Alright guys another crap week for the kid but I’m not about to quit and I still think I can pull off a profitable season overall. It’s time for the turnaround and there’s no time time like the present! Of course if you think I’m awful at picking games you can always make money fading me. It’s a win-win!

I often tweet picks I feel strong about throughout the week that aren’t Big Ten games. If you want to see my other picks, be sure to follow me by clicking the blue button below:

To recap Week 9:

1. Maryland +5 (4 units) L
2. Penn State -14 (3 units) W
3. Michigan State +24.5 (2 units) W
4. Northwestern/Ohio State OVER 53 (2 units) L
5. Illinois +9 (1 unit) L
6. Ohio State -26 (1 unit) L
7. Wisconsin -9 (1 unit) L
8. Nebraska/Wisconsin UNDER 43 (1 unit) W

To recap the season:

• Overall Record: 70-63-2
• Wagered Games Record: 32-41-2
• Season Units: -18

Feeling a little under the weather this week so I condensed my write ups a little bit to get straight to the point. I kind of like this formatting better as it’s a little easier to read for you guys. Let me know what you think. Go ahead and fade my picks as well to get FILTHY STINKING RICH!!!

Indiana Hoosiers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• Saturday November 5^th, 12 PM
• TV: BTN
• Point Spread: Indiana -14
• Total: 58.5

Indiana comes into this game needing a win to obtain bowl eligibility while Rutgers is fresh off a bye after a rare positive offensive performance at Minnesota two weeks ago. Indiana is currently on a roll on offense and I don’t see Rutgers being able to do much to slow them down in this one as the Scarlet Knights are allowing 5.68 yards per carry this season. The Rutgers offense should be able to put points up in this one as Indiana is fresh off a defensive performance where they allowed 517 yards against a relatively unimpressive Maryland offense. Rutgers has the edge in this series for the past two years and I believe that coming off of a bye, the home team getting 14 is just way too much in this spot. Give me Rutgers to keep it close and possibly pull out the win to give Chris Ash his “signature” win up to this point.

• Projected Score: Indiana 35 – Rutgers 27
• Spread Pick: Rutgers +14 (2 units)
• Total Pick: Over 58.5 (1 unit)

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini

• Saturday November 5^th, 12 PM
• TV: ESPNNEWS
• Point Spread: Michigan State -9.5
• Total: None listed at time of publication

I feel like every week I do a preview involving these two teams, nobody knows who the hell is going to start at quarterback on either team. It feels like it was just yesterday that Michigan State beat Notre Dame on the road and was ranked 7^th in the country but here we are in Week 10 and they have a 2-6 record, the same record that the Fighting Illini have. Michigan State will probably start senior Tyler O’Connor and he should be able to do enough in this one to leave Champaign with a win. Look for the Spartans to rely on their running game and particularly RB LJ Scott who is coming off of a 128 yard performance against Maryland two weeks ago. Scott will have a nice day against a Illinois defense that has allowed a whopping 22 rushing touchdowns this season. 3 games into my article and it’s a little chalky in here but I think Dantonio gets his first conference win this week and beats up on the Illini behind a strong performance from his running backs.

• Projected Score: Michigan State 27 – Illinois 14
• Spread Pick: Michigan State -9.5 (1 unit)
• Total Pick: N/A

Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats

• Saturday November 5^th, 12 PM
• TV: ABC
• Point Spread: Wisconsin -7
• Total: 41

Wisconsin has had an absolutely brutal schedule this season, facing five top-10 teams thus far and have escaped with a 3-2 record versus those 5 teams. They enter Evanston, Ill this week to take on a determined underdog in the Northwestern Wildcats who gave Ohio State all they could handle in the Horseshoe last week. Wisconsin was once again led by their defense last week, holding the Nebraska offense to just 305 total yards while forcing two turnovers. Wisconsin will look to run the ball with RB Corey Clement in this one against a Wildcats defense who allowed 208 yards last week to Ohio State. Northwestern will look to run the ball on offense with stud RB Justin Jackson but it will be difficult against a Wisconsin defense that is allowing the fewest rushing yards per game in the Big Ten. Look for this to be a very low scoring game with Wisconsin narrowly escaping Evanston with a win.

• Projected Score: Wisconsin 20 – Northwestern 17
• Spread Pick: Northwestern +7 (1 unit)
• Total Pick: Under 41 (2 units)

Maryland Terrapins at Michigan Wolverines

• Saturday November 5^th, 3:30 PM
• TV: ESPN
• Point Spread: Michigan -31
• Total: 54

It’s time for DJ Durkin to make his homecoming to the school he was the DC for last year and he’s gonna have to swallow some nasty tasting medicine in this one. Hold your nose DJ! Michigan looked mortal last week against their in state rival Spartans but LB/S/KR/PR/RB Jabrill Peppers padded his Heisman Trophy resume and will look to do it again this week against a pretty soft Maryland team this week. Maryland will need to get better play out of QB Perry Hills who had two turnovers last week to give Maryland 11 giveaways in their last five games. If Maryland can play perfect, this can be a “wait a minute” game for people watching scores at the bottom of their screen on Saturday. I think Michigan will control this game from start to finish but it will be a little closer than the oddsmakers think. Harbaugh might have a soft spot in his icy heart for his ex-coordinator and I think the Terps cover the spread.

