People bet on football across the globe and BookMaker customers can be prepared for the action by reading every NCAA preview. Start cashing college football lines today! The Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 3:30 p.m., ET. FOX will televise the game live.
We are at the halfway point of the Big 10 season and both divisions are starting to take shape. Wisconsin holds a two game lead in the Big 10 West and clearly are the cream of the crop in the West. However, the Big 10 East is still very cloudy. Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State are all 4-0 and this division is up for grabs. This week’s Penn State at Ohio State game will clarify the standings and whoever wins that game is in the driver’s seat the rest of the way.
Last week’s showdown between Penn State and Michigan was a crush job. The Nittany Lions won the game 42-13 and got their revenge from last year’s blowout loss in Ann Arbor. In other games, Northwestern edged Iowa in overtime, 17-10. Wisconsin cruised by Maryland 38-13 to improve to 7-0. Minnesota beat Illinois 24-17. Rutgers, yes, Rutgers picks up back-to-back conference wins by pulling the upset against Purdue and Michigan State improved to 4-0 in conference play with a home win versus Indiana.
Clearly, the biggest game for Week 9 is the Penn State at Ohio State game. The winner moves up and the loser is probably out of the BCS picture. Michigan State travels to Northwestern in their toughest road game of the year. Purdue hosts Nebraska in a battle of cellar-dwellers. Indiana is off to Maryland to face the Terps. Minnesota and Iowa meet to claim the “Floyd of Rosedale” trophy. Michigan tries to rebound with a home game against the upstart Rutgers team and Wisconsin heads to Champaign to take on the Illini.
Big 10 Game of the Week
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Penn State Nittany Lions +6.5 at Ohio State Buckeyes -6.5, Total 56.5
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio - 3:30 p.m., ET - FOX
This is the game of the year so far, not only in the Big 10 Conference, but in the entire nation. Penn State comes in ranked No. 2 and off a huge win against Michigan. After their Week 2 loss to Oklahoma, Ohio State has won five straight to climb to No. 6 in the rankings. By looking at both schedules, it’s the Nittany lions who should be favored in this game, NOT the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s last five wins have come against weak teams; Army, UNLV, Rutgers, Maryland and Nebraska. Yah they blew all of them out and they should, but this week they square off against a Penn State team that can match up with them physically and have the team speed to due some damage on their young defense. Oh, I forgot, Penn State also has the best player in the nation - Saquon Barkley - who can hurt you in all phases of the game. Maybe, I’m wrong, but I think Penn State easily covers the spread and possibly pulls the upset, which really, isn’t an upset in my eyes.
All-time series record: Ohio State 17-14-0
Other Big 10 Games for Saturday, October 28, 2017
Michigan State Spartans -1 at Northwestern Wildcats +1, Total 40.5
Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois - 3:30 p.m., ET - ESPN
Michigan State continues to slide by weaker opponents and remains 4-0 in the Big 10 East, tied with Ohio State and Penn State at the top of the standings. ALL that ends this week in Evanston. Spartan head coach, Mark Dantonio, should be embarrassed to let start running-back, A.J. Scott suit up last week after being arrested for the seventh time. Not once, not twice, but 7 times, Unreal! But what goes around, comes around and the team in green is going down this week. Northwestern is off a huge win against Iowa in overtime and now will use their two major threats to dismantle Michigan State. Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson and all-purpose threat Justin Jackson will have their way, all day and ruin crooked Dantonio’s year. Northwestern wins!
All-time series record: Michigan State 37-18-0
Rutgers Scarlet Knights +24 at Michigan Wolverines -24, Total 43.5
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan - Noon, ET - BTN
Be careful here. You may think that the Wolverines will bounce back in a big way after getting trounced last week at Penn State, but if you take a look at the Michigan team, they aren’t very good and highly over-rated. They beat Florida in their first game of the season and everyone said, wow, the Wolverines are strong this year, but the last I checked, Florida is 3-3 and a very average team this year. Michigan’s other wins this year are over Cincinnati, Air Force, Purdue and Indiana - all teams with losing records. The Wolverines need to be careful this week with a Rutgers team that has back-to-back conference wins and are gaining confidence along the way. The Scarlet Knights hold their own and easily cover the 24-point spread.
All-time series record: Michigan 2-1-0
Minnesota Gophers +8 at Iowa Hawkeyes -8, Total 43
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa - 6:30 p.m., ET - FS1
The battle for the bronze pig statue is on the line in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are off three heartbreak losses where they could have won all three. Last week they lost to Northwestern in OT. The week before to Michigan State and it all started with their loss to Penn State three weeks ago. Their defense has been strong in all three games and it will be this week when they host the sputtering Minnesota team that barely beat Illinois last week. The Hawkeyes put it all together and put a pounding on the Gophers. Iowa 31 - 13.
All-time series record: Minnesota 62-46-2
Wisconsin Badgers -26 at Illinois Fighting Illini +26, Total 49
Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois - Noon, ET - ESPN
This game is going to be a crush job from start to finish. Illinois doesn’t have the athletes to play with a strong Wisconsin team. The Badgers second string could beat the Illinois’ first teamers. This will be a boring game to watch. The Badgers will run the ball right at the undermanned Illini defense, pounding them 42-3.
All-time series record: Wisconsin 40-37-7
Nebraska Cornhuskers +6 at Purdue Boilermakers -6, Total 48
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana - 7:30 p.m., ET - BTN
A game between two average teams fighting to become bowl eligible by the end of the year. Purdue at least played Wisconsin tough, losing 17-9, which shows me they can match up against a power team. Nebraska is one loss away from firing their head coach and that could be this week. Bye Bye Mike Riley. I like the home field advantage and the Purdue Boilermakers. Lay the points.
All-time series record: Nebraska 3-2-0
Indiana Hoosiers -4.5 at Maryland Terrapins +4.5, Total 51.5
Capital One Field, College Park, Maryland - 3:30 p.m., ET - BTN
Indiana has played hard all year long, but don’t have much to show for it. The Hoosiers are 0-4 in conference play but those losses were to Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan. Now they hit the road to face a Maryland team that is on their fourth string quarterback. It’s plain and simple, Indiana is hungry for a win and have the better team. Hoosiers roll by 17.
All-time series record: Indiana 4-1-0
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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 Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 3:30 p.m., ET. FOX will televise the game live.
