Betting the Big Ten: A look at Week 4’s spreads

Last week was as embarrassing for my picks as it was for the Big Ten. I was sent out of Week 3 with my tail between my legs, but regrouped and got it together for this week.

Now, these underwhelming and disappointing teams start to face each other, so let’s see who is going to make me look bad heading into the star of conference play.

Last week: 5-9

Season overall: 20-24

Here we go again.

Friday, Sept. 21

No. 10 Penn State (-28) at Illinois, 9 p.m., Fox Sports 1

Penn State may be the second-best team in the conference right now and Illinois is in for a long Friday.

Pick: Penn State (-28)

Saturday, Sept. 22

Nebraska at No. 19 Michigan (-18), 12 p.m., Fox Sports 1

Everyone had kind of had this circled as the first post-Notre Dame test for Michigan. I don’t see it. Michigan will roll again.

Pick: Michigan (-18)

No. 23 Boston College (-7) at Purdue, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Purdue just is not very good and Boston College has not been impressive. If the Boilers fall to 0-4, things could start to get bad again in West Lafayette.

Pick: Boston College (-7)

Buffalo (-5.5) at Rutgers, 12 p.m., Big Ten Network

I should never pick Rutgers to do anything again. But I’m stubborn. It can’t happen again, right?

Pick: Rutgers (+5.5)

Minnesota at Maryland (-2.5) 12 p.m., Big Ten Network

This is a big game for Minnesota, who could move to 4-0 on the season with a win. Still, it feels like the Terps are due for a comeback game after last week.

Pick: Maryland (-2.5)

Tulane at No. 4 Ohio State (-37), 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

These poor overmatched teams keep getting thrown in front of Ohio State. Buckeyes continue to roll.

Pick: Ohio State (-37)

No. 24 Michigan State (-5.5) at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Michigan State has had problems, but only a 5.5-point favorite? Weird things happen in Bloomington, but Spartans get back on track.

Pick: Michigan State (-5.5)

No. 18 Wisconsin (-3) at Iowa, 8:30 p.m., FOX

Night games at Kinnick are scary. Sorry Badgers.

Pick: Iowa (+3)

National Games

No. 17 TCU (-3) at Texas, 4:30 p.m., FOX

Texas is feeling good about itself this week. It won’t feel so great next week.

Pick: TCU (-3)

Florida (-4.5) at Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN

The Vols are not good, but neither is Florida. Call it a gut instinct, which has served so well in this before, but here’s a signature win for Jeremy Pruitt.

Pick: Tennessee (+4.5)

No. 7 Stanford (-2) at No. 20 Oregon, 8 p.m., ABC

Something about Stanford rubs me the wrong way. This is a big game for Justin Herbert at Oregon.

Pick: Oregon (+2)