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It’s rivalry week at MLive with Michigan hosting Michigan State in the annual gridiron battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Here’s where our writers, based in (or near) Ann Arbor and East Lansing stand entering the showdown (weekly best bet in parentheses):
Matt Wenzel: 47-38 (4-4)
Aaron McMann: 45-40 (4-4)
Ryan Zuke: 45-40 (4-4)
Kyle Austin: 39-46 (2-6)
Andrew Kahn: 38-47 (5-3)
The standings shifted quite a bit after last week. Will they again? The picks against the spread from MLive’s college football writers are below. All games are on Saturday unless otherwise noted, kickoff times are eastern, and odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Rutgers at USC
- When: Friday at 11 p.m.
- TV: FOX | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: USC -14.5
Both teams have lost three in a row. USC is 1-4 in the Big Ten despite leading in the fourth quarter of every game, including a 14-point edge over Maryland last week. Rutgers found some offense last week but still managed to hand UCLA its first league win.
MLive staff picks:
- Rutgers +14.5: Austin
- USC -14.5: Kahn, McMann, Wenzel, Zuke
Nebraska at Ohio State
- When: noon
- TV: FOX | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: Ohio State -25.5
The Buckeyes had an extra week to think about their last-minute loss at Oregon (and extra time to recover from the travel). They are still firmly in the playoff hunt but need to take care of business against lesser teams.
MLive staff picks:
- Nebraska +25.5: McMann
- Ohio State -25.5: Austin, Kahn, Wenzel, Zuke
Washington at Indiana
Indiana stayed undefeated with its impressive performance of the year, a 56-7 win over Nebraska. Kurtis Rourke had thumb surgery on Monday and is unlikely to play this weekend.
MLive staff picks:
- Washington +6.5: McMann (best bet), Zuke
- Indiana -6.5: Austin (best bet), Kahn, Wenzel
Illinois at Oregon
- When: 3:30 p.m.
- TV: CBS/Paramount+ | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: Oregon -21.5
Oregon is the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 2012 and will face an Illinois team coming off a field-storming win over Michigan.
MLive staff picks:
- Illinois +21.5: Austin, Kahn, McMann, Wenzel, Zuke (best bet)
Northwestern at Iowa
- When: 3:30 p.m.
- TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: Iowa -13.5
Some years, this game would be important in the Big Ten West race. Without divisions and with each team having already lost multiple league games, it’s not particularly important.
MLive staff picks:
- Northwestern +13.5: McMann, Zuke
- Iowa -13.5: Austin, Kahn, Wenzel
Maryland at Minnesota
- When: 3:30 p.m.
- TV: FS1 | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: Minnesota -4.5
They’ve alternated wins in this series over the past four meetings, though the last one came in 2021. Maryland stunned USC with a big fourth quarter last week, while Minnesota was off.
MLive staff picks:
- Minnesota -4.5: Austin, Kahn, McMann, Wenzel, Zuke
Penn State at Wisconsin
- When: 7:30 p.m.
- TV: NBC/Peacock | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: Penn State -6.5
The Nittany Lions are undefeated and up to No. 3 in the country. They’ve already won twice on the road this season and now must visit a Wisconsin team that has won each of the last three weeks in dominant fashion.
MLive staff picks:
- Penn State -6.5: Austin, Kahn (best bet), Zuke
- Wisconsin +6.5: McMann, Wenzel
Michigan State at Michigan
- When: 7:30 p.m.
- TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
- Line: Michigan -4.5
Michigan was won the last two meetings handily, but they’ve split the last 20. The Spartans are feeling good after a win over Iowa last Saturday night, while Michigan will try to right the ship after two straight losses.
MLive staff picks:
- Michigan State +4.5: Austin, McMann, Wenzel (best bet)
- Michigan -4.5: Kahn, Zuke
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