday. Plus, the rest of this week’s Big Ten picks.
Last week ATS: 6-8 (2-5 National, 4-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 94-103 (38-45 National, 56-58 B1G)
My picks for this weekend’s games outside the Big Ten can be found here.
Purdue v. Michigan State (-13.5) - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Do you really trust Michigan State laying nearly two touchdowns? I know Purdue is bad, but in a clown show game I do like taking the points here.
At some point the Boilermakers have to show some fight after getting kicked around by Ohio State and Penn State the last two weeks. Michigan State hasn’t impressed me enough to feel comfortable banking on them to win by at least 14 points.
Michigan State 31, Purdue 23
No. 25 Illinois (-1.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - Peacock
Rutgers righted their ship with wins over Minnesota and Maryland. It helped last week that Kyle Monangai was able to return to the field, rushing for 97 yards and two scores against Terrapins. Monangai now has over 1,000 yards rushing this season. If Monangai and the Scarlet Knights can get the run going to open things up for Athan Kaliakmanis, they’ll be in good shape.
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Illinois was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a 38-16 win over Michigan State last week. Josh McCray rumbled for three touchdowns last week in the victory. McCray will have some tougher sledding this week since Rutgers is stout against the run.
I like Rutgers in this spot. After a mid-season slump the Scarlet Knights look to have found their form against. Greg Schiano’s team is a little grittier than Bret Bielema’s Illinois squad.
Rutgers 27, Illinois 21
Iowa (-6.5) v. Maryland - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Cade McNamara is back at quarterback after Brendan Sullivan was lost for the rest of the season due to injury. Luckily for McNamara, running back Kaleb Johnson has done most of the heavy lifting for the Iowa offense this year.
Maryland is a huge mess, with their last four losses coming by at least 14 points. To me, Iowa is like Rutgers and the Terps just lost last week to the Scarlet Knights. This feels like a team that has given up on the season. Johnson and company run wild in College Park.
Iowa 24, Maryland 10
No. 4 Penn State (-11.5) v. Minnesota - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
We still don’t really know how good Penn State is. The Nittany Lions have feasted on cupcakes since their loss to Ohio State. I know their defense is solid and Drew Allar and the running backs can move the football, it’s just something about them doesn’t connect for me when talking about some of the best teams in the country.
Minnesota was surging before a loss to Rutgers two weeks ago. Max Brosmer and Daniel Jackson are a nice combo through the air. What the Golden Gophers need is more consistency from running back Darius Taylor. It’s unlikely Taylor will find much room this week against a stout Nittany Lions defense.
I do like the points here since traveling to Minneapolis later in the season is never an easy trip. Penn State will have a hard time finding separation against a team with a little bit of a pulse.
Penn State 28, Minnesota 20
Northwestern v. Michigan (-10.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
Michigan enters this contest having lost four of their last five games. If the Wolverines can’t win here they are staring down needing a win in Columbus next week to become bowl eligible. At least Michigan didn’t give up after falling behind 17-3 two weeks ago at Indiana, closing the gap to 20-15 before time ran out on them.
Northwestern tries hard, I’ll give them that. The Wildcats just aren’t a good football team. I don’t see how they are going to be able to run the ball against the Michigan defense, and Jack Lausch is going to be under fire all game long.
Not that I’m ecstatic about backing Davis Warren, but Michigan has had a bye week to prep for this while Northwestern is coming off a physical contest against Ohio State. The Wolverines win this by at least two touchdowns.
Michigan 28, Northwestern 13
Wisconsin v. Nebraska (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET- Big Ten Network
One of these teams will earn the magical sixth win of the season to get to bowl eligibility. Somehow Nebraska still isn’t there yet despite a 5-1 start to the season. Matt Rhule is being haunted by the ghosts of Mike Riley and Scott Frost, who both were experts at losing tight games. Last week the Cornhuskers fell 28-20 in Los Angeles to USC.
I’m wondering if Wisconsin might have put so much into last weekend’s close loss to Oregon that they’ll come out flat. Adding to their issues, offensive coordinator Phil Longo has been fired and the offense will be run by committee essentially. This feels like it’ll be a recipe for disaster since there will be too many cooks in the kitchen. Give me Nebraska and the short line on their home turf.
Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 17
USC (-4.5) v. UCLA - 10:30 p.m. ET - NBC
Just when I started to trust UCLA they laid an egg last week at Washington. Ethan Garbers was fine against the Huskies, the Bruins just couldn’t get their running game going like they did the previous week against Iowa. It’s not like Washington didn’t give them chances with some turnovers, UCLA just wasn’t able to capitalize on them.
