The weekly tradition continues. Every year (and every week of the season), we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination when it comes to picking the Big Ten football games and some of the bigger college football contests throughout the season, now that conference play is in full swing, and the regular season is winding down.
It’s Rivalry Week, and that means there are a lot of fantastic games on the docket. In the Big Ten, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana are getting a lot of national notoriety and seem to be the three teams contending for league superiority. However, you can’t count Michigan, who also have just one loss in the conference, and hopes to have something to say about it all. And Penn State … well — that’s another story for another day.
So, just how will Rivalry Week play out in the Big Ten? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the conference straight up and against the spread for your wagering and reading consumption — do with it as you wish.
As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried, yet true, coin flip, where George Washington has the say.
EXAMPLE: If Ohio State is favored -3.5 over Michigan:
If you think Ohio State will win outright and cover: OSU
If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*
If you think Ohio State will lose: Michigan
Here are our expert picks for Rivalry Week as we get ready to sort out what the postseason looks like. We throw in the top five non-Big Ten games as well to make it more interesting.
Standings so far
Follow Phil Harrison: 136-34 SU, 90-80 ATS
Follow MarkRussell: 135-35 SU, 85-85 ATS
Follow Griffin Dreifeldt: 140-30 SU, 93-77 ATS
Follow Yesh Ginsburg: 130-40 SU, 95-75 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 138-32 SU, 96-74 ATS
First up … Big Ten games
Iowa at Nebraska
Friday, Nov. 28
Noon p.m. ET | CBS (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Iowa -6
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Iowa*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Iowa
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Iowa
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Iowa
CONSENSUS PICK | Iowa
Indiana at Purdue
Friday, Nov. 28
7:30 p.m. ET | NBC/Peacock (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Indians -28.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Indiana
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Indiana
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Indiana
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Indiana
CONSENSUS PICK | Indiana
Ohio State at Michigan
Saturday, Nov. 29
Noon ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Ohio State -10
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Ohio State*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Ohio State*
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Ohio State
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Ohio State
CONSENSUS PICK: Ohio State
Oregon at Washington
Saturday, Nov. 29
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Oregon -6.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oregon
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oregon
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Oregon*
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Oregon
CONSENSUS PICK | Oregon
Wisconsin at Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 29
3:30 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Wisconsin -1.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Wisconsin
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Wisconsin
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Minnesota
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Wisconsin
CONSENSUS PICK | Wisconsin
Penn State at Rutgers
Saturday, Nov. 29
3:30 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Penn State -13.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Penn State
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Penn State
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Penn State
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Penn State
CONSENSUS PICK | Penn State
Maryland at Michigan State
Saturday, Nov. 29
7:00 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Off
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Michigan State
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Michigan State
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Maryland
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Maryland
CONSENSUS PICK | Michigan State
UCLA at USC
Saturday, Nov. 29
7:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | USC -21.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | USC*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | USC*
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | USC
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | USC
CONSENSUS PICK | USC
Northwestern at Illinois
Saturday, Nov. 29
7:30 p.m. ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Illinois -7
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Illinois
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Illinois
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Illinois
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Illinois*
CONSENSUS PICK | Illinois
Next … 5 biggest non-Big Ten games
Texas A&M at Texas
Friday, Nov. 28
7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Texas A&M -2.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Texas
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Texas A&M
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Texas A&M*
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Texas
CONSENSUS PICK | Texas A&M
Arizona at Arizona State
Friday, Nov. 28
9:00 p.m. ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Arizona -1.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Arizona State
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Arizona State
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Arizona
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Arizona State
CONSENSUS PICK | Arizona State
Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Nov. 29
Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Miami -7
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Miami
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Miami
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Miami*
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Pittsburgh
CONSENSUS PICK | Miami
LSU at Oklahoma
Saturday, Nov. 29
3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Oklahoma -10
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oklahoma*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oklahoma
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Oklahoma
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Oklahoma*
CONSENSUS PICK | Oklahoma
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
Saturday, Nov. 29
3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Tennessee -3
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Tennessee
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Tennessee
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Vanderbilt
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Tennessee
CONSENSUS PICK | Tennessee
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten and big CFB game expert picks, predictions for Rivalry Week
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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