It's tradition around these parts once the Ohio State football season starts. Every year (and every week of the season), we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination in picking the Big Ten football games and some of the bigger college football contests now that conference play is in full swing.
Preseason favorites Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon have experienced at least one loss, with UCLA being the only overall unbeaten at this point, and with the Buckeyes the only other team undefeated in the Big Ten. There's still a long way to go, and many teams still have an opportunity to prove themselves to be taken seriously, like Northwestern, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. And then there's ... Michigan*.
So, just how will
Week 9 look? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the League straight up and against the spread for your wagering and reading consumption — do with it as you wish. We also include five of the biggest non-Big Ten games in college football for a little added fun.
As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried-and-true coin flip, where George Washington has the say.
EXAMPLE: If Ohio State is favored -3.5 over Michigan:
If you think Ohio State will win outright and cover: OSU
If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*
If you think Ohio State will lose: Michigan
Here are our expert picks for Week 8, focusing on the Big Ten games, but also throwing in the biggest non-Big Ten games across the country now that we are starting the conference season. Ohio State is off this week, so if you are a Buckeye fan, sit back and enjoy the games.
Big Ten and biggest national college football picks and predictions for Week 9
Results So Far
Follow Phil Harrison: 84-24 SU, 58-50 ATS
Follow MarkRussell: 80-28 SU, 54-54 ATS
Follow Sunny Verma: 78-30 SU, 51-57 ATS
Follow Alec Lasley: 80-29 SU, 53-55 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 80-28 SU, 50-58 ATS
Next ... Big Ten games
Wisconsin at Iowa
Saturday, Oct. 31
Noon ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Iowa -2.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Iowa
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Iowa
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Iowa
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Iowa
CONSENSUS PICK | Iowa
Illinois at Maryland
Saturday, Oct. 31
Noon ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Illinois -2.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Illinois
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Illinois
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Illinois
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Illinois
CONSENSUS PICK: Illinois
Michigan at Rutgers
Saturday, Oct. 31
3:00 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Michigan -16
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Michigan*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Michigan
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Michigan
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Michigan
CONSENSUS PICK | Michigan
Minnesota at Indiana
Saturday, Oct. 31
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Indiana -20.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Indiana
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Indiana*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Indiana
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Indiana*
CONSENSUS PICK | Indiana
Northwestern at Oregon
Saturday, Oct. 31
3:30 p.m. ET | Peacock
Betting Line | Oregon -3.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oregon
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oregon
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Oregon
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Northwestern
CONSENSUS PICK | Oregon
Nevada at UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 31
4:15 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | UCLA -22.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | UCLA
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | UCLA
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | UCLA
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | UCLA
CONSENSUS PICK | UCLA
Purdue at Penn State
Saturday, Oct. 31
4:15 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Penn State -10
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Penn State
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Penn State*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Penn State
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Penn State
CONSENSUS PICK | Penn State
Ohio State at USC
Saturday, Oct. 31
7:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Ohio State -6.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Ohio State
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Ohio State
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Ohio State
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Ohio State*
CONSENSUS PICK | Ohio State
Washington at Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 31
8:00 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Nebraska -7.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Nebraska
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Nebraska
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Nebraska
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Nebraska
CONSENSUS PICK | Nebraska
Next ... Biggest non-Big Ten games
Notre Dame vs. Navy
Saturday, Oct. 31
Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Notre Dame -30.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Notre Dame*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Notre Dame*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Notre Dame
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Notre Dame*
CONSENSUS PICK | Notre Dame*
Arizona at Texas Tech
Saturday, Oct. 31
Noon ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Texas Tech -3.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Texas Tech
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Texas Tech
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Texas Tech
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Texas Tech
CONSENSUS PICK | Texas Tech
Florida at Georgia
![Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart takes to the field with the team before an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia held off Florida 24-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2026/10/13/SOSU/92227115007-20251103-t-045448-z-973248266-mt-1-usatoday-27490934-rtrmadp-3-georgiabulldogsheadcoachkirbysmarttakestothefield.JPG)
Saturday, Oct. 31
3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Georgia -12
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Georgia*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Georgia*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Georgia
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Georgia
CONSENSUS PICK | Georgia
Miami (FL) at North Carolina
Saturday, Oct. 31
7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Miami -14
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Miami
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Miami
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Miami
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Miami
CONSENSUS PICK | Miami
Mississippi State at Texas
Saturday, Oct. 31
7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Texas -20.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Texas*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Texas*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Texas
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Texas*
CONSENSUS PICK | Texas*
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten and other college football predictions and picks for Week 9
