Big 10 Betting Lines: Week 13

Welcome to the final regular season installment of betting lines in the Big 10.

I will more than likely release a betting lines post for the bowl season, but that will be much later down the road. I will figure it out once we get closer to that point.

Last week, I went 3-4. I missed BIG TIME on Penn State/Nebraska (picked the under) and Indiana/Rutgers (went with Rutgers +11). I am now 51-44, so let’s end the regular season on a high note! Let’s get into it.

Iowa at Nebraska

Line: Iowa -3; O/U: 54

How in the hell did Nebraska put up 44 against Penn State last weekend?? And how did Iowa lose at home?...to...Purdue?

I’m just as confused as you are. It’s actually kind of surprising to me that Nebraska is a home underdog in this one. I don’t really have any logic in this pick other than I think the home team in this game should be the favored team. I’ll roll with the Cornhuskers.

Pick: Nebraska +3

No. 16 Michigan State at Rutgers

Line: Michigan State -13.5; O/U: 39.5

Sparty is about to flip the script from 3-9 straight to 9-3. What in the world happened?

This has been such a weird college football season, you guys. What’s also weird is that this over/under is set just as low as last weekend’s Michigan/Wisconsin game. Piscataway isn’t supposed to get any crazy weather; in fact, it looks like it will be sunny and 55 degrees. That’s beautiful football weather.

I mean...I guess I’ll take the over? I feel like Vegas is up to something here, but I will take the over anyways.

Pick: Over 39.5

No. 22 Northwestern at Illinois

Line: Northwestern -16.5; O/U: 46

Illinois started the year 2-0, defeating Ball State at home by 3 and Western Kentucky at home by 13. Now, Illinois is 2-9. That is #Ungood.

Northwestern, however, has won six straight games, are 8-3 and have a chance to make it to a real nice bowl game this December.

Bottom line: Illinois is a garbage football team that barely scores points. Northwestern is a semi-good team that will score more than the Illini this Saturday. How much more, you ask? I’m not sure it’ll be 16.5, so I will take the under here.

Pick: Under 46

Indiana at Purdue

Line: Purdue -2.5; O/U: 47

The final (explicit) show of the week for this season goes to Purdue and Indiana. What a riveting game this should be.

After losing practically every conference game this year, Indiana has now won its last two (albeit against Illinois and Rutgers). Meanwhile, Purdue is coming off a road victory against the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that is nearly unbeatable at home it seems like.

The winner of this game becomes bowl eligible. For Purdue and first-year head coach Jeff Brohm, that would be a huge accomplishment, as the Boilermakers have not been to a bowl game since 2013. Indiana has made a bowl game in two consecutive seasons for the first time since 1990-91.

At the end of the day, I see Indiana winning this game. The offense has been more consistent throughout the year and simply has more play-makers in all facets of the game. I’ll pick the Hoosiers here.

Pick: Indiana +2.5

No. 5 Wisconsin at Minnesota

Line: Wisconsin -17; O/U: 43.5

Minnesota got whooped and shutout last week against Northwestern. If the Wildcats can do it, so can Wisconsin. It’s as easy as that. On Wisconsin.

Pick: Wisconsin -17

No. 10 Penn State at Maryland

Line: Penn State -21; O/U: 58

Man, some of these games are just terrible. The Big 10 really needs to start scheduling some good final games instead of just only having Michigan/Ohio State to rely on.

Prediction: Saquon Barkley goes off, gets re-inserted into serious Heisman contention, only to still lose to Baker Mayfield. Oh, and Penn State wins by a lot.

Pick: Penn State -21

No. 9 Ohio State at Michigan

Line: Ohio State -11.5; O/U: 51.5

I am going to keep this simple. I am picking against Michigan in hopes that this will be a close, competitive game (that Michigan might win).

Probably not, but at least I’m trying to contribute here.

Pick: Ohio State +11.5