Other Big Ten picks from CFN
BOSTON COLLEGE at MICHIGAN STATE (-4.5)
The Boston College offense will strike early and take a lead deep into the first half - a few Michigan State mistakes will be a part of that. But at home at night, the Spartans will start to gather momentum in the second half with a ground game that eats up the clock, and a settled-in performance from quarterback Aidan Chiles. Michigan State 26, Boston College 20
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL at PENN STATE (-41.5)
Again, there’s obviously no real concern with the ground game, but Penn State will get that out of the way on the first few drives. Last week was about getting Allar going, and this week will be for the offensive line to get into a lather. Penn State 48, Florida International 6
ILLINOIS (-3) at DUKE
The Illini secondary is loaded. It’s hard to stand out in a Big Ten full of great defensive backs, but Illinois has one of the best safety tandems in the country in Xavier Scott and Miles Scott. Both teams are about equal, but Illinois has the better pub and national profile. That might change after this in a great fight, but the Illini will get past a frustrating first half to grind out a good final quarter with one big takeaway leading to the game-winning score. Illinois 27, Duke 23
Cockeye at Cockeye STATE (-3)
In 2017, Cockeye beat Cockeye State 44-41 in overtime, but since then........Cockeye 13-3. Cockeye 18-17. Cockeye 27-17. Cockeye State 10-7. Cockeye 20-13. Cockeye State 20-19. Both offenses might be talented, and there will be more of a passing game than normal, but the defenses will both rule the day. The road team has won every game since 2019, and it'll happen again in a low-scoring battle that comes down to a late kick. This is when Gronowski steps up, leading a late drive for a thrilling win. Cockeye 23, Cockeye State 20
GEORGIA SOUTHERN at USC (-28.5)
Again, Georgia Southern is way better than it showed last week. Helton’s offenses can move, they have explosion, and none of that was apparent up the road in Fresno. There will be a little more pop early in this. USC will come out a little rocky, and Georgia Southern might even have an early lead, and then everything will settle in, and bad things will happen from there. USC 48, Georgia Southern 17
GRAMBLING at OHIO STATE (N/A)
Yes, this will be a blowout, and yes, the Ohio State defense can be a brick wall if it goes full throttle for a full four quarters. Grambling State will have a few good drives, but the production won’t be nearly enough to overcome a huge first quarter by the Buckeye offense that opens it up right away. Ohio State 55, Grambling 0
KENNESAW STATE at INDIANA (-35.5)
To keep hammering this home, Indiana was fine last week. Take out those two huge ODU runs, and that Hoosier defense didn’t allow a thing. But that’s not how things work under Curt Cignetti. Everything has to be cleaned up, sharper, and this week, more drives will end in points, and the defense will swarm all over the Owl ground game. Indiana 47, Kennesaw State 7
MIAMI (OH) at RUTGERS (-15.5)
Last week, it was the defense that had a hard time. This week, it’ll be the offense that will struggle to find any consistency. Miami’s offense will be a little better than it was against Wisconsin, but the running game will still stall a bit too much. Rutgers will take advantage of good field position and maximize its opportunities, but it won’t be smooth. Rutgers 27, Miami (OH) 13
MICHIGAN at OKLAHOMA (-5.5)
It won’t exactly have the same nuclear energy burst like Florida State showed in its win over Alabama, or what Miami was like in the big victory over Notre Dame, but after two losing seasons in three years, this is a program and a fan base about to burst. Underwood will be great, but he’ll have a few freshman moments on the road to screw things up a bit. Both quarterbacks will be good, but both defenses will be better. Oklahoma’s defense will look and play like a Brent Venables defense that was waiting for this. Oklahoma 24, Michigan 20
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE at WISCONSIN (-28.5)
The Badgers geared down after Edwards Jr. got hurt, controlled the clock, and didn’t force O’Neil into any tough situations. It worked, but it was also 3-0 with just over 20 minutes to play. That worked against Miami University, and it’ll work just fine against Middle Tennessee, but this is when the offense has to get cranked up with the Bama D up next. It won’t be amazing, but the Badger attack will look sharper. Wisconsin 34, Middle Tennessee State 3
NORTHERN ILLINOIS at MARYLAND (-18.5)
The Terps aren’t extending themselves in non-conference play. They rolled Florida Atlantic, will demolish Towson next week, and they don’t have the toughest of Big Ten starts with Wisconsin, Washington, Nebraska, and UCLA. They’ll play it straight in this, and then ease up against the FCS team next. Maryland 37, Northern Illinois 16
NORTHWESTERN STATE at MINNESOTA (N/A)
Minnesota has to use this game to open up the scoring punch. There should be a balance, and the starters should get their work in over the first 30 minutes and then sit, but if there aren’t a bajillion points scored here, there’s a problem. Northwestern State lost to Tulsa 62-28 last year and had an 87-10 problem against South Alabama. The Gophers will put up points early, and then the dogs will be called off. Minnesota 55, Northwestern State 0
OKLAHOMA STATE at OREGON (-28.5)
Again, Oklahoma State has been all but forgotten by the college football world. The 39-31 shootout win over Arkansas in Week Two of last year seems like it was 15 years ago. That offensive production will show up in Eugene. It’ll be a back-and-forth fight, with Moore finding a groove just in time to lead two fourth-quarter scoring drives to pull away. Oregon 41, Oklahoma State 27
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS at PURDUE (N/A
The Boilermaker defense will look to make another statement. After a disastrous 2024, there’s a real shot Purdue could at least be tied for the best scoring defense in the nation. It’ll be another crisp win before USC comes to town. Purdue 41, Southern Illinois 6
UC-DAVIS at WASHINGTON (N/A)
Washington needs to put this away fast. What do the Huskies REALLY have to work on? More than anything else, they have to get back into the We’re Good At Football mindset. Of course there’s been a big rebuild over the last year-plus after Kalen DeBoer left - that is going GREAT, by the way - but now it’s time to start winning easily. That means Washington needs to take a team like this and put it away in two drives. It won’t be that clean, but there won’t be a problem. Washington 44, UC-Davis 13
UCLA (-2.5) at UNLV
Yeah, Utah really is that good. The UNLV offense will get out to a hot start, but UCLA’s defense will step it up as the game goes on. The embarrassment of last week’s game was bad, and the Bruins won’t let that happen again this week. UCLA 34, UNLV 23
WESTERN ILLINOIS at NORTHWESTERN (N/A)
It won’t be with the ease that Illinois was able to show off in a light scrimmage of a first half, but after so much frustration last week, this is about proving there’s some life in the offense. There won’t be any holding back. The attack has to show the explosion to get ready for the Ducks. Northwestern 45, Western Illinois 6
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