By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
It is a bit lighter week than regular within the Huge Ten, with simply six convention video games, and a a lot lighter week for the 4 West Coast colleges, with solely USC in motion.
Washington enters the bye week as sizzling as anybody following an enormous win over Illinois final week, protecting their Playoff hopes alive.
Oregon embarks on its off week having received two in a row by a mixed 77-17 rating and stays on monitor for a Playoff push, however would want some assist to return to the convention title recreation in Indy.
UCLA has simply 4 video games left, with just one extra journey East, to Ohio State. The Bruins snapped again to actuality in opposition to Indiana, however they will nonetheless end sturdy and land a bowl bid with a few upsets down the stretch.
With the lighter load among the many West Coast colleges, I’ll contact on simply 4 video games this week, together with USC’s go to to Nebraska and three different convention matchups.
The Ohio State-Penn State matchup has misplaced a few of its enchantment since its preseason buildup. Minnesota and Michigan State will attempt to set up issues on the bottom, and Maryland has a homecoming date with the No. 2 group within the land.
As for the 2 video games I don’t preview this week, Illinois ought to make brief work of Rutgers at residence, and Michigan can have no downside with Purdue within the Huge Home.
Talking of Michigan, at 4-1 in convention play, a go to from OSU on the finish of the month might remodel its season. May the Wolverines as soon as once more pull one thing out of skinny air and play for a convention title? Time will inform.
And with that, here’s a take a look at the 4 Huge Ten video games we’re highlighting, with my picks straight-up and in opposition to the unfold.
Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday November 1
9:00 AM PT, FOX
Line: Ohio State -20.5
Over/Below: 43.5
Ihen given a couple of week to arrange for an opponent, Ryan Day has posted a 21-4 mark. This week, the Buckeyes are coming off a bye with the reeling Nittany Lions visiting Columbus.
This rivalry has been a bit one-sided lately: Since 2016, OSU is 8-0 in opposition to PSU.
However whereas the outcomes have been one-sided, the video games have been nailbiters. The typical margin of victory in these eight contests has been 6.75 factors per recreation, with 4 one-score video games. Two of them have been determined by a single level.
This one doesn’t appear to be it will likely be that shut. Ohio State owns the nation’s longest win streak 11 video games, whereas Penn State has dropped 4 straight.
To make issues worse, the Nittany Lions have a backup QB beneath heart with an interim coach on the helm. For Terry Smith, the Buckeyes are the largest group he’ll face as a short lived coach to complete out the ultimate 5 video games sturdy.
The Buckeyes’ protection ought to fully stymie the Penn State offense. OSU is third within the nation in go protection, and the Lions won’t be able to maneuver the ball on the bottom if they will’t produce the specter of a passing assault.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, Julian Sayin and the OSU offense might wrestle, however they received’t have to provide a lot. The QB has not been stellar, however he does lead the nation with a completion fee of 80%.
OSU will take what Penn State provides them and be effective with it.
Penn State should not have any bother getting up for Ohio State. The query is, can the Lions stand up for subsequent video games this season?
The Buckeyes will roll, and second-ranked Indiana is up subsequent for the Lions, who’ve three winnable video games after that. However at that time, will it even matter?
OSU wins and covers, however the whole stays beneath.
Towards the unfold: Ohio State
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Ohio State
No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers at Maryland Terrapins
Saturday November 1
12:30 PM PT, CBS
Line: Indiana -21.5
Over/Below: 50.5
It is homecoming in School Park, and the Terps have the juggernaut that’s Indiana coming to city.
The Terps will likely be seeking to knock off a ranked opponent for the primary time since 2022, and rating the primary upset of a top-two group within the nation since 1955.
Indiana has been rolling whereas the Terps have misplaced three in a row following a 4-0 begin to the season.
Malik Washington is a gifted QB who could make performs for Maryland. He has thrown for 1,716 yards this season, the third most by a real freshman by way of seven video games since 2018. Indiana will supply the hardest entrance seven to this point for the younger QB.
Dante Moore and Nico Iamaleava are additionally gifted QBs—maybe extra so—and each had every kind of points with this protection.
UMD doesn’t have a very good floor recreation, rating one hundred and thirtieth within the nation in speeding. They won’t be able to maneuver the ball in any respect on the bottom, and the Hoosiers will be capable of tee off on the passing assault, making it a protracted afternoon for the Terps and Washington.
