The Gould Standard Picks: Week 9
I’m not going to apologize for going 2-3 for the umpteenth straight week. It’s tough to win college football games; I’m going to savor those two victories.
I’m not going to wonder what the heck is wrong with Minnesota, giving up 32 points to Rutgers, which averaged 3.5 points in its first four Big Ten games. And I’m going to stop trying to understand how abdicating Big Ten champion Michigan State, which got outplayed at Maryland, came to be lower than a rattlesnake’s belly in Death Valley.
We’re moving forward here. And because I still need the reps, let’s pick another five this week: Northwestern-Ohio State, Washington-Utah, Michigan-Michigan State, West Virginia-Oklahoma State, Maryland-Indiana.[membership level="0"] The rest of this article is available to subscribers only - to become a subscriber click here.[/membership] [membership]
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The Game: Northwestern plus-26.5 at Ohio State
The Pick: Ohio State, 42-24
The Comment: Northwestern’s three-game winning streak ought to come to a halt. But the Wildcats, who have won five straight Big Ten road games, are playing really well, and ought to stay within four touchdowns of the Buckeyes.
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The Game: Washington minus-10 at Utah
The Pick: Washington, 38-31
The Comment: Maybe the the No. 17 Utes don’t have enough to beat the No. 4 Huskies, even with a running back, Joe Williams, who rushed for four TDs and 332 yards vs. UCLA last week. But they sure seem like a nice home ’dog.
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The Game: Michigan minus-23.5 at Michigan State
The Pick: Michigan, 45-14
The Comment: Part of me says Sparty, which has lost five straight to fall to 2-5, will be mad as hell, and rise up, unwilling to take any more. But the louder voice says Michigan, which has lost seven of eight to MSU, is really good—and ready to deliver some payback.
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The Game: West Virginia minus-3.5 at Oklahoma State
The Pick: West Virginia, 31-24
The Comment: The unbeaten Mountaineers are playing big-time defense. The Cowboys can throw, but don’t run well—a good situation for West Virginia, which is playing with a lot of confidence. Cowboys aren't lassoing a lot of people with their defense, either.
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The Game: Maryland plus-4.5 at Indiana
The Pick: Indiana, 38-24
The Comment: After three frustrating losses (Ohio State, Nebraska, Northwestern), Hoosiers are ready to tee off. IU (3-4) really needs a win to stay on track for a bowl trip. Inconsistent Maryland (5-2) still has Rutgers to kick around to become bowl-eligible.
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Lines from Pregame.com.
Last week: 2-3
Season : 17-19[/membership]