Week 4: MotSaG B1G Pick ‘em and Tidbits

By: Phil Schoch, Twitter me @osuphil95

Each week in this spot, we look to college football’s clandestine desert numerologists and predict each B1G match-up as well as a few national spotlight games.

This is how wannabe gamblers lose their house, car, wife…

In week three, Pick ‘em & Tidbits nearly flat-lined and registered a 4-11 record versus the spread. Brutal! I was 12-3 straight up. For the second consecutive week, my PM Stukenborg Fearless Prediction went to overtime and fell short. Nebraska (+3.5) scored 23 points in the final 8 minutes at Miami to force overtime. Then Tommy Armstrong lost his mind on the first play of OT and threw a horrendous INT. After moving the ball inside the five yard line, Miami settled for a field goal (and non-cover) and the win. After three weeks, I am 19-29 against the spread and 38-10 straight up.

The long-climb to respectability and .500 begins this week, or next.

Bret Bielema’s tears are bacon fat drippings. This week Texas Tech savors the flavor from their post-game victory chalice (which undoubtedly is shaped like gun). #burtforillini #chiefilliniburt

Disclaimer: You’ve seen the stats! Please do not wager any of your hard earned dollars based on anything written in this weekly post.

Around the B1G…

Saturday, September 26

BYU

12:00 ABC Vegas says… Wolverines -5.5

At Michigan

BYU has been through the wringer this season. Hail Mary victory at Nebraska. Final minute heroics versus Boise. One point loss at UCLA. Now they fly to the Eastern time zone for a noon kick versus Michigan. If BYU has anything left in the tank, I think they win straight up.

Pick ’em says… Come on Cougs! I want to see cutaways to sad Michigan fans. BYU, 27-24.

Kansas

12:00 BTN Vegas says… Rutgers -12.5

At Rutgers

Remember when the Velvet Mountain led the Jayhawks to a BCS Orange Bowl win – only 8 years ago?! But Mark Mangino was a big meanie, so Kansas brought in Charlie FUPA. Now they are basically a high school JV team and Charlie is piling his Kansas buyout checks on top of his Notre Dame checks. What an agent!

Pick ’em says… Rutgers is a rotting mess, but they’re not Kansas. Scarlet Knights, 31-17.

Central Michigan

12:00 BTN Vegas says… Spartans -26.5

At Michigan State

Mark Dantonio keeps his business socks on for game day too, because even against weak MAC schools It’s Business Time. NSFW ALERT! Flight of the Conchords, It’s Business Time- https://youtu.be/AqZcYPEszN8.

Pick ’em says… Two minutes in heaven is better than one minute in heaven. Spartans, 38-13.

Southern Miss Favre draft party

12:00 ESPNN Vegas says… Huskers -22.5

At Nebraska

As these two know, crunch time INT’s are killers. I kinda feel badly for Armstrong. He willed the Huskers to the 23-point 4th quarter comeback against the ‘Canes. Which anyone will tell you, is quite a tough task with 50,000 empty seats yawning each play.

Pick ’em says… Huskers have suffered two crushing defeats this season (see BYU Hail Mary). Need this win to level out at 2-2. Nebraska, 35-21. 

Bowling Green

12:00 BTN Vegas says… BG -1.5

At Purdue

Purdue stinks – the team and the air. I’m stunned Bowling Green is only a slight favorite.

Pick ’em says… Falcons, 41-28.

Indiana

12:30 ESPN3 Vegas says… No spread available

At Wake Forest

Bloomington, Indiana native, composer Hoagy Carmichael, is best known for composing four of the most-recorded American standards: Stardust, Georgia on My Mind, The Nearness of You, and Heart and Soul. Dweeby piano rocker, Ben Folds, grew up  in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Pick ’em says… Indiana will likely be favored by about 6ish (?). Hoosiers, 27-21. 

Maryland Â

3:00 FOXS1 Vegas says… WVa -17.5

At West Virginia Â

A Baltimore legend. Give me a classic, refreshing Natty Boh over whatever bath tub hooch the Mountaineers swill.

Pick ’em says… ‘Neers, 42-24.