• Projected Score: Maryland 13 – Michigan 38
• Spread Pick: Maryland +31 (1 unit)
• Total Pick: Under 54 (0 units)

Purdue Boilermakers at Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Saturday November 5^th, 3:30 PM
• TV: BTN
• Point Spread: Minnesota -17
• Total: 57

My preseason darling Minnesota Golden Gophers could easily be undefeated right now with two losses to Penn State and Iowa by a combined 10 points but they will get their 7^th win of the season this week against Purdue to get them over the posted 6.5 wins from my preseason article. The Gophers boast one of the best defenses in the conference, leading the Big Ten in turnovers forced and they welcome a Purdue team that is fresh off of a 4 turnover game. Minnesota has forced at least three turnovers in four straight games and I think that trend continues this week against a nose diving Purdue squad who is led by QB David Blough who has thrown a pick in every game this season but one. The Boilermakers are also dreadful on defense, giving up 6.38 yards per play and they are giving up 36.9 yards per game so the Golden Gophers rushing attack will have a field day in this one. Look for Minnesota RB Rodney Smith to have a big day against a Purdue defense that is allowing 5.78 yards per carry en route to a big Minnesota win.

• Projected Score: Purdue 17 – Minnesota 41
• Spread Pick: Minnesota -17 (3 units)
• Total Pick: Over 57 (0 units)

Iowa Hawkeyes at Penn State Nittany Lions

• Saturday November 5^th, 7:30 PM
• TV: BTN
• Point Spread: Penn State -7.5
• Total: 52.5

Sigh. My worst nightmare has come true. Penn State is ranked 12^th in the latest Playoff rankings and Rutgers is in the middle of a complete rebuild. But wait! Is that a light at the end of the tunnel? Maybe James Franklin will now be at Happy Valley for a long time which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Rutgers fans. Franklin welcomes the reeling Iowa Hawkeyes to Happy Valley this week after his Nittany Lions crushed Purdue 62-24 last week. Iowa is coming off of a bye and will have upset on their minds as they entire the hostile territory of Beaver Stadium. Penn State is finding a great deal of success behind stud RB Saquon Barkley who is leading the conference in rushing while gaining an average of 8.3 yards per carry. Iowa is coming off of a performance where they allowed 167 yards on the ground so look for Barkley to get the ball plenty in this one. Iowa will look to counter on offense by using their duo of RB’s in LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley to take advantage of a Penn State defense that has allowed 51 running plays of at least 10 yards this season. I think this will be a great game that goes down to the wire with Penn State eeking out a 10 point victory in the end.

• Projected Score: Iowa 21 – Penn State 31
• Spread Pick: Penn State -7.5 (2 units)
• Total Pick: Under 52.5 (1 unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio State Buckeyes

• Saturday November 5^th, 8 PM
• TV: ABC
• Point Spread: Ohio State -17
• Total: 52

This is a de-facto playoff elimination game as the loser of this game will have next to no shot of making the College Football Playoff at years end. Nebraska is fresh off of a close loss at Wisconsin last week while the Buckeyes looked less than impressive in their four point home victory against Northwestern last week. I think Urban Meyer will wake his squad up for this one at home since they absolutely need to make a statement this week in order to get in the good graces of the Playoff Committee. I think the Buckeyes defense makes Huskers QB Tommy Armstrong look absolutely foolish in this one as they force numerous turnovers and control the game on the ground on offense en route to a big Buckeye victory.

• Projected Score: Nebraska 17 – Ohio State 38
• Spread Pick: Ohio State -17 (2 units)
• Total Pick: Over 52 (0 units)

Weekly picks recap in order of units wagered:

1. Minnesota -17 (3 units)
2. Rutgers +14 (2 units)
3. Wisconsin/Northwestern UNDER 41 (2 units)
4. Penn State -7.5 (2 units)
5. Ohio State -17 (2 units)
6. Indiana/Rutgers OVER 58.5 (1 unit)
7. Michigan State -9.5 (1 unit)
8. Northwestern +7 (1 unit)
9. Maryland +31.5 (1 unit)
10. Iowa/Penn State UNDER 52.5 (1 unit)

Shooters shoot son! Time for a big week and I think next week I have my eyes on my biggest wager of the year. Thanks for reading!