Wow, we are already to Week 8 of college football and now is when the Big 10 conference games start heating up. Wisconsin pays a visit to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes in a huge game. The No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes face the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Indiana Hoosiers try to rebound after two straight losses, by taking on Northwestern in Evanston. No. 4 ranked Michigan is back in action to face Illinois and Maryland hosts the sputtering Spartans.
Last week’s game of the week did not disappoint and saw the Buckeyes slide by Wisconsin in overtime. Elsewhere, Nebraska remained undefeated by surviving a scare from Indiana and Northwestern put up 50 on Sparty on the road, no less. Michigan State continues to disappoint and find themselves at the bottom of the standings and winless in conference play. The only other winless team is Rutgers.
BIG 10 GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Ohio State Buckeyes -19.5 at Penn State Nittany Lions +19.5, Total 57.5
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA - 8:00 p.m., ET -ABC
All-time series Record: Ohio State 17-13-0
The Buckeyes survived a scare last week at Wisconsin that saw them rally in the second half and win in overtime. Ohio State hits the road again to face the hungry Penn State team that is coming off a bye week and ready for an upset, but Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer may have something to say about it. Meyer’s record at Ohio State is 56-4. The Buckeyes defense continues to impress, but their offense is very erratic on a weekly basis. Beaver Stadium will be rocking, allowing the Nittany Lions to keep the game close and easily cover the spread. Ohio State 34, Penn State 24.
Other BIG 10 games - Week 8 - Odds courtesy of BookMaker Sportsbook
Wisconsin Badgers -3.5 at Iowa Hawkeyes +3.5, Total 42
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa - Noon, ET - ESPN
All-time Series Record: Wisconsin 44-43-2
Check out the series record, it’s as close as it gets for this kind of rivalry game. This looks like a trap game if I have ever seen one. The public will be all over the Badgers, but it will be the Hawkeyes that spring the upset. Iowa wins the game!
Rutgers Scarlet Knights +17 at Minnesota Gophers -17, Total 44
TCF Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota - Noon, ET - Watchespn
All-time Series Record: No Previous Matchups
Minnesota is going to roll up the points this week, like at least 40. Rutgers is one of the worst teams in all of college football and will once again struggle on the road. The game total of 44 is too low, the Gophers may put up 44 on their own.
Indiana Hoosiers +1.5 at Northwestern Wildcats -1.5, Total 52.5
Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois - Noon, ET - BTN
All-time Series Record: Northwestern 46-34-2 - Northwestern has won the last four matchups.
This line has been jumping all over the place. It opened up with Northwestern favored by a point, then moved up to as much as 2.5 and now is down to 1.5. You really can not judge lines this early in the week because the sharpies come in on gameday to get the full limits on their action. This game is a pick em’, basically and I will take the home squad. Northwestern 27, Indiana 24.
Illinois Fighting Illini +36.5 at Michigan Wolverines -36.5, Total 55.5
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan - 3:30 p.m., ET - BTN
All-time Series Record: Michigan 69-23-2
Michigan opened up as a five touchdown favorite and has slowly moved up to 36.5. This looks like a crush job on paper and I would be surprised if it’s a rout. The Wolverines have too many athletes for the under-manned Illini. They will be up by at least three touchdowns in the first half and cruise to another lopsided win. Michigan 49, Illinois 13.
Purdue Boilermakers +24 at Nebraska Cornhuskers -24, Total 61.5
Memorial Stadium Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska - 3:30 p.m., ET - ABC/ESPN2
All-time Series Record: Tied 2-2
After getting off to a 3-3 start, Purdue fired their head coach and now travel to Lincoln to face the No. 10 ranked Cornhuskers. The Boilermakers have no consistency on the field or off and are in for a real beat down this week. Nebraska rolls, 52 - 17.
Michigan State Spartans -2.5 at Maryland Terrapins +2.5, Total 53.5
Maryland Stadium, College Park, Maryland - 7:30 p.m., ET - BTN
All-time Series Record: Michigan State 6-1-0
This line is moving like a yoyo. Sparty was all the way up to 6 points and then the experts thought about how bad Michigan State is and the line moved almost 4 points. The Terrapins had high hopes entering conference play but have quickly lost two of their first three games and need a win if they plan on going to a bowl game. Michigan State is 0-4 in conference play and 2-4 on the year. They need to string together four or five wins to salvage their season. When it doubt, take the HOME DOG!
Two-Team Parlay of the week:
IOWA +3.5
UNDER 57.5 OHIO ST.
The College Football betting odds and props for this week’s games were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. Live wagering during commercials offers adjusted moneylines, totals and spreads.
Log in and start gambling during the game now! The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Penn State Nittany Lions, Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 p.m., ET. ABC will televise the game live.
