Oct 315 min read

Week 10 Picks: 5 Most Important Games in the Big Ten

All eyes will be on the Big Ten Conference on Nov. 2 as No. 3 Penn State (7-0,4-0 B1G) welcomes in No. 4 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1B1G). This game could decide who will play No. 1 Oregon for the B1G championship. This game could also have career ramifications on the line. Penn State is 1-8 against top 5 teams under head coach James Franklin while Ohio State is 2-7 under Ryan Day. Both teams' fan bases are becoming very impatient with their head coaches' inability to win big games, and a loss here could spell the end for both.

The Ducks head to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a matchup with unranked Michigan. This was a game many fans had circled as a possible game that could decide who goes to the B1G championship to start the season. But thanks to a very disappointing season for the Wolverines, it now looks to be a game Oregon will have wrapped up by halftime.

No. 24 Illinois is a 3-point underdog at home to an unranked Minnesota team. Illinois, somehow, stayed ranked after being blown out by Oregon a week ago. Another loss here and Illinois will be unranked and won’t have a chance to make a College Football Playoff appearance.

College Football Dawgs B1G reporters will look to pick the winners of the five biggest games this week inside the B1G against the spread.

No. 4 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1 B1G) at No. 3 Penn State (7-0, 4-0 B1G) (Ohio State -3.5)

FOX, Noon EST, Nov. 2, University Park, Pa.

Ohio State over PSU -3.5. Until Penn State can actually win a big game, I will continue to fade them. I’m totally rooting for them, but I have to follow the trend until it stops. Hopefully, I jinx it. — Brett Fine Jr.

This should be a make-it-or-break-it game for both coaches. Both Ryan Day and James Franklin have been disappointing in big games and the loser will find their seat getting hot. Penn State starting QB Drew Allar got hurt a week ago and is a game-time decision. If he can't play, Penn State won't be able to score enough to beat the Buckeyes. Ohio State wins this one and covers the 3.5 points. — Mike Germanese

My pick - OSU -3.5 — With Drew Allar being a game-time decision, I find it hard to believe he's 100 percent for this game. If that's the case, then Ohio State will force PSU to be one dimensional and it'll be hard for the Nittany Lions to push down the field. — Jay Holahan

Both teams had their struggles last week as they perhaps were caught looking ahead to this crucial matchup. The quarterback battle could be the deciding factor in this one. Will Howard played well against Oregon earlier this year and I think he pushes the Buckeyes to a three-point victory. — Rodney Potts

No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0 B1G) at Michigan (5-3, 3-2 B1G) (Oregon -15)

CBS, 3:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 2, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Oregon -15 over Michigan. I like Michigan's defense with the home crowd to keep it closer than every B1G team Oregon has faced besides OSU where they only won by a point. However, the offense is too one- dimensional to keep up with Oregon's. — Brett Fine Jr.

Offense consistency and lack of it will kill the Wolverines in this one. Oregon has too many weapons on offense. They can kill you in both the running and passing game. For Michigan to have a chance, they're going to have to control the time of possession. If Michigan can’t maintain drives, then this game will look like the Texas game did. Oregon is too good this year and I have no faith in Michigan's offensive and defensive coordinators. Oregon wins and covers the 15. — Mike Germanese

My pick - Oregon -15 — For me, the win that has put the Ducks at the top of the Big Ten was this past week against Illinois. — Jay Holahan

The Ducks have been rolling in their first year in the Big Ten. I believe they continue to have success and win big, easily covering against the Wolverines. — Rodney Potts

Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 B1G) at No. 24 Illinois (6-2, 3-2 B1G) (Minnesota -3)

FOX Sports 1, Noon EST, Nov. 2, Champaign, Ill.

Illinois +3 against Minnesota. I think this is a big bounce-back spot for the Illini, nothing else needs to be said. — Brett Fine Jr.

There is a reason the No. 24 team in the country is a three-point underdog at home to an unranked team coming in. Minnesota running back Darius Taylor will have a big game in this one. On the season, he is averaging 4.9 yards a run. In their last two games, Illinois has given up 343 yards on the ground. Minnesota gets the road win here and covers the 3. — Mike Germanese

My pick - Minnesota -3 — These two are trending in opposite directions. Right now, it appears the Fighting Illini peaked early on. Since the Penn State game, they've been constantly going backward. — Jay Holahan

This could be a very close game as both teams are having solid seasons. I think the Illini pull it off and win by a touchdown in a close one at home. — Rodney Potts

USC (4-4, 2-4 B1G) at Washington (4-4, 2-3 B1G) (USC -2.5)

BTN, 7:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 2, Seattle, Wash.

Washington +2.5. Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I think Washington at home as underdogs is interesting enough to bite on. USC has been a disaster this season. — Brett Fine Jr.

Washington is a much better home team than road one considering they are 4-1 at home and 0-3 on the road. USC is a hard team to figure out this season, but they're young, and it could be growing pains this season. USC has the better QB and skilled position players on offense. I think USC gets back-to-back wins for the first time as a member of the B1G and covers the 2.5. — Mike Germanese

My pick - Washington +2.5 — I can't figure out what USC is at the moment. They're coming off a big win against Rutgers that could be just the thing to salvage this season moving forward, but the Huskies have been much better at home. — Jay Holahan

USC has had major struggles this year but found a way to bounce back last week after three straight losses. I think they carry that momentum into this one and win by a field goal on the road. — Rodney Potts

Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 B1G) at Iowa (5-3, 3-2 B1G) (Iowa -3)

NBC, 7:30 pm EST, Nov. 2, Iowa City, Iowa

Wisconsin +3. Wisconsin seems to be catching a stride and I like them to keep it close in a low-scoring ugly game. — Brett Fine Jr.

Wisconsin lost a week ago and only scored 13 points, and it doesn’t get any easier this week. Iowa's defense ranks 25th in points a game allowed with 19 and 23rd in yards a game allowed with 315.9. Iowa also ranks 12th in turnover differential at +8 while Wisconsin ranks 98th at -4. Iowa wins and covers the 3. — Mike Germanese

My pick - Iowa -3 — Iowa is in that same boat as a better home team than on the road. I can't imagine a better time to get the Badgers than right now after they fell against Penn State. — Jay Holahan

This should be an old-school, gritty Big Ten game. Iowa's star running back Kaleb Johnson should be the difference in this one. I think he has a huge day and the Hawkeyes win by two scores. — Rodney Potts