So let it be written, so let it be done.

That’s simply how it works with the Upset Alert genius these days. Three outright winners as 6-point underdogs or more in the past five weeks — and four of five covers against the number. I was all over Northwestern’s upset win at Michigan State last weekend to keep the hot streak going. The Wildcats were 10-point dogs, but won going away.

Talk about zeroed in.

And this isn’t easy either, trying to find that one game every weekend where the underdog pulls off a shocker. Some weeks, there isn’t much to choose from, but I push on anyway.

Here’s where the Upset Alert genius has placed his lot on the season thus far:

  • Week 1: Northern Illinois (plus-10) over Iowa: Loss
  • Week 2: Arizona State (plus-6) vs. Michigan State: Outright winner
  • Week 3: Ball State (plus-13) at Indiana: Loss
  • Week 4: Purdue (plus-6) vs. Boston College: Outright winner
  • Week 5: Penn State (plus-3.5) vs. Ohio State: Loss but covered
  • Week 6: Northwestern (plus-10) at Michigan State: Outright winner

Quite frankly, both losses were reaches anyway. I’ll take that. And the wins? They’ve been gold, because I just didn’t have high hopes for this Michigan State team and I’ve been right on with them. I knew Purdue was coming on and, well, Penn State even knows they let one slip away against Ohio State. They’re still kicking themselves, and I’m still kicking them, at least literally. But it was a cover, at least.

Sports Betting in Big Ten Country

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So can the Upset Alert genius keep it going in Week 7?  Here’s what we’re dealing with in the Big Ten this week:

  • Nebraska at Northwestern (minus-3.5), Noon ET
  • Minnesota at Ohio State (minus-29.5), Noon ET
  • Rutgers at Maryland (minus-25.5), Noon ET
  • Iowa (minus-5) at Indiana, Noon ET
  • Michigan State at Penn State (minus-13.5), 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Purdue (minus-10.5) at Illinois, 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Wisconsin at Michigan (minus-8), 7:30 p.m. ET

Those long-numbers games are all out, and you know how I feel about Michigan State. So there are three games that I had to gander at.

I think Northwestern is better than its 2-3 record indicates, but then again, Nebraska can’t keep losing forever. I pondered pulling the trigger on the Cornhuskers, but just couldn’t do it. That first win? It comes next week at home against Minnesota.

I also am on record with picking Michigan to win the Big Ten, so I like them against Wisconsin on Saturday, but I also think those eight points are far too many. It’s going to be a close, tight game, but I’m not ready to bet against myself in this one. I’ll stick with the Wolverines winning.

And that leaves me with Iowa at Indiana, the two teams I’ve actually missed on this season in my Upset Alert reaches. They square off at Noon ET on Saturday in Bloomington, and it’s going to be interesting.

Iowa is the better team on paper and has won six of seven against Indiana recently. Quarterback Nate Stanley has been playing great lately. In the past three games, he’s thrown for 879 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s good and he’s a veteran unphased by going out on the road.

But …

He also might be without his favorite weapon this weekend. Tight end Noah Fant, who has five of Stanley’s nine total touchdown receptions on the season, probably is a no-go on Saturday. Starting running back Ivory Kelly-Martin is also banged up. That’s two key pieces that might not be ready to go.

And that’s just the start of it.

Iowa’s defense, which played great early in the season, is really beat up, too. They’ve lost linebackers and are starting two true freshmen in he secondary. The Hawkeyes survived one road trip last week, but they did give up 31 points to Minnesota.

Indiana’s better, and Iowa’s not the same team anymore.

Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey has been playing at a high level, but the difference-maker this week is Indiana’s freshman running back Stevie Scott. He’s a big back — a rock-solid 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds — and he’s the type of back that can run right at the Hawkeyes defense. They’ve been a bit susceptible to backs like this. This could be a real problem for them.

That sets the stage, folks. So here it is: I’ll take Indiana on Homecoming. Call it 28-23 Hoosiers.