Off to so-called “Championship Week” in the world of Big Ten football, and it looks like everything is on for the Big Ten Championship Game between Ohio State and Northwestern. Some of the other games were not so lucky, hitting the chopping block because of coronavirus outbreaks.
Despite it all, we’ll continue to keep grind along to a finish here in hopes that safety rules the day. There are in fact, three more games that won’t happen in the conference because of COVID-19 outbreaks and so the slate is a little thin in the Big Ten.
There are other conferences playing championship games though, so we have those to look forward to as well.
As we do each week during Big Ten football season, we’re bringing you our expert picks and predictions on all the league games against the spread, and straight-up. Also, as an added bonus you didn’t know you even craved, we’ll throw in six of the top games across the slate of all the college football games for the week. We’re the judge and jury on that one.
As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. We get our odds from BetMGM. In the event of a tie, George Washington settles it via the old coin-flip.
INSTRUCTIONS: Make your pick against the spread. For example …
– If you think Ohio State will win -3.5 over Michigan: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win outright: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*
Here are our expert picks for Week 7, but first our results after six weeks of play.
RESULTS SO FAR
@PhilHarrisonBW: 55-26 SU, 38-43 ATS
@MarkRussell1975: 53-28 SU, 41-40 ATS
@DanRuppert: 55-26 SU, 46-35 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 55-26 SU, 42-39 ATS
Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
First up … Big Ten early games “Championship Week”
Friday, Dec. 18
Nebraska at Rutgers
7:30 p.m. – BTN
Line: Nebraska -7
@PhilHarrisonBW: Rutgers
@MarkRussell1975: Rutgers
@DanRuppert: Rutgers
CONSENSUS PICK: Rutgers
Saturday, Dec. 19
Ohio State vs. Northwestern – Big Ten Championship Game
Noon – FOX
Line: Ohio State -19.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Ohio State
@MarkRussell1975: Ohio State
@DanRuppert: Ohio State
CONSENSUS PICK: Ohio State
Next … Big Ten later games “Championship Week”
Minnesota at Wisconsin
4:00 p.m. – BTN
Line: Wisconsin -13.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Wisconsin
@MarkRussell1975: Minnesota
@DanRuppert: Wisconsin
CONSENSUS PICK: Wisconsin
Illinois at Penn State
5:30 p.m. – FS1
Line: Penn State -15.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Penn State
@MarkRussell1975: Penn State
@DanRuppert: Illinois
CONSENSUS PICK: Penn State
*All other Big Ten games canceled because of coronavirus outbreaks
Next … Early Conference Championship Games (Pick Six)
Friday, Dec. 18
Oregon at USC – Pac-12 Championship Game
8:00 p.m. – FOX
Line: Oregon -3
@PhilHarrisonBW: Oregon
@MarkRussell1975: USC
@DanRuppert: USC
CONSENSUS PICK: USC
Saturday, Dec. 19
Oklahoma vs. Iowa State – Big 12 Championship Game
Noon – ABC
Line: Oklahoma -6.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Oklahoma
@MarkRussell1975: Oklahoma*
@DanRuppert: Oklahoma*
CONSENSUS PICK: Oklahoma*
Next … Later Conference Championship Games (Pick Six)
Saturday, Dec. 19
Clemson vs. Notre Dame – ACC Championship Game
4:00 p.m. – ABC
Line: Clemson -10.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Clemson
@MarkRussell1975: Clemson
@DanRuppert: Clemson*
CONSENSUS PICK: Clemson
Boise State vs. San Jose State – Mountain West Championship Game
4:15 p.m. – FOX
Line: Boise State -6.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Boise State
@MarkRussell1975: San Jose State
@DanRuppert: Boise State
CONSENSUS PICK: Boise State
Alabama vs. Florida – SEC Championship Game
8:00 p.m. – CBS
Line: Alabama -17.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Alabama
@MarkRussell1975: Alabama
@DanRuppert: Alabama
CONSENSUS PICK: Alabama
Tulsa at Cincinnati
8:00 p.m. – ABC
Line: Cincinnati -14.5
@PhilHarrisonBW: Cincinnati*
@MarkRussell1975: Cincinnati*
@DanRuppert: Cincinnati
CONSENSUS PICK: Cincinnati*
Big Ten football and College Football Playoff Bowl projections, predictions after conference Week 8
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