The first full week of the college football season is in the books as we prepare for more this weekend. The Michigan Wolverines play in primetime on Saturday, so there is a little more incentive to find some alternate forms of entertainment to hold you over. Each week, we will go through every game in the Big Ten and give you the best bets from each game.
These are for entertainment purposes only, of course. This is good because there were not a ton of winners on the slip for us here last week. Week 2 provides a new opportunity.
Let’s get to it, shall we?
Record for 2021: 4-4
On to the second week of action. All odds here are via FanDuel. Times are Eastern.
Illinois at Virginia (-10.5), O/U 55.5 — 11 a.m., ACC Network
Illinois lost to USTA last week after taking down Nebraska in Week 0. Virginia is in a different place as a program than they are. I don’t see how they don’t cover this spread.
Pick: Virginia (-10.5)
No. 12 Oregon at No. 3 Ohio State (-14.5), O/U 63.5 — 12 p.m., FOX
OSU returns to the Horseshoe with fans for the first time in almost two years after a bit of a scare in Week 1. They have had a long week to gameplan for Oregon, who comes over to the east coast to play a 9 a.m. local kickoff. OSU rolls on Saturday.
Pick: Ohio State (-14.5)
Miami (OH) at Minnesota (-18.5), O/U 53.5 — 12 p.m., ESPNU
Minnesota might struggle to figure itself out a bit in the wake of losing Mohamed Ibrahim for the season. There’s no reason they should not win this game, but I could see it being a bit sloppy offensively.
Pick: Under 53.5
Rutgers (-2.5) at Syracuse, O/U 52.5 — 2 p.m., ACC Network
I know “it’s Rutgers,” but this line seems criminally low. That might have something to do with the fact it’s a road game, but their dismantling of Temple was impressive.
Pick: Rutgers (-2.5)
Purdue (-34.5) at Connecticut, O/U 58 — 3 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Connecticut should be relegated or fold completely. Enough said here.
Pick: Purdue (-34.5)
Ball State at No. 11 Penn State (-22.5), O/U 57.5 — 3:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Penn State had one of the more impressive wins in Week 1 by taking down Wisconsin at Camp Randall. There should be a lot of energy and momentum heading into this game. PSU has an easy day at home.
Pick: Penn State (-22.5)
Buffalo at Nebraska (-13.5), O/U 54.5 — 3:30 p.m., BTN
Buffalo might be the team to beat in the MAC East and Maurice Linguist’s squad could smell blood in the water with what’s going on with Scott Frost and the Cornhuskers. This one has a chance to get a little nutty.
Pick: Over 54.5
No. 10 Iowa at No. 9 Iowa State (-4.5), O/U 46.5 — 4:30 p.m., ABC
People should be sprinting to the bet kiosks to pick Iowa in this game. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last seven in this rivalry and the last two games in Ames were decided by a total of four points. Plus, they have been rolling since starting 0-2 last year. Hawkeyes cover.
Pick: Iowa (+4.5)
Eastern Michigan at No. 18 Wisconsin (-25.5), O/U 51.5 — 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Wisconsin is going to look to bully someone after losing to Penn State last week. Chris Creighton’s Eagles are not the pushovers they once were, but they might be on the receiving end of a frustration release this week.
Pick: Over 51.5
Washington at Michigan (-6.5), O/U 48.5 — 8 p.m., ABC
A game that Michigan fans were terrified of a week ago suddenly looks a lot more manageable after the Huskies lost to an FCS school. However, Michigan has to find a way to block all of that out and not let its guard down. Washington’s defense is good enough to get the Wolverines into a game, but something about this feels like the Wolverines roll again.
Pick: Michigan (-6.5)
Lines not posted for Youngstown State at Michigan State, Indiana State at Northwestern, Idaho at Indiana, Howard at Maryland