The Terps have 4 pick-sixes this season and lead the nation with 2.0 interceptions per recreation. Fernando Mendoza is just not one to show it over a lot, and the QB will likely be completely satisfied simply to place the ball in Roman Hemby’s intestine and let the RB carve up his outdated group.
Maryland has outscored opponents 174-60 within the first three quarters this season. Indiana has outscored opponents 101-9 within the third quarter and 166-31 within the second half.
Maryland may hold it shut early, however Indiana wins this one going away.
Towards the unfold: Indiana
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: Indiana
Michigan State Spartans at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Saturday, November 1
12:30 PM PT, Huge Ten Community
Line: Minnesota -3
Over/Below: 44.5
This could possibly be the most effective recreation on the Huge Ten slate this weekend. It definitely presents the tightest line and is one among simply two single-digit spreads among the many six convention video games this weekend.
However this one additionally encompasses a Michigan State group seeking to reverse a five-game shedding streak and a Minnesota squad that has been up and down in 2025.
The Gophers have been up at residence and down on the highway as they continue to be unbeaten of their 5 video games at Huntington Financial institution Stadium.
Quarterback Aidan Chiles is beginning to look a bit higher for the Spartans, and Makhi Frazier is coming off a career-high 109 yards on the bottom final week vs Michigan.
Discovering an efficient speeding assault will likely be key on Saturday, as Minnesota ranks nineteenth within the nation in opposition to the run. The MSU line will have to be extra productive than they’ve been thus far this season.
The large downside for MSU has been on the defensive aspect of the ball, the place they haven’t been in a position to cease anybody. The Spartans are 118th within the nation, permitting 32.5 factors per recreation.
The Gophers’ offense has not been nice, however Drake Lindsey has been stable at QB, and the bottom assault ought to be capable of get going on this one.
And that’s massive for them, within the 5 wins this season Minnesota has run for 132.4 yards per recreation whereas being restricted to 74 yards speeding per recreation within the three losses.
Minnesota can have a floor assault on this one and get bowl-eligible in opposition to Michigan State
Towards the unfold: Minnesota
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Minnesota
No. 23 USC Trojans at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Saturday November 1
4:30 PM PT, NBC
Line: USC –6.5
Over/Below: 59.5
The different single-digit unfold on the Huge Ten schedule this week is the convention’s marquee matchup of the week between USC and Nebraska.
The Trojans have misplaced two of their final three video games whereas the Huskers are coming off a win over Northwestern and have received three of their final 4 video games.
Nonetheless, the Trojans enter as a slight favourite on the highway and appear to be the higher group coming into this matchup.
Nebraska has failed to succeed in 200 yards passing in three of their final 4 video games and have turned it over 5 instances within the final two video games.
An enormous problem for the Huskers’ struggles within the passing recreation has been the offensive traces’ lack of ability to maintain Dylan Raiola upright and with time to throw the ball.
USC has proven the flexibility to get after QBs this season, rating fifteenth within the nation with 3.0 sacks per recreation, and of their 4 wins this season, the go rush has been efficient. One other key for the Trojans on this one will likely be getting the run recreation working.
Towards Notre Dame, the speeding assault by no means acquired going, however the Trojans have run the ball very effectively in Huge Ten play. Nebraska’s protection has not been good in opposition to the run, and the Huskers have allowed 236 speeding yards per recreation of their two losses this season.
To be able to take strain off of Raiola, the Huskers might want to get their speeding assault going and land some fast screens to maintain the Trojans from pinning their ears again.
Notre Dame and Illinois had been capable of finding success in opposition to USC with the run recreation and getting massive performs out of the bottom assault. Nebraska might want to decide to sticking with the run recreation in the event that they wish to have an opportunity.
I feel USC offense will get sizzling, and the Huskers will abandon the run recreation too early. The Trojans will pressure some turnovers and get an enormous highway win in Lincoln.
This one has the texture of a 30-24 sort of recreation, however I’ll go forward and take the Trojans to cowl the 6.5 in a aggressive recreation.
Towards the unfold: USC
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: USC
writes about numerous matters for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and information, school sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Middle (SERC).
