Big Ten Games This Weekend: Who You Got?

MSU:  Their defense will contain and pick apart scheelhasse.  They will win by 2 touchdowns.

Minny:  They have kept many of their games close, and I don't think Purdue has the firepower to put them away.

UM:  Stanzi and Denard to return to proper form.

OSU: Pryor puts away the badgers in the second half.  OSU wins by 13.

OSU -4.5? That seems like highway robbery.  Does Vegas know something?  I guess some people are skittish after OSU's last road game, but still.  Maybe Pryor is hurt?

Also, why does Vegas love us so much? What makes them think Iowa is worse than MSU?

I'm interested to see the what happens in the MSU game.  I don't think I would bet on it, but I can see a letdown for them.  If they're gonna have a Sparty NO! moment this season, this is the time. 

plays pretty good against running teams.

UM bounces back and beats Iowa (who is not a very good team IMO).

OSU vs Wisky has potential to win the "most boring game of the year" title 2 years in a row.

I pick against OSU in Big Ten play always.  Luckily, I am extremely wealthy so money is no object.  I figure the bad karma I'm throwing will eventually sink the Buckeyes.  Or not.

The three matchups other than the Doormat Bowl all look like they have the potential to be very entertaining, exciting games. 

MSU should handle Ilinois, but it wouldn't surprise me to see a letdown after their, ahem, big win.  Teams riding emotion tend to be very volatile.  I still like State to win that though.

I don't think Bielema is capable of beating Tressel.  Wisconsin has the players to do it this year but I don't see it happening.

Our game is extremely difficult to predict.  If Michigan's offensive execution errors continue, we have no chance.  If we are back to the ninja offense of weeks 1-5, then we should at least expect a shootout (which makes Mich a great pick against the spread).  I think our defense may do a little better against Iowa than against MSU (as Iowa has inferior skill players) but we still need to score a lot of points to win.

1 Sparties- Ill has played 2 big games in a row and they are not that good.  Sparties have done the same thing but they are the better team and at home.

2. I lost a ton of dough on the NW-Pur game last week.  Still no idea how NW can lose that game, but Purdue must have manned up big time but the truth is Purdue is beat to shit.  I'll take Min

Considering what they did to us at our place, if they can't beat Illinois by at much at home, it doesn't bode well for when the Illini come to town.

I guess Minney over Purdue, but I wouldn't bet it just because that means I would have to pay attention to that game.

I think Iowa's spread is way too low. Iowa's offense may not be MSU's, but we have really held anyone with a pulse under 24. And we only put up 17 against a much worse defense.  It might not be 17 again, but just a field goal with a kicker? That has Iowa written all over it.

And Wisky plays OSU tough, so I understand the attraction, but OSU isn't even getting a Touchdown.  And we've spent weeks saying how Wisconsin really isn't "All that".

And who knows how much home field will matter...two weeks ago, home teams all covered; last weekend, only one did.  So much for the "it's tough on the road in the Big Ten" theory.

I'm surprised that's not higher. I guess they are still valuing PSU higher than they should. I'd take that.

Who knows what Wisc team shows up. if they play strong on defense they can win. Wiscy is the only one that played a good team (MSU) and we saw how that turned out.

The Putrid Bowl, who knows what can happen. All I know is I wouldn't put money on a Brewster team if you paid me.

Oh and THE KNOWLEDGE says it's ok to take UM, so we got that going for us.

Illini +7.5 over MSU (at MSU)

I think I have to take Illinois and the points.  I mean I don't know if they can pull the upset, but 7.5 is a lot and the zookers aren't that bad this year

Minny +5 over Purdue (at Purdue)

Don't care. I'll take Minny b/c Purdue is lifeless and in a 0-0 game the team with +5 wins

UM +3.5 vs Iowa (at UM)

I'm taking UM for the win, so you can keep the points and shove them up your ass.

Wisco +4.5 vs OSU (at Wisco)

I like OSU to roll here.

$60 - OSU -4.5 at Wisconsin.

$20 - Minny +5 at Purdue.

$15 - Illinois +7.5 at MSU.

$5 - UM +3.5 vs. Iowa. 

I'll take the home dogs...

OSU @ Wisconsin - While UW can run the ball, OSU does not give away receiving yards.  OSU pulls away in the 4th quarter and covers unless Pyror gets hurt again or throws interceptions.  MSU slowed Wisconsin's running game and OSU should do the same.

Minnesota at Purdoo - Purdue surprised last week with help from NU.  These teams are evenly matched but I do agree that Minnesota can win but will not cover.

Iowa at Michigan - Glad we are the underdogs for this one.  Do believe Iowa lines are better than MSU's but that MSU is superior at QB, receiver, and running back.  This is a game where getting out in front could really help and put Iowa in a passing mode which is not their best feature.  Michigan by 3 but only because Iowa rallies from a deficit.

Ilini at Sparty - Illini had their game of the year but do not think they match up well with MSU.  Running game and receivers combined make MSU much more diverse than PSU.  Look for MSU to use the same strategy for the 3rd week in a row by staying close and then letting things lose in the 3rd quarter with the 4th quarter spent bleeding down the clock.

PU to cover and win; Minny's awful, and the game's at PU.

MSU to cover and win; MSU will be riding high at home, Illinois will come back to earth

Iowa to cover and win; I'm puzzled at the faith we'll beat a better defense than MSU's, but this comes down to our defense and kicking game, or complete lack thereof.

OSU to cover and win

Illinois has a much better D than people think, plus MSU will have some form of hangover.  I don't think Illinois will win, but I do think they'll keep the game low scoring and close.

Minnesota is improving and Purdue is still broken.  I think Minnesota finally plays well enough for 4 quarters to win.

The only reason I feel confident about UM staying within a field goal of Iowa is because of the mighty Stanziball.  I think Gerg is finally on to something by dialing up the pressure.  Spreading out the D and chucking it all day is our weakness but not Iowa's strong suit.

OSU is playing a night game at Wisky which could be trouble.  They win, but I just don't believe enough in Pryor to think they can hang a double digit win here.