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Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
The Jayden Maiava experiment started off well last week, as USC beat Nebraska 28-20. Not only did Maiava throw for three touchdowns, Woody Marks ran for 146 yards in the victory. Now USC is just a win away from bowl eligibility. With Notre Dame up next, USC better get that win this week because it’s hard to see them beating the Fighting Irish.
As much as I’m trying to talk myself out of taking USC here, I just can’t trust UCLA after what I saw last week. The Bruins just don’t have the firepower to keep up with the Trojans. Garbers will give it his best effort, he just doesn’t have much help.
USC 31, UCLA 21
No. 5 Indiana v. No. 2 Ohio State (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Prior to the season Ohio State fans saw this game as just a tune up before the Michigan game. Now Saturday’s contest with the Hoosiers is looking like it will be bigger than The Game. For the first time in school history Indiana is 10-0, and the Buckeyes and Hoosiers will be battling to stay in the driver’s seat to take on Oregon in next month’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Just after getting settled following Josh Simmons’ season-ending injury at Oregon, the Ohio State offensive line was thrown for another loop when Seth McLaughlin suffered an achilles injury in practice that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Carson Hinzman will slide over to center from left guard, but at least Hinzman does have prior experience at the position after starting there last year.
Luckily for the Buckeyes there aren’t many questions with the rest of the offense, as well as the defense. Will Howard looks cool under pressure, the running game is coming off solid performances from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and the defense is the toughest unit in the country to score on.
Even though Kurtis Rourke and the Indiana offense has some pop, they don’t worry me quite as much as Oregon did. The Hoosiers have yet to try and solve a defense like they’ll see from the Buckeyes. Indiana did have trouble with Michigan in the second half two weeks ago, and I think Ohio State is even better than the Wolverines on defense. It’ll be interesting to see how Rourke responds if the Buckeyes are able to come out of the gates hot on defense and get some early stops.
In the end, I just think the Buckeyes are a better team on both sides of the ball. Not that Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers don’t deserve our respect, but this will be their first true road test and I think their undefeated start to the season ends on Saturday. Ohio State wins, it just isn’t a blowout that will knock the Hoosiers out of the playoff.
Ohio State 37, Indiana 21
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are nearly two touchdown favorites over the Hoosiers in Columbus on Saturday. Plus, the rest of this week’s Big Ten picks.
Last week ATS: 6-8 (2-5 National, 4-3 B1G)
Season ATS: 94-103 (38-45 National, 56-58 B1G)
My picks for this weekend’s games outside the Big Ten can be found here.
Big Ten games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted)
Purdue v. Michigan State (-13.5) - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Do you really trust Michigan State laying nearly two touchdowns? I know Purdue is bad, but in a clown show game I do like taking the points here.
At some point the Boilermakers have to show some fight after getting kicked around by Ohio State and Penn State the last two weeks. Michigan State hasn’t impressed me enough to feel comfortable banking on them to win by at least 14 points.
Michigan State 31, Purdue 23
No. 25 Illinois (-1.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 p.m. ET - Peacock
Rutgers righted their ship with wins over Minnesota and Maryland. It helped last week that Kyle Monangai was able to return to the field, rushing for 97 yards and two scores against Terrapins. Monangai now has over 1,000 yards rushing this season. If Monangai and the Scarlet Knights can get the run going to open things up for Athan Kaliakmanis, they’ll be in good shape.
Illinois was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a 38-16 win over Michigan State last week. Josh McCray rumbled for three touchdowns last week in the victory. McCray will have some tougher sledding this week since Rutgers is stout against the run.
I like Rutgers in this spot. After a mid-season slump the Scarlet Knights look to have found their form against. Greg Schiano’s team is a little grittier than Bret Bielema’s Illinois squad.
Rutgers 27, Illinois 21
Iowa (-6.5) v. Maryland - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Cade McNamara is back at quarterback after Brendan Sullivan was lost for the rest of the season due to injury. Luckily for McNamara, running back Kaleb Johnson has done most of the heavy lifting for the Iowa offense this year.
Maryland is a huge mess, with their last four losses coming by at least 14 points. To me, Iowa is like Rutgers and the Terps just lost last week to the Scarlet Knights. This feels like a team that has given up on the season. Johnson and company run wild in College Park.
Iowa 24, Maryland 10
No. 4 Penn State (-11.5) v. Minnesota - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
We still don’t really know how good Penn State is. The Nittany Lions have feasted on cupcakes since their loss to Ohio State. I know their defense is solid and Drew Allar and the running backs can move the football, it’s just something about them doesn’t connect for me when talking about some of the best teams in the country.
