Around the Big Ten

[AlabamAlum]

I think OSU covers - or close.

[iam416]

You're a fucking idiot.

[AlabamAlum]

I'll give you MSU +13.5. Userpics for a month.

[THE_WIZARD_]

You're a fucking idiot.

Thank you Mister Obvious.

[Cody_Russell]

By the time you read this, the fact that Rutgers is beating Penn St 3-0 and has the ball will mean nothing.
Hope of Rutgers beating Penn St will be gone, sadly.

[whodean]

Is OSU really favored by 17 over MSU? I think that's the dumbest line for an MSU game (outside of when they play M) that I haver ever seen.

Not so dumb.

[Jeff Buchanan]

From 11 Warriors:

Ohio State is breaking out the alternate uniforms again for its rivalry game at Michigan later this month.

A video released on the Ohio State football team's Twitter account Sunday afternoon gives us a first look at the road version of the "Land of the Wolves" alternate uniforms, which the Buckeyes plan to wear against the Wolverines on Nov. 25.

The road version of the uniforms features the gray helmets, scarlet Buckeye Leafs and wolf print that were prominent in the home alternates worn against Penn State, but will be white uniforms worn with gray LeBron Soldier XI cleats.

Ohio State will look to improve to 2-0 in alternate uniforms this season after earning a 39-38 win over Penn State on Oct. 28.

They were Hideous for home unis v. PSU. A pox upon the away version.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2017/11/87835/video-ohio-state-teases-alternate-uniforms-to-be-worn-against-michigan

[AlabamAlum]

They were shitty looking unis.

[THE_WIZARD_]

STFU

[AlabamAlum]

No?

[THE_WIZARD_]

Yes?

[iam416]

Bah. 2-5 last week and 42-43-1 on the season. Back to life amongst the shadows, lowlifes and hoods.

Michigan (+7?) at Wisconsin. Welp, Good Badger/Bad Badger finally let me down. So, I may have to actually cap this game. I have certainly been guilty of bestowing too much credit on Don Brown and, to a lesser extent, HARBAUGH!!!! The defense is good, but not dependably hellacious enough to cover larger numbers when their offense is poop. To wit, 20 fucking regulation points against IU. 14 to Rutgers. This game is a bit different, though. This game is an underdog game. That means they have considerably more leeway. Holding Wisconsin to 17 may be enough to cover. And what?s more, Wisconsin hasn?t had multiple ?quasi-bye? weeks ahead of this game to ?hide? huge innovations and do unimaginable things ? the only conceivable way to best Don Brown. Wisconsin?s offense is plain vanilla and, what?s even worse, turnover-prone. So, I think 17-20 is a reasonable target. Wisconsin?s defense is, unfortunately, very good. But, wait! ? M has had a series of ?quasi-bye? weeks to develop and hide huge innovations and come out doing unimaginable things! Amiright? So, it seems like they?ll be at 17-20 as well?AT LEAST. So, I have this is as a pure toss-up. In that case, I?ll take the points and back the HARBAUGH!!!! express.

Minnesota (+7?) at Northwestern. I can?t figure out either team. I don?t expect Minnesota to play well two weeks in a row. And nFw has proven tough at Evanston High. I?ll back the Mildcats to give the Goofers a sound cuffing in front of 12,000 strong.

Rutgers (+10?) at Indiana. Get ready for this ? Rutgers is the best ATS team in the country. I think they?re something like 8-2. IU is just not good with Lagow and were only slightly better with Ramsey. I?ll back the Genius of Ash to keep this game within 10.

Illinois (+41) at Ohio State. The number harkens back to 1997. Though a score ago, the memory is fresh. A young, optimistic law school student wagers a princely sum -- $50 ? his grocery money ? on Ohio State to cover 38 against a shitball Illinois team. The game is played in a misty, steel gray B10 November day. The cover was in good hands through most of the game. 28-0 at half. 41-0 in the third. The offense was in hand-off mode for the 4th, but that was ok ? Illinois had virtually no chance of crossing the 50, let alone scoring. Finally, OSU gets the ball and is able to run out the clock. The final play is?.not a kneel down?.it?s a pass????....WTF?....the receiver, a walk-on, gets his catch (oh, I get it)?.but wait?.he fumbles?Illinois scoops?.they?re going for the endzone?.for the love of fuck, tackle him. Fucking hell. 41-6. No need to bother with the extra point. Yes, before Sparty nipped M in 2015, I had my own personal final play hell. All of this is a remarkably self-indulgent way ? even by my own lofty standards ? of saying I?ll taking the points in the rain, wind and cold. Lovie.

Purdue (+7?) at Iowa. The Genius of Ferentz is back to being the Genius of Ferentz. I think it wise business to bank on their trademark tepid offense. The Boiler has been snake-bitten on the road. They dominated Rutgers and lost. Last week a sequence before halftime turned what should have been 7-3 or 7-7 into 14-0. I?m unsure of their road fortitude. However, I lean more toward gross Iowa offense in this one and will call for a 17-10 Iowa win. Boiler Up!

Nebraska (+26) at Penn State. The train is off the rails. The plane is in a nosedive. Please put your head between your knees and hope for the best on impact. Penn State is still playing for a NY6 bowl. So, you have a motivated team with good skill versus the Corn Hindenburg with a defense that would struggle to contain a decent intramural team. Penn State by way more than the number.

Maryland (+16) at Michigan State. Sparty had a bad week. It happens. They?re not as good as the team that beat Penn State, but they?re way closer to that than the one that was losing 35-0 in the 2nd quarter in Columbus. The Turtle is what it is right now ? a decent team with some good skill and a grocery bagger for a QB. However, Sparty hasn?t beaten anyone other than a dreadful Bowling Green by more than 16, hot garbage QB or not. So, I?ll back Coach DJD to have his boys ready to put up another brave, hard effort with no real chance of winning. Sparty by something like 27-17.

[froot loops]

You didn't need to eat that week, but it provided a wonderful story 20 years later.

[iam416]

You never forget your worst beats. I can still see it as clear as day. I actually went to the game, too. Stayed through he entire thing.

Oh well, I also try to remember being on the right side of miracles. I mean, I had Cincinnati in the 2012 Belk Bowl against Duke, and that rates as one of the all-time bad beats (for Duke backers...heh).

[Wild Hoss]

Penn State by way more than the number.

Oh yeah. It appears that our dimwit coaching staff intends to air it out, despite coming off a rout @MN where the Gopherz were getting sacks rushing 3 v 6 and 7-man protections. It'll be cold though, so maybe Franklin will pull his starters (and selected backups) to avoid muscle pulls when PSU is up by 31 or so, and we can close the gap with a garbage score or two.