Week 8 in the Big Ten is in the books. The No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes steam rolled Rutgers, 49-0. Penn State squeaked by Maryland, 31-30. Michigan State, Wisconsin and Northwestern also added wins. We are past the halfway point of the season and all games become that much more important. Where did the season go, it seems like it just got started.
Big Ten play continues into Week 9 with 10 teams in action. Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana and Northwestern are idle this week. Conference play is heating up with a few intriguing matchups. Let’s take a look at this week’s games. All odds taken from BookMaker Sportsbook.
BIG 10 GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Michigan Wolverines -14 at Minnesota Gophers +14, Total 38.5
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota - 7:00 p.m., ET - ESPN
Minnesota’s coach retired earlier this week, citing health issues. “I don't want to be a liability,” an emotional Kill said at a Wednesday morning press conference. “I don't want somebody to have to worry that I'll drop on the field.” How will the team respond? They face an upstart Michigan team that is coming off a bye week after their heartbreak loss to in-state rival Michigan State. The Gophers will have a lot of trouble adjusting to listening to a new voice and struggle from start to finish. The Wolverines defense will shut down Minnesota’s pathetic offense and win this game by three touchdowns. Michigan wallops Minnesota, 27-7..
Other notable Big Ten games - All odds taken from BookMaker Sportsbook.
Illinois Fighting Illini +5.5 at Penn State Nittany Lions -5.5, Total 43
Noon, ET - ESPN2
The line for this game opened with Penn State favored by 6.5 points and now has dropped to 5.5. I had Penn State favored by double digits. At home in front of 100,000 fans, I love the Nittany Lions this week. Penn State may start out slow but at the end of the day, they wear the Fighting Illini down and win this game by at least 10 points. Lay the points!
Nebraska Cornhuskers -10 at Purdue Boilermakers +10, Total 57.5
Noon, ET - ESPNU
Nebraska lost another heartbreaker last week when Northwestern upset them, 30-28, on a late touchdown. The Cornhuskers are a very difficult team to figure out. They look good for one quarter and then look horrible the next. Purdue continues to struggle and is searching for answers. Nebraska gets it done, 34-21.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights +20 at Wisconsin Badgers -20, Total 50.5
Noon, ET - BTN
Wisconsin is one of the most disappointing teams in the league so far this year. Maybe it’s their lack of talent. maybe the new coaching philosophy, but something is wrong. They used to overpower teams with their running game and solid QB play, but their offense is a mess and their overall talent level is not what we are used to seeing. Rutgers can put points on the board and should keep this game close, well at least within the 20 points they are catching.
Maryland Terrapins +17 at Iowa Hawkeyes -17, Total 53.5
3:30 p.m., ET - ABC/ESPN
The Iowa faithful are looking way too far ahead. They are off to a 7-0 start and have a bunch of cupcakes remaining on their schedule. The fans are thinking they can run the table and go 12-0. Somehow, the Hawkeyes don’t have to face the top three teams in the league, Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan are not on their schedule this year. How does that happen? Some how the Hawks will lose a game and it could be this week against Maryland. When a team gets comfortable and starts listening to how good they are and how they are going to go undefeated, Shazam, they lose.
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! Michigan Wolverines at Minnesota Gophers square off on Saturday, October 31, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., ET at TCF Bank Stadium. The matchup will be televised live on ESPN.
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