Ad Disclosure
In my professional development picking games (ginger ale and pub mix must lead to stunted handicapping acumen) I have been collectively let down by the entire B1G. Equality in embarrassment cannot be discounted, a fitting name for the off-field antics of The Ohio State University’s football program.
The first year in a new program buys me at least one more season of job security before the boosters of Saturday Tradition try effort some new innovative handicapper from a smaller site to save the record of the column. We’re taking it one game at a time. Win, lose, or push, we won’t look past any opponents.
(All lines taken from mybookie.ag)
Author’s note: Lines may have shifted from when I pulled the number for the column. Lighten up gang.
Michigan -5 vs. Ohio State o/u 56
The play: Over
Illogical Reasoning: Ever since Ohio State lost to Purdue in the middle of October I liked Michigan giving any number of points to the Buckeyes. I figured it would be around 3, 3.5, but the passing direction of both programs inflated the number to 5. I like Michigan to win, but 5 is a little rich for me. Figure in the uncertain status of Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich and there’s just a little too much love going for Michigan.
The Over seems the safest play based on Winovich’s status and the turnstile formation the Buckeyes defense lined up in for the entirety of the game against Maryland last Saturday. Michigan has the talent on offense to move the ball with relative ease. Ohio State gave off the impression of a dominant offense at the beginning of the year and certainly regressed a little. However, the talent at wide receiver and quarterback is enough to run up some scores and hit the Over.
Maryland +13.5 vs. Penn State 53.5
The play: Over
Illogical Reasoning: Penn State underwhelmed on offense the last three weeks, the sign of a team struggling to get off the matt after the loss to Ohio State, but quarterback Trace McSorley invested too much into the program to go out with a whimper at home in his last game. Both teams underwhelmed on defense during the season so look for Maryland to take its big-numbers rushing attack on the road.
Last time Matt Canada had control over an offense against Penn State was when he was the offensive coordinator at Pitt. The Panthers ran up 42 points on Penn State in a victory. He’ll employ the same sort of jet-sweep action and motion to keep Penn State guessing.
Who knows if the murmurs or mumbles surrounding Penn State head coach James Franklin’s interest in the potential opening at USC is just an effort to get more money out of Penn State or if he thinks his act grew stale this last season and it’s time for a change. The game is more about McSorley than Franklin. Penn State will be able to get up and down the field against Maryland’s defense
The Over hits even in the inclement weather.
Illinois +17 vs. Northwestern o/u 58
The play: Northwestern
Illogical Reasoning: The biggest takeaway after enduring Lovie Smith’s eight years as head coach of the Chicago Bears was the blatant boredom he inflicted on members of the media in his press conferences while still coming off as egotistical. Boredom sells when the team makes the playoffs in the professional ranks, but how does one generate any sort of enthusiasm for a college program with such mild-mannered, laconic cockiness?
Not the case on the other side of the field. Northwestern owns the record for most enthusiasm generated for a four-loss team. The team bounced back from a loss to Notre Dame and seems charged to end the scheduled portion of the regular season on a three-game winning streak. Northwestern looks to make it a resounding victory over the Fighting Illini to build maximum optimism for the B1G Championship next weekend.
Overall record: 14-20-2
Main event status: With only the B1G left after this weekend it’s time to take solace in any development from this year. That development comes in the form of being kicked off the main roster and assigned to setup the ring instead of wrestling in it.
Nick is a writer for saturdaytradition.com. Your overuse of GIFs forced him away from Twitter. He removed himself from consideration in the Vanderbilt heading coaching search.