Big Ten Football Week 6 Picks, Predictions, Previews

October 3 marks der Tag der Deutschen Einheit—the day of German unity—when, in 1990, East Germany ceased to exist, effectively reuinfying the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland, from

1949-1990 just West Germany). Thirty-five years. A lifetime, to some.

A student came to my office hours on Tuesday—a non-traditional student, at that, the ripe old age of 24, back for his second year of college. We discussed some of his interests, why he came back, and what he wanted to get out of the class.

Then, he asked me, “Was the whole ‘Y2K’ thing really as big a deal as some people make it out to be?”

A lifetime, to some.

About Last Week

It takes some talent to tie for last at 3-3 picking straight up, while blowing away the field going 5-1 against the spread. Hey editor guy, you know it’s supposed to be harder to pick against the spread, right?
BigRedTwice went full RMB this week at 1-5. Never go full RMB, BRT.
NOT IN LAST! NOT IN LAST!

The Picks

All times CDT, because reasons.

Saturday, October 4

Wisconsin Badgers @ (20) Michigan Wolverines

11AM | FOX | Michigan -16.5 | O/U 41.5
Straight Up: Michigan 11-0
Against the Spread: Michigan 9-2

Buffkomodo: Wisconsin blows and even with a week off gets slaughtered. Fickell might not make it to Bloomington.

Larry31: Still not impressed with Michigan’s $20 million QB. But, man. Whisky looked horrible against Maryland. Cheetahs to cover.

Thumpasaurus: Wisconsin is very bad. Michigan’s lines are much better.

BRT: Wisky is woeful and it’s in Ann Arbor. I don’t see how the Badgers stay in this.

RockyMtnBlue: Michigan is significantly better and at home. Clock mismanagement costs Michigan a score before halftime. Combine this with Moore’s general conservatism (he’s baaaack) and this is a closer game than it probably should be. Michigan 24-13

MNW: Michigan will, as Thump noted, blow the badgers off the line. However…defense? Still? Perhaps? Michigan, 24-10.

(22) Illinois Fighting Illini @ Purdue Boilermakers

11AM | BTN | Illinois -10.5 | O/U 55.5
Straight Up: Illinois 11-0
Against the Spread: Illinois 6-5

Buffkomodo: I thought USC and Notre Dame would destroy Purdue. They did not. They weren’t squeakers, but they were closer than I thought (30 points). Let’s take a split on this.

Larry31: I think Bert is still pissed about the ass-whooping they got from Indiana. Although I still think Purdue has the moxie to really muck things up. I’m going with Illinois to cover but wouldn’t be shocked if Purdue nearly squeaks out a win.

Thumpasaurus: Illinois may be shitty, but at least they’re not also dumb. Purdue’s offensive line has really struggled, so I would imagine we’ll be aggressive defensively. A lot of teams in this conference suck even more than we do, and Purdue is one of those teams. Nevertheless, Purdue is also helmed by a guy who so far has not demonstrated a proclivity for coaching dumb. This will be uncomfortable, but I believe Illinois can get it done.

BRT: This one has an outside chance at being interesting, but I ultimately think Illinois is a more solid team and can shut down any ability to score that Purdue may have.

RockyMtnBlue: Purdue’s defense is very very very bad. Maybe their offense is enough to keep this one inside the spread? Maybe? Illinois 31-21

MNW: Bert run ball. Run, Bert, run. Illinois, 31-13.

(7) Penn State Nittany Lions @ UCLA Bruins

2:30PM | CBS | Penn State -25.5 | O/U 49.5
Straight Up: Penn State 11-0
Against the Spread: Penn State 11-0

Buffkomodo: UCLA fired Sunseri this week just to get beat 900-0. This win won’t help the “Penn State hasn’t beaten anyone” crowd, but it’ll be nice to have a + in the B1G differential column.

Larry31: Tough one to predict. Is Penn state still down from that heartbreaker? Or have they moved on and are super pissed? I am going with super pissed. Penn state covers. But, letting Oregon beat them twice is a definite possibility. That Oregon game was a real gut-punch. Credit to Franklin if he has his team recovered and laser-focused against UCLA.

Thumpasaurus: UCLA is turbo-bad.

BRT: Yikes. Pissy Penn State vs. an utterly inept UCLA? The only thing the Bruins have going for them is Penn State’s cross-continent travel, but it won’t be enough.

RockyMtnBlue: Almost halfway through the season and the Nits have played one very good team and a bevy of awful ones. The beatings will continue until morale improves. Penn State 35-7

MNW: I dunno why we’re concerned about Penn State: this isn’t a top 10 team. Nits roll, 35-6.

