Big Ten Week 6 Odds: Letdown Spots at a Premium

You can size up any match up you want: every one has different angles in glossing over value.

For Saturday's agenda in the Big Ten, I see a few programs that may be sleepwalking.

Week 5 Results

Indiana/Ohio State Over 66.5-L

Michigan/Maryland Under 42-W

Minnesota +4-L

Michigan State/Purdue Under 54.5-W

Illinois/Nebraska Over 57-L

Wisconsin -6.5-L

Penn State/Army Under 47.5-W

Big Ten Overall Record: 34-25

Maryland at Ohio State

Line: Ohio State -32.5, 54.5

Ohio State is that guy at the grocery store that has 113 items but doesn't let you cut him when all you have is a 32 oz. Riptide Rush Gatorade and individual bag of Combos. Can never win. May never win. Don't even want to win a Buckeyes game by the spread or total. Will never back Ohio State for as long as I persist with Big Ten betting lines. Seriously nauseating watching a No. 1 team chocked full of misery and lackluster performance. Will be awesome fading Urban Meyer and Brutus as the season contin-

Buckeyes have Maryland?! OHIO STATE BY 70.

Pick: Ohio State -32.5

Minnesota at Purdue

Line: Minnesota -4, 46

Golden Gophers-Boilermakers clash for all the wink-face emojis you can handle. Remember when Minnesota nearly gave TCU a run for its money then couldn't score on any mid-major it played? Oh, you mean every week?

Well, now you get a 3-2 Minnesota team off a shutout loss traveling to West Laffy Taffy to meet with the Boilermakers, who nearly pulled off an upset against the Spartans a week ago. I don't think you'll see either team give a single what on Saturday, and maybe Mitch Leidner can complete a few passes on a rather remedial defense.

Pick: Minnesota-Purdue Over 46

Wisconsin at Nebraska

Line: Nebraska -1.5, 46.5

Wisconsin may have been the patron of one of the easier schedules in the Big Ten; slipping past Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan, the Badgers could have seemingly stacked up ten wins without much effort, yet failed to suppress Iowa last Saturday. Think Corey Clement's absence came into play? Probably just a little bit.

I'm sure the upperclassmen for Nebraska recall the scores of 70 and 59 that the Badgers hung up in the previous couplet of showdowns, and I'll take GBR to put the nail in Wisco's coffin.

Pick: Nebraska -1.5

Indiana at Penn State

Line: Penn State -8, 50.5

Huge letdown spot here in my opinion. The Hoosiers just one play away from tying the No. 1 team in the nation only to see the first loss of the season at home. Now Kevin Wilson's bunch travel to Happy Valley versus a quietly rhythmic Nittany Lions core.

With injuries plaguing the crimson and off a pretty disheartening loss, I'll lay more chalk than a bored toddler on a hot summer day.

Pick: Penn State -8

Illinois at Iowa

Line: Iowa -11, 46

Tough blow for the Fighting Illini as a big upset over Nebraska also saw the likes of running back Josh Ferguson sidelined for the remainder of the contest. He's currently listed as doubtful for Saturday's meeting at Kinnick Stadium.

I'm not fully sold on Iowa's offense, but perhaps Illinois' defense comes down to Earth after halting the Cornhuskers for just 13 points. With Ferguson out, I expect Lunt to throw the ball more; 46 tells the tale but may be a tad too low here.

Pick: Illinois-Iowa Over 46

Michigan State at Rutgers

Line: Michigan State -15, 51

Meet the Michigan State Spartans: 5-0 in the standings, yet 0-5 against the spread. I'm sure that all MSU has heard for what, the fourth consecutive week, is how they have zero sign of dominance. This is either a statement game for Sparty, or believe me when I say that they aren't a Top 3 caliber club (sorry Sparty fans).

Pick: Michigan State -15

Northwestern at Michigan

Line: Michigan -8, 36

Ah, the main event. You won't find anyone that vies for the over here, and could you blame them? Two top-tier defenses complemented by offenses that have trouble hitting big plays, and you're talking about the small things (field position, turnovers, limiting mistakes) coming into play.

Michigan may be 2-3 points two high, but believe me when I say that it should speak volumes to the talent in Ann Arbor. With Rudock gradually maturing and the defense playing the best football in the country, I'm taking the maize 'n blue Saturday. Harbaugh and Co. improve to 5-1 with a 24-13 win.

Pick: Michigan -8

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