Around the Big Ten

[WM Wolverine]

Fleck will have better options than Purdue.

[iam416]

Western is a better option than Purdue.

[Whitley]

Fleck will have better options than Purdue.

Probably but if they totally handed the keys over and made a serious committment to upgrading their FB program it would be very tempting no?

[WM Wolverine]

Purdue is one of the least desirable P5 programs, Fleck will have interest from a lot better programs than Purdue if Western progresses as I hope

[iam416]

Quick recap of my B10 picks. I went 6-2. The games I won I had a pretty good read on. The ones I lost, I missed by a mile. I totally misread the OSU game. And I backed the Boilers. One can be attributed to the inherent pessimism of a fan, the other to being a total fucking jackass. I would have been 7-2 if I made a M pick as I backed them on-line and such. This week I can't avoid backing them against Colorado in what I'd call an early season 5* play--especially if it holds under 21, so I'll have a very limited comment on M football upcoming.

Maryland (-10') at Florida International. Opened at 7. I like Maryland a bit this year. I mean, I like them in the sense I think they can finish 5th in the East. I thought the FIU-IU game revealed more about the Hoosiers. FIU is still poo. I'll back the genius of Durkin on the road and give the 10'.
Penn State (+6) at Pitt. Line opened at 4'. IMO, probably a close game. Pitt has no homefield advantage. I'd probably lean toward taking the 6.
Purdue (+6') vs Cincinnati. Opened at 7. Generally if you can fade Purdue against a P5 team for less than a TD then proceed to the cashier. But I have a completely irrational hunch that the Hazells are going to play well and steal the win outright.
Indiana (-17') vs Ball State. This game is only relevant as a degenerate detector. You play this one then seek help. The initial take is IU will score lots of points! Yeah, been there...and watched them give up lots, too. Ball State has won the last two against IU (2011-12). I'll take the 17'.
Michigan (-35') vs UCF. Opened at 34'. No comment.
Wisconsin (-25) vs Akron. Wisky is fairly dependable in ramrodding MAC teams. Not a great deal of variance to their offense. I'll give the 25.
Ohio State (-28') vs Tulsa. My limited first week takeaways for OSU are OL will probably be ok, JTB is still good and the defense is rickety. BG was awful on offense making lots of mistakes that cost them probably 20 points. I don't know the first thing about Tulsa, but I think they're a decent version of Tulsa which means they're tough to run...they lost to OU and Houston by 14 each last year with a 6-6 team. I'll take the 28' but I really like the over 72. This one has 52-35 written all over it.
Iowa (-15) vs Iowa State. Opened at -18. The line drop has to reflect the perception that this game is always closer than it should be. That's the general rule, but in 2009 and 2010, Iowa laid it on them. I think this is an exception to the rule. I'll back 7-time B10 COY, Kirk Ferentz.
Illinois (+10) vs UNC. Opened at +7. Yeah, the line is moving in the right direction but it still has ways to go before I'd consider backing NFL MACHINE, INC JUNIOR. I'll give up 14 -- 10 is less than 14.
Nebraska (-24) vs Wyoming. UNL has shrewdly schedule the dregs of the MW to warm up for Oregon. Wyoming is the MW Mountain equivalent of Fresno -- maybe worse. I'll lay the 24.

[iam416]

This week's B10 games:

Illinois (+3) vs Western Michigan. The number opened at -1 and has moved 4 to 4' points. If you get Illinois at 3 you're paying extra juice while 3' is even to slightly plus. I agree with the initial Vegas assessment. I think WMU is a little overvalued. I'll take the 3' at -115.

Penn State (-8') vs Temple. This line confuses me a bit. Penn State has beaten Temple by 9 or more 4 of the 5 times they've played since 2010 -- you know, since PSU has been mediocre and Temple has experienced a modest revival. Last year PSU won by 17 against a 10-4 Temple team. I think the number is based on preseason metrics. Temple was supposed to be better than getting beat by 2 scores by ARMY. I think Penn State found some mojo against Pitt, at least enough to be the rock-solid 7-5 type PSU team we've come to know and love. So, I say they win by at least 13 and I'll gladly lay the 8'.

Maryland (-8') at UCF. I continue to think Maryland is a little undervalued. They delivered in spades last week for me with an easy cover at FIU. Last year UCF lost to FIU (and everyone else). I think UCF and FIU remain relatively interchangeable, though UCF obviously hits harder. I'll continue to back the Genius of DJ and the Mighty Turtle.