North Texas

3:30 ESPNU Vegas says… Iowa -24.5

At Iowa

I know, Necessary Roughness went with Texas State Fightin’ Armadillos, but the film was shot on North Texas’ campus in Denton. The colors and uniforms are a nod to the Mean Green as well. Kathy Ireland kicks field goals. Sinbad is an offensive lineman. For all you youngsters, it’s a ensemble cast classic. Robert Loggia, in a defensive coordinator/interim head coaching role delivers the greatest halftime speech of all time. NSFW ALERT! https://youtu.be/ZEbN6Vnr1g8

Pick ’em says… Sorry Armadillos. Iowa, 31-10.

Ohio U Â

3:30 BTN Vegas says… Gophers -10.5

At Minnesota Â

At my advanced age, Halloween in Minnesota is far more appealing.

Pick ’em says… The Buckeye offense has been a juggernaut compared to the putrid Gopher O. 10-7 over Kent State? At home? After three outings, the Gophers are averaging less than 17 points per game! Gophers, 17-14.

Western Michigan Â

3:30 ABC Vegas says… Bucks -31

At Ohio State

Establish a starting and lasting quarterback. Establish the power run game. Establish your true play makers. JUST ESTABLISH SOMETHING! The hodgepodge, grab bag play calling and below expectations O-line play have made the past two weeks maddening for Buckeye fans hoping to see 50-60 point outbursts.

Pick ’em says… No more excuses. Bucks, 51-13.

San Diego State Â

3:30 BTN Vegas says… PSU -15

At Penn State Â

A win here and Penn State will be one of the ugliest, awfullest 3-1 teams in the country. Ugliest and awfullest also describes the hideous Nittany Lion mascot.

Pick ’em says… WE ARE! 3-1! WE ARE! UGLY & AWFUL! 27-10.

Middle Tennessee State Â

4:00 ESPNN Vegas says… Illini -6

At Illinois Â

From 1966 – 2012, legendary Minster (Ohio) resident, Paul ‘P.M.’ Stukenborg (pictured above) posted his weekly sports predictions in the hometown paper, The Community Post. Each week, Pick ’em will make a P.M. Stukenborg Fearless Prediction and call for an underdog to to knock off the favorite.

Pick ’em says… Illini resoundingly declared themselves a B1G bottom feeder last week against an average North Carolina squad. MTSU, 38-28.

Ball State Â

8:00 BTN Vegas says… No spread available

At Northwestern Â

The Wildcats are off to a legitimately, semi-impressive 3-0 start. The NW victory over Stanford was certainly validated when the Cardinal trounced Southern Cal last week in LA. 

Pick ’em says… ‘Cats are giving up less than 6 points per game. 25,000 empty bleacher seats will watch Northwestern win by an undetermined amount.

Hawaii Â

8:00 BTN Vegas says… Badgers -24.5

At Wisconsin Â

Hawaii to Ohio. Ohio to Hawaii. Hawaii to Wisconsin. What day is it? Where am I? That is a brutal travel stretch.

Pick ’em says… Watch Blue Bloods staring water-hoarding Tom Selleck and the chip-on-the-shoulder Backstreet Boy. Friday nights on CBS! Badgers, 38-14. 

Tennessee Â

3:30 CBS Vegas says… Gators -1.5

At Florida Â

This rivalry used to be appointment TV. Now it’s worthless SEC East noise.

Pick ’em says… Florida writers would have you believe that Urban Meyer cursed the Gator program. More like Will Muschamp was more chump than champ. https://youtu.be/Ji-cT58rgNc. Vols, 24-17.

TCU

4:45 FOX Vegas says… Frogs -7.5

At Texas Tech

A Horned Frog that will haunt your dreams and a Texas Tech bell ringer who may or may not be master of his domain.

Pick ’em says… Upset alert? I have a queasy feeling about this one, or maybe it’s the images above. Frogs, 48-38.

UCLA Â

8:00 ABC Vegas says… Bruins -4

At Arizona Â

How lousy is this week’s schedule of games? This is the ESPN GameDay location and prime time game of the week. Big road test for UCLA’s true freshman QB Josh Rosen.

Pick ’em says… Rich Rod Football Rules! 41-35.