It’s the week before the week. Next weekend is full of rivalry matchups in the Big Ten. What does that mean for this weekend?
Depends on the team. Michigan is trying to stay in the Big Ten title chase. Michigan State is gunning for its first league win. Oregon and USC play in a potential playoff elimination game.
Barring an improbable comeback, MLive’s season-long competition against the spread is a two-horse race. Here are the standings through 12 weeks:
Jacob Richman: 59-48
Aaron McMann: 58-49
Andrew Kahn: 50-57
Matt Wenzel: 48-59
Ryan Zuke: 42-65
This week’s games, all of which are on Saturday, are below. Kickoff times are Eastern and odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Rutgers at Ohio State
Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014 and has played Ohio State every season except last. Ohio State is 10-0 with an average score of 51-11.
MLive staff picks:
- Rutgers +31.5: Zuke, McMann
- Ohio State -31.5: Kahn, Richman, Wenzel
Minnesota at Northwestern
The Wildcats pulled off an incredible feat Saturday: They won the turnover battle 5-0 and still lost the game (on a walk-off field goal to Michigan at Wrigley Field). Minnesota continued its trend of beating the teams it should and getting blown out by better teams.
MLive staff picks:
- Minnesota +3.5: Zuke, McMann
- Northwestern -3.5: Kahn, Richman, Wenzel
USC at Oregon
Oregon is 7 in this week’s playoff rankings; USC is 15. This is a huge game between the former Pac-12 members. The Trojans haven’t won this matchup since 2016.
MLive staff picks:
- USC +9.5: Kahn, Richman, Zuke
- Oregon -9.5: McMann, Wenzel
Nebraska at Penn State
A curiously big spread for a Penn State team that got its first Big Ten win last week (at Michigan State). Nebraska is coming off a bye. But when the number seems out of whack, maybe the experts know something…
MLive staff picks:
- Nebraska +9.5: Richman, Zuke
- Penn State -9.5: Kahn, McMann, Wenzel
Illinois at Wisconsin
Illinois is coming off home wins against the Big Ten’s two East Coast programs. Wisconsin picked up its first conference victory two weeks ago before getting humbled at Indiana.
MLive staff picks:
- Illinois -8.5: McMann, Richman, Wenzel, Zuke
- Wisconsin +8.5: Kahn
Washington at UCLA
A late-night West Coast matchup as UCLA tries to snap a three-game losing streak that has taken some of the shine off the interim coaching staff.
MLive staff picks:
- Washington -10.5: McMann, Richman, Wenzel, Zuke
- UCLA +10.5: Kahn
Michigan State at Iowa
The Spartans have no Big Ten wins this year and recently had some from previous seasons vacated. If they can’t pull off the upset Saturday they’ll need to beat Maryland at home to avoid getting shutout in the league. Iowa blew another shot at a marquee win, allowing the game’s final 19 points in a 26-21 loss to USC.
MLive staff picks:
- Michigan State +16.5: Kahn
- Iowa -16.5: McMann, Richman, Wenzel, Zuke
Michigan at Maryland
Michigan found a way to avoid a devastating loss against Northwestern and can’t afford to overlook Maryland. Mike Locksley will be back to coach the Terrapins next season, and perhaps his team will play loose as a result.
MLive staff picks:
- Michigan -13.5: Wenzel
- Maryland +13.5: Kahn, McMann, Richman, Zuke
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