By James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Can Shea Patterson and Michigan cover against Nebraska and Scott Frost? Will Stanford stay unbeaten and upend Oregon on the road? Is Iowa in position to take control of the Big Ten West against a reeling Wisconsin team?
Each week of the college football season we will predict every Big Ten game, as well as the top national and regional games, against the spread. Lines courtesy of Vegas Insider.
Here are the picks ...
Patrick Semansky | AP Photo
Tulsa at Temple (-7), 7:30 (Thursday):
The Owls have gotten their groove back. Oh, and Rutgers fans who complain about the Big Ten: Would you rather be playing Tulsa? Didn't think so. PICK: TEMPLE.
Florida Atlantic at No. 16 UCF (-13.5), 7 (Friday):
Lane Kiffin's team will show up in front of a national audience. It won't be enough to win, but it will be enough to cover. PICK: FAU.
No. 10 Penn State (-28) at Illinois, 9 (Friday):
The Nittany Lions have shown a proclivity to run things up so far this season, and we're pretty sure Illinois is still awful. PICK: PENN STATE.
Washington State at USC (-3.5), 10:30 (Friday):
We're not getting burned by the Trojans again. PICK: WAZZOU.
No. 2 Georgia (-14) at Missouri, 12:
Drew Lock's Heisman Trophy bid hits a large speed bump. Best bet. PICK: GEORGIA.
No. 8 Notre Dame (-7.5) at Wake Forest, 12:
Back-to-back closes ones for the Fighting Irish. They'll open it up a bit here. PICK: NOTRE DAME.
Gregory Shamus | Getty Images
Nebraska at No. 19 Michigan (-19), 12:
The Cornhuskers are scuffling mightily at 0-2, and we really shouldn't be that surprised. The excitement generated by Scott Frost's hire conveniently covered up the fact he inherited a mess of a Nebraska program. That being said, nineteen points is a big line for Michigan to have to cover. But it doesn't feel too big. PICK: MICHIGAN.
No. 23 Boston College (-7) at Purdue, 12:
The Boilermakers are 0-3 going on 0-4, but they've been keeping everything close. That being said, Boston College is the best team they've faced yet. We don't love this pick, but we'll make it. PICK: BOSTON COLLEGE.
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Minnesota at Maryland (-1.5), 12:
Perhaps the most intriguing Big Ten game this weekend. Stay away if you can. PICK: MARYLAND.
Mitchell Leff | Getty Images
Buffalo (-5.5) at Rutgers, 12:
Enough said. PICK: BUFFALO.
No. 22 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama (-27), 3:30:
The Aggies will be reminded how far away they are. PICK: ALABAMA.
No. 3 Clemson (-16.5) at Georgia Tech, 3:30:
This will basically be a Clemson home game. PICK: CLEMSON.
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Tulane at No. 4 Ohio State (-37), 3:30:
No line is too big for the Ohio State offense against a tomato can opponent. PICK: OHIO STATE.
Kansas at Baylor (-7.5), 3:30:
Kansas isn't that good, folks. PICK: BAYLOR.
UConn at Syracuse (-27.5), 4:
Poor UConn. PICK: SYRACUSE.
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Monmouth at Princeton (-10.5), 4:30:
The first matchup between two New Jersey Division-1 schools in decades. It's closer than the experts think. PICK: MONMOUTH.
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No. 17 TCU (-3.5) at Texas, 4:30:
Texas was back for six days. PICK: TCU.
Army at No. 5 Oklahoma (-32), 7:
The Sooners are likely too athletic for the Black Knights to be able to sustain their option attack long enough to shorten the game and keep it terribly close. The line is in a relatively safe spot. PICK: OKLAHOMA.
Jim Lytle | AP Photo
No. 14 Mississippi State (-10.5) at Kentucky, 7:
The Bulldogs have looked sensational. But remember how everyone thought it was too big a road favorite at Kansas State? The logic should correctly apply here. PICK: KENTUCKY.
No. 24 Michigan State (-4.5) at Indiana, 7:30:
A sneaky-good game. Spartans win and cover. PICK: MICHIGAN STATE.
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No. 7 Stanford (-2) at No. 20 Oregon, 8:
The Cardinal are the Pac-12's hope. PICK: STANFORD.
Wire photo
No. 18 Wisconsin (-3) at Iowa, 8:30:
Iowa's statement game is here. The Hawkeyes take control of the Big Ten West with authority. PICK: IOWA.
Arizona State at No. 10 Washington (-17), 10:30:
It's going to be another rough day for Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils. PICK: WASHINGTON.
SEASON TO DATE:
Last week: 10-14 (1-0 best bet).
Season: 34-32 (2-1 best bet).
NJ Advance Media
James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.