Week 6 Big Ten Picks

We’re back for more gambling after evading another hurricane leaving Sanibel Island. We’re all good but I wasn’t really in the mood to identify some betting angles after we got back. We vacationed from our vacation by going to see Megalopolis (not good!!) instead. Week 4 was a positive week for us and we hope to come off the bye week stronger than Kirk Ferentz! which isn’t saying much)

RECAP:

• Oregon State -3.5 v Purdue: +1u
• Iowa -2.5 at Minnesota: +1u
• USC at Michigan OVER 44: +1u
• Ohio State -39.5 v Marshall: -1.1u
• Marshall at Ohio State OVER 52: +1u
• Northwestern ML at Washington: -1u

Last week: +1.9u (4-2)
Total: -1u (11-11)

I missed on 1 unit by simply forgetting that Northwestern did not beat Eastern Illinois after their loss. PATHETIC. But we can run back that angle this week. Once again, Purdue is thanking their lucky stars that UCLA & Wisconsin are in the same conference because they let go of their offensive coordinator and are still in less disarray than those two outfits. BTW – Ryan Walters just isn’t a fit. Defensive guy at the Cradle of Quarterbacks? Silly.

Friday

Saturday

OFF: Illinois Fighting Illini, Maryland Terrapins

All lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

East to west teams after the last two weeks:

• Week 4: Northwestern 5, Washington 24
• Week 4: Purdue 21, Oregon State 38
• Week 5: Wisconsin 21, USC 38

Tracking the road team: 1-3 straight up; 1-3 ATS; O/U 3-1.

West to east?

• Week 4 return: Charlotte 14, Indiana 52
• Week 4: USC 24, Michigan 27
• Week 4: UCLA 17, LSU 34
• Week 5 return: Northwestern BYE
• Week 5 return: Nebraska 28, Purdue 10
• Week 5: Washington 18, Rutgers 21

Returning teams: 1-1 straight up; 1-1 ATS; O/U 1-1
Traveling teams: 0-3 straight up; 1-2 ATS; O/U 1-2

Is this a helpful guide for anyone but myself? Is it even helpful for me? Anyways, the relevant week 6 games are: last night’s Michigan State/Oregon game (oops) & Michigan at Washington for west to east; UCLA at Penn State (more to come); Purdue at Wisconsin (returning); and USC/Minnesota are the west to east games. HMMMMM

So the no brainer … Penn State -28.5. I know it’s a big number and there’s some look-ahead potential with the game at USC next week but man, has any team had it worse than UCLA? Just a brutal schedule and a 9a body time game not about to turn it around for the Bruins. While we are here: OVER 46.5.

While we’re betting overs: welcome to the Tim Lester Era where it has hit in four of Iowa’s four games. OVER 45.5. Honestly this is the bet I feel best about considering the Hawkeyes’ unfortunate inability to contain the long ball on defense. Maybe it’s tight through a half (14-10ish?) if Iowa can keep it clean on O and bend-don’t-break on D but Ohio State is Ohio State.

Lincoln Riley’s splits as a road favorite: 22-4 straight up; 7-18-1 ATS; 17-9 O/U. Even more stark during his time in LA: 7-1 straight up; 2-6 ATS; 7-1 O/U. I like OVER 48 here but am not sure Minnesota has enough to keep it close. (but my ears are really perked as it pertains to the west/east angle)

I am just … not buying this Michigan team. Granted I’m not buying the Washington team even more but they’ve somehow skated a road game until week 6 and it comes against the remnants of the team they beat in last year’s championship game. Washington -1.5

I was wrong on my filters using this one a couple weeks ago but am running it back against my better judgment: under David Braun, Northwestern is 6-0 after a loss (2 FCS victories), including three times as double digit underdogs. NW +455 (1u to win 4.55u)