TOC Weekly Picks

Michigan State hasn’t looked good over the last few weeks, but Rutgers has yet to win a Big Ten game, so the Spartans should be able to pull out a win. MSU can’t walk in expecting to win, but as 27-point favorites, the Spartans should pick up their seventh win of the season.

Kyle Thele

Michigan State 20 Rutgers 7

Yes, the Spartans are coming off of one of the ugliest performances in recent history. But not even they can help but score multiple touchdowns against a dreadful Rutgers team. The defense will do its thing, and this won will be a breeze. There has to be something for heading into bowl season on a high note, right?

Nebraska 20, Iowa 17

Michigan 24, Ohio State 30

Purdue 38, Indiana 20

Illinois 10, Northwestern 27

Maryland 17, Penn State 28

Minnesota 20, Wisconsin 23

Matt Sheehan

Michigan State 27, Rutgers 7

Yes, I’m predicting touchdowns this game. Those are when your team crosses the end zone line with the ball in hand, resulting in six points. I had to look that up.

Yeah, MSU’s offense has been awful. I mean just dreadful. But what better team to circle the wagons around than the Rutgers Scarlet Knights? The two things I worry about heading into this game are 1) Can the offense actually do enough here? and 2) can this team create its own energy in front of a half-full stadium against a third-rate team?

I think so.

Big Ten Picks:

Iowa 28, Nebraska 20

Michigan 31, Ohio State 20

Purdue 42, Indiana 28

Northwestern 35, Illinois 5,000,000 (jk, that’s just Lovie Smith’s annual pay. They’ll score 15 points)

Penn State 28, Maryland 27

Minnesota 30, Wisconsin 24

Zach Manning

Michigan State 20, Rutgers 3

This game will be closer than it should be because of the offense, but it’s Rutgers, and I can’t see them moving the ball on MSU’s defense. The Spartans get a late score to make it look better than it actually was.

Nebraska at Iowa

Michigan at Ohio State

Purdue at Indiana

Illinois at Northwestern

Maryland at Penn State

Minnesota at Wisconsin

Ryan O’Bleness

Michigan State 30, Rutgers 3

They still allow Rutgers to play football? I know the MSU offense is awful, but Rutgers allows 33 points and 409 yards of total offense per game to its opponents. The Scarlet Knights have just one win (and have lost 10 games in a row). On average, Rutgers scores 13.8 points per game (ranks 128th out of 129 FBS teams). Michigan State absolutely needs to blow this team out the water, and scoring anything under 30 points is embarrassing. This is a good opponent to play to give the offense confidence heading into bowl season.

Nebraska at Iowa

Michigan at Ohio State

Purdue at Indiana

Illinois at Northwestern

Maryland at Penn State

Minnesota at Wisconsin

David Harns

Michigan State 27, Rutgers 4

MSU kicks 9 field goals and hikes the ball out of the end zone... twice.

Nebraska at Iowa

Michigan at Ohio State

Purdue at Indiana

Illinois at Northwestern

Maryland at Penn State

Minnesota at Wisconsin

McLain Moberg

Michigan State 17, Rutgers 0

Rutgers isn’t going to be able to score against this MSU defense. The Spartans have held opponents to 21 or fewer points eight times, and allowed just 17 points of offense to Ohio State. Yes, they scored 14 total points against Penn State and Michigan, but I don’t see it happening here. Even the 2016 team held the Scarlet Knights scoreless. Admittedly, the Michigan State offense hasn’t gotten any better. Be that as it may, I still believe they’ll cross over into the end zone for a couple of touchdowns.

Nebraska at Iowa

Michigan at Ohio State

Purdue at Indiana

Illinois at Northwestern

Maryland at Penn State

Minnesota at Wisconsin