Washington Huskies @ Maryland Terrapins

2:30PM | BTN | Washington -5.5 | O/U 52.5
Straight Up: UDub 10-1
Against the Spread: UDub 8-3

Buffkomodo: Washington?

Larry31: Maryland is 0-9 in the B1G coming off bye weeks. It’s no longer September. These factors outweigh the 3 time zone rule that would normally favor Maryland. Washington wins. Not only is Maryland 0-9, but they have really looked like ass in a lot of these back-from-the-bye-week games.

Thumpasaurus: It’s October and Maryland is 4-0. Washington seems to be a pretty solid team. You know what that means.

BRT: Betting that October does its thing until proven otherwise.

RockyMtnBlue: I’ve enjoyed watching Maryland play this year. They’re significantly better than I expected them to be. But don’t let last week fool you. Washington is actually good. Huskies 34-24

MNW: There are some statistics I’d like to share with you now, and they are numbers.

First games of October in the Mike Locksley Era:

2019: def. Rutgers, 48-7 (were 2-2, finished 3-9)
2020: lost to Northwestern, 43-3 (was the first game of the year, finished 2-3, with 3 no contests)
2021: lost to #5 Iowa, 51-14 (were 4-0, finished 7-6, 3-6 B1G)
2022: def. Michigan State, 27-13 (were 3-1, finished 8-5, 4-5 B1G, and 3-1 for October)
2023: lost to #4 Ohio State, 37-17 (were 5-0, finished 8-5, 4-5)
2024: lost to Northwestern, 37-10 (were 3-2, 0-2 B1G, finished 4-8, 1-8)

Demond Williams is a good quarterback. Puppies, 34-24.

Louisiana Monroe Warhawks @ Northwestern Wildcats

2:30PM | BTN | Northwestern -10.5 | O/U 40.5
Straight Up: Northwestern 10-1
Against the Spread: UL Monroe 6-5

Buffkomodo: This will be Northwestern’s last win this year, right?

Larry31: Go Cats. NW to win and cover.

Thumpasaurus: These Cajuns are not very ragin’.

BRT: Enjoy the win streak, Northwestern. Maybe.

RockyMtnBlue: I had to check to see if this is even an FBS team (I mean ULM, not Northwestern). Apparently it is. Who knew? Northwestern 28-14

MNW: If Northwestern can’t beat a team from the Dritte Liga—Die Spatzen!—it’s all over.

Putting these schools’ abbreviations together gives us NU ULM, which calls to mind where I would rather be this weekend, which is at Schell’s Brewery in New Ulm, Minnesota. Get me to God’s country. ‘Cats, 20-17.

Michigan State Spartans @ Nebraska Cornhuskers

3PM | FS1 | Nebraska -10.5 | O/U 53.5
Straight Up: Nebraska 9-2
Against the Spread: Michigan State 7-4

Buffkomodo: My heart says Nebraska. My head splits this because Nebraska.

Thumpasaurus: MSU has an even worse defense than Illinois. Unfortunately, the Dylan Raiola glazing will be off the charts after this one.

BRT: I picked with hope and my heart. No, I also don’t know how that’s possible after this long as a Husker fan, but here we are.

RockyMtnBlue: Unpopular opinion: Aiden Chiles is better than Dylan Raiola. Fight me. Jonathan Smith gets a road upset to build on. MSU 28-27

MNW: Huh. The coward’s middle on a 10.5-point spread, two games in a two. NEVERTHELESS! Chiles does something stupid at an inopportune time, and Good Nebraska Offense shows up. Huskers, 24-14.

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ (1) Ohio State Buckeyes

6:30PM | NBC / Peacock | Ohio State -23.5 | O/U 44.5
Straight Up: Ohio State 11-0
Against the Spread: Ohio State 8-3

Buffkomodo: Gopher bits…everywhere…

Larry31: Minnesota is not a genuine threat to Death Star. OSU will keep things simple and predictable on defense and offense, which allows Minnesota to hang close enough to cover the point spread.

Thumpasaurus: Minnesota’s defense doesn’t have the juice to keep this close. The Buckeye defense is extremely good.

BRT: At least Minnesota had an exciting win last week. They can all think back to that during this one.

RockyMtnBlue: Oh HELL no. Death Star 38-3

MNW: I actually regret this pick, given how Minnesota looked against Rutgers last week. As a reminder, by the way, Drake Lindsay is just Dylan Raiola with a softer-touch media focus. Peejus kicks a late field goal to beat the spread and Patrick Reusse finally just strokes out.

Excuse me. It appears I was reading WSR’s fanfic again.

NEVERTHELESS! Buckeyes, 28-7.