Nebraska football: Betting the Big Ten games in week 2
Nebraska football is favored once again this week. So is almost every other team in the Big Ten conference.
I’ll admit, I didn’t do well when it came to my first go-round in picking the winners and losers in the Big Ten. Had the Nebraska football team won, I would have done slightly better, but it was still bad overall.
Most people who go 5-7 don’t have the guts to tell you how you should play (just for fun) the following week. I’m going to do it anyway.
With that in mind, this is where we’ll place what is certain to become the usual disclaimer that these are just game picks. No money has been or will be wagered on any of these games.
Colorado at Nebraska (-4) 2:30 PM CT (ABC)
The Nebraska football game had their first game called on account of lightning. Colorado opened their season with a 45-13 win over Colorado State. The Buffs amassed nearly 600 yards of offense and held the Rams to less than 300. This is going to be a tough matchup. I think the Cornhuskers win, but I think it’s by three or less.
Pick: Colorado
New Mexico at Wisconsin (-33) 11:00 AM CT (BTN)
Wisconsin almost covered a 36 point spread against Western Kentucky. The Lobos allowed 30 points to Incarnate Word last week. They also scored 62, but I think the Badgers’ defense is going to lock them down.
Pick: Wisconsin
Western Michigan at Michigan (-27.5) 11:00 AM CT (FS1)
Perhaps the biggest scare factor for Wolverines fans last Saturday wasn’t how bad the offense looked, but how bad the defense looked at times. In comes Western Michigan as four touchdown dogs. The Broncos scored 42 last week. The Wolverines will win this. They’ll probably even win it by 20 but I don’t think they win it by 28.
Pick: Western Michigan
Duke at Northwestern (-4) 11:00 AM CT (ESPNU)
Northwestern is fresh off an impressive win in its conference opener. Duke manhandled Army but they aren’t on the same level as the Wildcats. I think I have to consider this game my stone-cold, lead pipe lock of the week.
Pick: Northwestern
Eastern Michigan at Purdue (-14) 11:00 AM CT (BTN)
Purdue might be 0-1, but they almost came all they way back against Northwestern. Eastern Michigan might be 1-0 but that’s because they played Monmouth. If Northwestern wasn’t my lock of the week, this game would be. Boilermakers are going to win by at least three touchdowns.
Pick: Purdue
Rutgers at Ohio State (-35.5) 2:30 PM CT (BTN)
Ohio State’s offense is in midseason form. While it’s defense leaves something to be desired, it feels like the Buckeyes are about to take out their frustrations on the Scarlet Knights. I lost picking Ohio State big last week, but think it pans out this weekend.
Pick: Ohio State
Iowa State at Iowa (-3.5) 4:00 PM CT (Fox)
Iowa State is in the same boat as the Nebraska football team. They didn’t get to play their first game of the year. Iowa, on the other hand, beat Northern Illinois with ease. While Nebraska is as hyped as it’s been in years, I think Iowa State is just gonna be rusty. The Hawkeyes win this by a touchdown.
Pick: Iowa
Maryland (-16) at Bowling Green 5:00 PM CT (ESPN+)
Maryland is coming off an upset win over a Top 25 team. Bowling Green is coming off a 34-point loss to Oregon. Now the Terapins aren’t at the level of the Ducks, but there is not reason to believe they can’t win this contest by 20
Pick: Maryland
Virginia at Indiana (-6.5) 6:30 PM CT (BTN)
This is going to be one of the only games this week where I pick a Big Ten team to lose. Indiana just didn’t look all that good against FIU. Virginia looked pretty good against a traditional FCS power. I think the Cavs at least cover and could pull off the upset. The Hoosiers join the Nebraska football team as the rare B1G squad I go against when talking about covering.
Pick: Virginia
Fresno State at Minnesota (-1.5) 6:30 PM CT (FS1)
Minnesota’s running game looked just a little too good for Fresno State. On the other hand, if the Bulldogs can get their offense going, this could turn into a kind of shootout. That wouldn’t be good for the team playing a true freshman walk-on. In the end, I think Minnesota wins and covers but just barely.
Pick: Minnesota
Penn State (-8.5) at Pittsburgh 7:00 PM CT (ABC)
This game might go a long way to showing us whether Penn State is going to be better than they looked last week. At first glance, this looks like a game the Nittany Lions should cover rather easily. On the other hand, they had to rally to go to overtime against Appalachian State. I think Penn State could win by three touchdowns but …
Pick: Penn State
Michigan State (-6) at Arizona State 9:45 PM CT (ESPN)
Speaking of teams that were supposed to be better than they looked in week 1. Michigan State almost lost to Utah State. Arizona State, on the other hand, took care of business against UT-San Antonio. Can Herm Edwards pull off the upset? Yeah, I think so.
Pick: Arizona State