Michigan (-20) at Colorado. This is one of my favorite plays. I think this is a remarkably easy cover for M. I think they will obliterate CU in the trenches. I'd lay 28, so the 20 is no-brainer.

Rutgers (-5') vs New Mexico. The line opened at 3' so BEHOLD THE RUTGERS STEAM!!!! Boy, this is an awful, awful game. The US ought to round up the 19 people who watch this game and send them to Guantanamo or Flint. Or just shoot them. So, UNM lost to New Mexico State on the road. I guess I'll go with Rutgers to win by a TD and cover, but we all lose by the very existence of this shitfest.

Wisconsin (-34) vs Georgia State. Recall from last week -- Wisconsin trucks bad nonconference opponents. Georgia State just lost by 34 to AFA. I'll give the 34.

Nebraska (-3') vs Oregon. The line opened at 1' and is trending Huskerz. Not for me, though. I trust UNL marginally less than I trust Brady Hoke. That's saying something. I'll take the 3' all day and back the Ducks.

Michigan State (+8 ) at Notre Dame. The line opened at 6' it's at 8 in a couple places and 7' in others. I'm on record as really liking the type of roster BK has assembled at ND. I think there's tons of talent and the coaching is, ummm, good enough. ND is never an easy out unless you're Ohio State. I love getting points with them. But I really don't like giving too many points. I think ND wins, but I'll take Sparty and the points coming off a scrimmage and a bye week.

Northwestern (-4) vs Duke. NW is coming off a loss to Illinois State. Duke is coming off a loss to Wake Forest. I'm not sure which is worse. I do feel pretty sure that 20 points will win this debacle and 13 very well may win it. With points a premium, I'll gladly back Duke and take the 4 knowing if they can score a TD they'll probably cover.

Ohio State (-1') at Oklahoma. So, 3 weeks ago this line would have been OU -6. How much stock do you put in two weeks of CFB? I have a hard time seeing such an inexperienced team winning in Norman. I think it's a close game and I would have taken the 6 if OU didn't shit the bed against Houston. But there's no way I can back OSU as a favorite in this spot. Sadly, OU and the points is my pick.

Other games:

North Dakota State at Iowa. Surely a much harder test than Iowa State. This is a game they could actually lose if they don't play well.

The Goofers, Hoosiers and Boilers all have byes. The viewing public weeps.

Other CFB games of note:

Houston (-7') at Cincinnati. Opened at 6. I don't have a feel for this one either way. I think people give UC way too much credit. But I think UH may be slightly overvalued, too. I'd probably back Herman here.

Florida State (-2) at Louisville. Opened at +1. This line ballooned up to 3' briefly. I'm not buying Louisville, though I'm not sold on FSU. I think it's FSU, though.

Texas A&M (+3') at Auburn. This is a fishy line. One would think the points are attractive with the hook and all. Aggies beat UCLA. Auburn lost to a Clemson squad that isn't quite right, yet. They're begging for bets on A&M.

Alabama (-11) at Mississippi. Opened at 8'. I dunno. I think I like the points in this one. Alabama Death Star might actually be overvalued. Unfortunately, it's impossible to undervalue Genius of Freeze.

USC (+9) at Stanford. Opened at 6'. Yeah, I'm with the line on this. I think USC sucks. Stanford does not. It'll be an Alabama-lite beating which is still way more than 9.

Texas (-8 ) at Cal. Opened at 4. Put this one up because if you believe in Texas this is fucking stealing.

[The Oracle]

That's good stuff right there. You've proven to be a most useful mammal.

[AlabamAlum]

Take the points and bet the house on Ole Miss. I'm never wrong.

[entropy]

The Medium and growing (formerly Big) Ten

I'd bet the ducks as well. Team still feels as if they are playing not to make mistakes. You hesitate when doing that...


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[THE_WIZARD_]

Ducks 34 Huskerz 24

[Wild Hoss]

Nike 45
Addidas 31

OR's shitty defense will make a game of it, but we don't have the lines or QB to win this IMO. Maybe next year in Eugene.

[UMStan White]

If you don't beat them in Lincoln you'll never win in Eugene

[Wild Hoss]

Oh, I don't think there 53,000 that bother to show up will be too intimidating for us. We'll be mature on both lines and have a QB...we'll take em out.

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[The Oracle]

LOL, I'll take that bet right now.

[Wild Hoss]

You on.

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