Mike: Akron’s back in Lincoln?
Nate M: Rainy Day Parade by Staind
Patrick: Ummmm….
Jarek: As a former meteorology major, I’m always keeping tabs on the weather… should be good… unless mother nature has a sick sense of humor.
Andy: I’m wondering if this year’s game contract had some different clauses in it…
Iowa (+3.5) at Iowa State
Nate M: Iowa’s new “stud” quarterback Mike Gronowski threw for 44 yards and a measly QBR of 24.4 in their first week game. But Iowa ran for over 300 yards. Maybe they were holding back for this matchup?
I am thinking that Iowa wins but I’m definitely pulling for Iowa State.
Patrick: University of Iowa 10 Iowa State University 9
Jarek: Iowa State wins this ballgame if the Squawks can’t run. This will turn into a punt, pass and kick competition. Iowa State 20 Iowa 17
Mike: You mean pint, piss and kick… though it is a Big 11 AM kickoff. Gronowski is going to be twice as effective this week, but to no avail. Fightin’ Cys 24, Squawkeyes 12
Jon: Iowa State didn’t look Too bad in Ireland against Kansas State. Iowa didn’t look that great against who I’m or the hell they played in their first. I have to think that Iowa State’s offense will be more versatile. And while I know Iowa’s defense is always very good, I think that Iowa State is just going to take this game. Iowa State 17, Iowa 13
Andy: The first thing I want is a piece of those unders at 43.5. But on a day where we all become Cyclone fans, just be grateful we’re not forced to watch a sunny day game which will unfurl like something being played in a driving rainstorm. Iowa State 15 People With Good Vision, Not Birds 11
Illinois (-3.5) at Duke
Nate M: I am an Illinois believer and the 52-3 win over Miami (OH) in week definitely has not hurt my case. I am surprised they are only a -3.5 favorite over Duke. I would expected this number to be closer to 6. I expect Illinois to pull away in the second half.
Patrick: University of Illinois 24 Duke University 21
Jon: I’m surprised this odds are this close. Illinois offense is always interesting to watch.They do redirection, I think, better than almost anybody in the nation. Their quarterback is excellent. Illinois 31, Duke 21
Jarek: I’m with you Nate, how is Illinois favored by only 3.5? That seems incredibly low. Duke should cause some problems, but not many. Illinois 31 Duke 20
Mike: Vegas knows something here. Dookies 24, Berts 20
Andy: The Illini were 5-1 in one-score games in 2024, and in a non-cursed one-score-games world, that means a regression to the mean is coming and a scrappy Duke team just might bring it today. Also, watching Bert lose makes me happy. The Illini will be dropping like fake dead flies to slow things down, but – Duke 30 Illini 26
Michigan (+4.5) at Oklahoma
Nate M: Ok. We need Oklahoma to scare the bejeezus out of Michigan’s Bryce Underwood. Show us all of his shortcomings so we actually have a chance in a few weeks. This is a Big Ten – SEC matchup so I will be pulling for Michigan but I think Oklahoma finds a way to win a close one.
Patrick: University of Michigan 27 University of Oklahoma 10
Jarek: I’m not sure what this game will say about either team overall, but it should give a pretty decent indication. I think Oklahoma randomly eeks one out here. Oklahoma 24 Michigan 21
Mike: True freshman vs. transfer quarterback battle. I think the safe bet is to take the veteran at home. Boomers 21, Weasels 14
Jon: Easily the biggest game of the day. I am conflicted in that I would kind of like to see Oklahoma win. Because the hell with Michigan. Is rice underwood really that good? Is Oklahoma’s offense good enough to score points? I’m going to go with Oklahoma here. Oklahoma 24, Michigan 23
Andy: 34 on New Mexico in a game which remained at a one-score level well into the second half did not convince me a Michigan team with a craptastically bad offense in ‘24 is suddenly a scoring machine with a freshman QB at the helm. Okie QB John Mateer, the Heisman favorite of the week, didn’t play anyone worth a damn either, but he’ll get more done than the Weasels – Oklahoma 23 Michigan 19
UCLA (-2.5) at UNLV
Nate M: I am picking UNLV to win this outright. They are not scared of UCLA. The only people scared of UCLA are it’s fans.
Patrick: University of Nevada Las Vegas 28 University of California Los Angeles 17
Jarek: I feel like this could be another upset, but UCLA can’t be THAT bad can they? UCLA 21 UNLV 17
Mike: The Bruins looked THAT bad last week. I think this might be a bounce-back game, though. Bruins 31, Rebels 21
Jon: For the love of everything Bruin, I hope to hell that UCLA wins this game. UCLA 28, UNLV 21
Andy: Last week’s bed shitter was a head scratcher after UCLA’s 5-7 record against a brutal 2024 schedule which included 7 one-score games. This week, they weirdly agreed to go play UNLV on the road. That’s too much head-scratching and I’m taking UNLV and anyone else the Bruins play until they can show cause they aren’t headed for a train wreck season. Fightin’ Tarkanians 33 UCLA 24
Akron (+34.5) at Nebraska
Nate M: During his Thursday press conference, Matt Rhule did his best to make me think Nebraska was going to lose to Akron. Then a friend of mine shared a tweet from Mike’l Severe in which he pointed out that Akron in six of it’s last seven games vs Power Four teams has been outscored a combined 301-39. That makes me feel better but I don’t think Nebraska covers and that’s okay.
Patrick: University of Nebraska 41 University of Akron 7
Jarek: At least we’ll get past the opening kickoff this time…too soon? Nebraska will take care of business. I really don’t want Akron to score considering they were shut out by Wyoming last week. Nebraska 45 Akron 3
Mike: Akron is in a complete rebuild, but the defense did hold Wyoming to ten points last week on the road. Unfortunately, they didn’t score offensively. They might get a chance in the fourth quarter this week. MIGHT. Huskers 49, Zips Zip.
Jon: What offense are we going to see in this game? Are we going to actually see any explosive plays? Are we going to see any quarterback sacks? Nebraska 54, Akron 3
Andy: I agree on folks wanting to take Akron to cover because I’ve seen Matt Rhule operate with a big halftime lead and that modus operandi is to empty the benches and pound the rock. However, Rhule mentioned the Northern Iowa game – remember, that was last year’s “Oh crap, we can’t stop the run!” game as the Panthers ball-controlled their way to a 38-22 possession advantage in TOP – as a reason they lost to Illinois.
They also went into second half shutdown mode against UTEP and Colorado. Dana Holgorsen said he wants explosive plays and you don’t get better at those by diving into the line for an entire 2nd half of games trying to be a nice guy. The Northern Illinois comment may have been Rhule’s way of saying that. I’m going to go out on a limb and say he goes against his tendencies today and puts his foot on the gas a little longer. Huskers 49 Zips 6
(Of course, I’m not actually betting anything – if I knew what would happen in games, I’d be betting them, not writing about them.)
