TOC Weekly Picks

After a big win against Maryland, Michigan State will look to carry that momentum into a huge showdown with Ohio State. Check out our staff picks for this week’s action.

Matt Sheehan

Ohio State 27, Michigan State 17

MSU has one quarterback that looks competent and healthy and another one that is admittedly hurt and 16-45 in his last two games with zero touchdown passes. All indications point to MSU going with the second option here, for whatever reason. The offense won’t be able to get off the ground with a quarterback struggling this much in a spot this big. If they started Lombardi I would be going all-in on the Spartans, but the wrong choice is being made at quarterback. And, spoiler alert, the ridiculous “reliable reliever” bit won’t work out when Rocky enters the game too late and cold off the bench.

Michigan ∞, Rutgers 0

Penn State 24, Wisconsin 22

Nebraska 37, Illinois 20

Indiana 20, Maryland 17

Iowa 21, Northwestern 20

Purdue 42, Minnesota 27

Ryan O’Bleness

Ohio State 31, Michigan State 20

Ohio State’s defense has struggled without Nick Bosa the past few weeks, which has allowed seemingly lesser teams such as Purdue and Nebraska to put up a lot of points against the Buckeyes, but unfortunately, I am not sure if Michigan State has the firepower to keep pace with Ohio State with an unhealthy Brian Lewerke likely to start. And I am not sure an inexperienced Rocky Lombardi fares much better even if he does play. As good as the Michigan State defense has been, I feel like eventually the unit is going to break down if the offense keeps losing the battle of field position, similarly to what happened in the Michigan game. All of that said, Mark Dantonio has typically played Urban Meyer and Ohio State tough. I think the Spartans hang around for a while, but the Buckeyes open things up deeper into the fourth quarter.

Michigan at Rutgers

Wisconsin at Penn State

Illinois at Nebraska

Maryland at Indiana

Northwestern at Iowa

Purdue at Minnesota

David Harns

Michigan State 31, Ohio State 20

MSU’s offense is coming around as the injured players start to return. I don’t know how the quarterback situation will play out - but I think that the offense will rally behind whomever is taking the snaps. OSU is flailing and MSU is heading in the right direction. MSU’s defense plays well and holds Ohio State in check. I think the Spartans win this one easily but a late Buckeye touchdown makes it look respectable.

Michigan at Rutgers

Wisconsin at Penn State

Illinois at Nebraska

Maryland at Indiana

Northwestern at Iowa

Purdue at Minnesota

Zach Manning

Ohio State 31, Michigan State 17

Michigan State’s offense is starting to look better, but the Buckeyes are playing to keep their playoff hopes alive, and I think they’ll be motivated to win this game. If the Spartans win out, they have a chance at the Rose Bowl, but I don’t think the offense has enough to keep pace with the Buckeyes. Ohio State will add a score late to put the Spartans away.

Michigan at Rutgers

Wisconsin at Penn State

Illinois at Nebraska

Maryland at Indiana

Northwestern at Iowa

Purdue at Minnesota

Kyle Thele

Ohio State 34, Michigan State 17

So far Michigan State has survived by getting dominant play from the defense and just enough from the offense. Ohio State is too good of a team for that to work. Despite the Buckeyes recent struggles, they are still an elite team with an offense that can put up points on anyone. The defense will play well, but Ohio State will get too many opportunities because of an inefficient Spartans offense.

Wisconsin 13 - Penn State 21

Illinois 10 - Nebraska 30

Maryland 10 - Indiana 17

Northwestern 17 - Iowa 21

Purdue 35 - Minnesota 14