It’s tradition now. 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 once conference play gets into full swing.
Though we never really know, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State, are getting a lot of national notoriety and were picked by media members to be the three teams contending for league superiority. You can’t count out Michigan despite last week’s loss to Oklahoma, and teams like Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska hope to also be upstarts and surprise folks.
So, just how will Week 3 play out in the Big Ten? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the Big Ten 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 Week 2 as we see if what we saw during opening weekend holds true this week. But first, here are the standings so far from our writers
Standings so far
Follow Phil Harrison: 35-1 SU, 21-15 ATS
Follow MarkRussell: 34-2 SU, 19-17 ATS
Follow Yesh Ginsburg: 30-6 SU, 22-14 ATS
Follow Griffin Dreifeldt: 36-0 SU, 24-12 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 34-2 SU, 24-12 ATS
Indiana vs. Indiana State
Friday, Sept. 12
6:30 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Off
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Indiana
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Indiana
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Indiana
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Indiana
CONSENSUS PICK | Indiana
New Mexico vs. UCLA
Friday, Sept. 12
10:00 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | UCLA -15.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | UCLA
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | UCLA
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | UCLA
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | UCLA*
CONSENSUS PICK | UCLA
Oregon vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Sept. 13
Noon ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Oregon -27.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oregon
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oregon
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Oregon
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Oregon
CONSENSUS PICK: Oregon
Wisconsin at Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 13
Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Alabama -20.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Alabama
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Alabama
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Alabama
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Alabama*
CONSENSUS PICK | Alabama
Central Michigan at Michigan (the Connor Stalions Bowl)
Saturday, Sept. 13
Noon ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Michigan -27.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Michigan
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Michigan
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Michigan
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Michigan*
CONSENSUS PICK | Michigan
Nebraska vs. Houston Christian
Saturday, Sept. 13
Noon ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Off
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Nebraska
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Nebraska
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Nebraska
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Nebraska
CONSENSUS PICK | Nebraska
Maryland vs. Townsend
Saturday, Sept. 13
Noon ET | Peacock
Betting Line | Off
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Maryland
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Maryland
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Maryland
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Maryland
CONSENSUS PICK | Maryland
Penn State vs. Villanova
Saturday, Sept. 13
3:30 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Off
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
USC at Purdue
Saturday, Sept. 13
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS/Paramount+ (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | USC -20.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | USC
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | USC
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | USC
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | USC
CONSENSUS PICK | USC
Rutgers vs. Norfolk State
Saturday, Sept. 13
3:30 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Off
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Rutgers
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Rutgers
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Rutgers
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Rutgers
CONSENSUS PICK | Rutgers
Michigan State vs. Youngstown State
Saturday, Sept. 13
3:30 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Off
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Michigan State
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Michigan State
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Michigan State
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Michigan State
CONSENSUS PICK | Michigan State
Illinois vs. Western Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 13
7:00 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Illinois -27.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Illinois
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Illinois
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Illinois
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Illinois
CONSENSUS PICK | Illinois
Ohio State vs. Ohio
Saturday, Sept. 13
7:30 p.m. ET | Peacock
Betting Line | Off
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 |
Iowa vs. UMass
Saturday, Sept. 13
7:30 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Iowa -35.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Iowa*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Iowa
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Iowa
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Iowa
CONSENSUS PICK | Iowa
Minnesota at California
Saturday, Sept. 13
10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Bettting Line | Minnesota -2.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | California
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Minnesota
Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Minnesota
Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Minnesota
CONSENSUS PICK | Minnesota
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten football expert picks and predictions for Week 3 of the college football season
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