Minnesota was surging before a loss to Rutgers two weeks ago. Max Brosmer and Daniel Jackson are a nice combo through the air. What the Golden Gophers need is more consistency from running back Darius Taylor. It’s unlikely Taylor will find much room this week against a stout Nittany Lions defense.
I do like the points here since traveling to Minneapolis later in the season is never an easy trip. Penn State will have a hard time finding separation against a team with a little bit of a pulse.
Penn State 28, Minnesota 20
Northwestern v. Michigan (-10.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
Michigan enters this contest having lost four of their last five games. If the Wolverines can’t win here they are staring down needing a win in Columbus next week to become bowl eligible. At least Michigan didn’t give up after falling behind 17-3 two weeks ago at Indiana, closing the gap to 20-15 before time ran out on them.
Northwestern tries hard, I’ll give them that. The Wildcats just aren’t a good football team. I don’t see how they are going to be able to run the ball against the Michigan defense, and Jack Lausch is going to be under fire all game long.
Not that I’m ecstatic about backing Davis Warren, but Michigan has had a bye week to prep for this while Northwestern is coming off a physical contest against Ohio State. The Wolverines win this by at least two touchdowns.
Michigan 28, Northwestern 13
Wisconsin v. Nebraska (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET- Big Ten Network
One of these teams will earn the magical sixth win of the season to get to bowl eligibility. Somehow Nebraska still isn’t there yet despite a 5-1 start to the season. Matt Rhule is being haunted by the ghosts of Mike Riley and Scott Frost, who both were experts at losing tight games. Last week the Cornhuskers fell 28-20 in Los Angeles to USC.
I’m wondering if Wisconsin might have put so much into last weekend’s close loss to Oregon that they’ll come out flat. Adding to their issues, offensive coordinator Phil Longo has been fired and the offense will be run by committee essentially. This feels like it’ll be a recipe for disaster since there will be too many cooks in the kitchen. Give me Nebraska and the short line on their home turf.
Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 17
USC (-4.5) v. UCLA - 10:30 p.m. ET - NBC
Just when I started to trust UCLA they laid an egg last week at Washington. Ethan Garbers was fine against the Huskies, the Bruins just couldn’t get their running game going like they did the previous week against Iowa. It’s not like Washington didn’t give them chances with some turnovers, UCLA just wasn’t able to capitalize on them.
The Jayden Maiava experiment started off well last week, as USC beat Nebraska 28-20. Not only did Maiava throw for three touchdowns, Woody Marks ran for 146 yards in the victory. Now USC is just a win away from bowl eligibility. With Notre Dame up next, USC better get that win this week because it’s hard to see them beating the Fighting Irish.
As much as I’m trying to talk myself out of taking USC here, I just can’t trust UCLA after what I saw last week. The Bruins just don’t have the firepower to keep up with the Trojans. Garbers will give it his best effort, he just doesn’t have much help.
USC 31, UCLA 21
No. 5 Indiana v. No. 2 Ohio State (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Prior to the season Ohio State fans saw this game as just a tune up before the Michigan game. Now Saturday’s contest with the Hoosiers is looking like it will be bigger than The Game. For the first time in school history Indiana is 10-0, and the Buckeyes and Hoosiers will be battling to stay in the driver’s seat to take on Oregon in next month’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Just after getting settled following Josh Simmons’ season-ending injury at Oregon, the Ohio State offensive line was thrown for another loop when Seth McLaughlin suffered an achilles injury in practice that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Carson Hinzman will slide over to center from left guard, but at least Hinzman does have prior experience at the position after starting there last year.
Luckily for the Buckeyes there aren’t many questions with the rest of the offense, as well as the defense. Will Howard looks cool under pressure, the running game is coming off solid performances from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and the defense is the toughest unit in the country to score on.
Even though Kurtis Rourke and the Indiana offense has some pop, they don’t worry me quite as much as Oregon did. The Hoosiers have yet to try and solve a defense like they’ll see from the Buckeyes. Indiana did have trouble with Michigan in the second half two weeks ago, and I think Ohio State is even better than the Wolverines on defense. It’ll be interesting to see how Rourke responds if the Buckeyes are able to come out of the gates hot on defense and get some early stops.
In the end, I just think the Buckeyes are a better team on both sides of the ball. Not that Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers don’t deserve our respect, but this will be their first true road test and I think their undefeated start to the season ends on Saturday. Ohio State wins, it just isn’t a blowout that will knock the Hoosiers out of the playoff.
Ohio State 37, Indiana 21
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