Week 4 Predictions: Huskers at Spartans

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Mike: The exhibition season is OVAH.

Jarek: It’s the fourth week of the season and we’ve played teams who’s colors are green or had “green” in their name.

Jill: Just casually dropping in (finally) in Week 4. It’s time for some B1G football!!

Andy: So Northwestern – are they for real?

UCLA (-1.5) at Maryland

Jarek: The immediate thing that comes to mind is UCLA traveling multiple time zones. Usually that causes a lot of problems for anybody who has to go coast to coast. Then again, UCLA does have a former James Madison head coach, which bodes well apparently. I think the Bruins are better. UCLA 27 Maryland 24

Mike: Yeah, flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. is tough on the body. What I’m not sure is so tough are the Maryland Terrapins. Bruins 34, Turtles 21

Jon: Maryland is playing better football than I expected them to, and I thought UCLA was, well, I’m shocked that the point spread is only 1.5 on this game. I realize they have to cross time zones to do it, but I would have thought UCLA would have been a six or seven point spread in this game. Maryland 27, UCLA 21

Jill: This is September Maryland we’re talking about and UCLA is traveling across the entire conference for this game. If this was November Maryland, I’d go with the Bruins. In September, give me the Terps. Maryland 24 UCLA 21

Andy: This has toss-up written all over it. And you also have UCLA getting ready to play a 9:30am game. Last week, I chickened out at the last minute and took USC to cover Rutgers setting aside the difficulty the former Pac-12 has heading east. Not again. Maryland 37 UCLA 30

Iowa (+5.5) at Michigan

Jarek: I could watch this game, or I could skydive out of a plane without a parachute from 20,000 feet. It would be far less painful to do the second option. Michigan cheats to another win in the “both offenses suck” bowl. Michigan 17 Iowa 10

Mike: Gotta be a safety in one of the scores. Squawks 18, Weasels 16

Jon: Iowa didn’t look that great against Iowa State. Michigan… is confusing. Bryce Underwood through the air against Iowa’s defense, I’ll bet on Iowa’s defense. This game comes down to turnovers. Iowa 23, Michigan 20

Jill: “Undefeated” Michigan hosts the Hawkeyes. No way I’m watching this offensively challenged game, but will glory in the “highlights” of suckitude as they are clipped and played at halftime shows of the other games I actually will watch. I guess someone has to win…Wolverines 20 Hawkeyes 19.

Andy: Taking the over at 38 1/2 is a tall ask, as is anyone covering a 5.5 spread. And if you’re Iowa in a tight one on the road? As much as you believe your pasty lot are truly the chosen people, you’ll find it isn’t the case in the Big 10 when you’re playing Michigan with a slight lead and the refs start each snap already gripping their flags. Michigan 19 Iowa 16

Oregon (-3) at Southern Cal

Jarek: I know USC just gave up 35 to a terrible Rutgers team. But how is Oregon favored in this? I see no reason that USC goes in as the underdog as a higher ranked team and undefeated. Oh yeah, AND AT HOME! USC 41 Oregon 37

Mike: Yeah, beating up a Portland State team that gave up just under a half-mile of offense to North Dakota the week before doesn’t really count. The Trojans have had nearly a week to recover from their cross-country jaunt. Trojans 41, Ducks 35

Jon: Who is going to win this game? USC’s defense looked terrible against Rutgers. Oregon didn’t even bother to show up against Oklahoma State. What I’ll pick is this. I don’t think the coordinators that Dan Lanning has hired are going to be with us next year if this is the way they’re going to play football on both sides of the ball for Oregon. Dante Moore looks like a guy that just woke up from a hungover trying to play football on a Saturday. USC 45, Oregon 41

Jill: Which team remembers they are supposed to block and tackle first? From what we’ve seen so far, it probably won’t be either one of them this week. I’m picking the home team in a shootout. USC 44 Oregon 42

Andy: This is a battle of a couple of underperforming west coasters with defenses which are thus far hot garbage. The Okie State upset of Oregon is probably the game weighing most on people’s minds while picking this one. What’s weighing on mine is that the Cowboys picked up on Dante’s Moore’s tell (different foot position for runs and passes) and then outed it to the world, because why should anyone else benefit? That’s likely been fixed, so I’m taking the Ducks in a shootout. Oregon 45 USC 41

Minnesota (+10) at Washington

Jarek: Minnesota got absolutely bludgeoned at home by Mississippi State, but Washington hasn’t impressed anyone for being categorized “dark horse playoff team”. This goes purely against my “multiple time zones” rule, but I think the Gophers spring an upset here. Minnesota 27 Washington 24

Mike: Never row a boat on Lake Minnetonka at midnight. This #B1GafterDark won’t be pretty. Huskies 33, Goofers 17

Jon: Minnesota can’t run the ball. That’s been their bailiwick under PJ Fleck. They don’t have the running backs to do it. They’re not going to win very many games by being one-sided on offense. Washington 34, Minnesota 13

Jill: Unles PJ has been hiding the running game only to unveil it for conference play, I don’t see the Gophers moving the ball consistently against the Huskes. Plus, home team, #B1GAfterDark, time zones, blah, blah, blah. Washington 34 Minnesota 18

Andy: Peej takes his team to beautiful Seattle against a Huskies team which hasn’t been knocking anyone’s socks off. But when the Goofs played so-so Miss State, they got…well their socks knocked off. Neither team has much of running game & that’s bigger problem for Minnesota. Huskies 27 Fightin’ Flecks 20

Nebraska (-5.5) at Michigan State

Jarek: Ah yes, the first genuine test to see how this new Nebraska team is. Conference play hasn’t officially started yet this one is considered a “must win” (myself included). This is the first step towards knowing how good we are (I’m always optimistic). Nebraska gets it done. Nebraska 31 Michigan State 20

Mike: We honestly don’t know what Nebraska is going to put together against a team with a pulse. First key is how Anthony Colandrea faces pressure from a B1G offensive line. Then it goes to the revamped defensive front seven and how it matches up. I’m going to keep my red-colored glasses on for the time being; it won’t be ALL right, but I’m suspect it will be fine. Huskers 28, Sparty 21

Jon: Here’s how this game’s going to go. We’re going to score touchdowns on our first two possessions. Because that’s the way Dana Holgerson’s offense is going to work this year. We have enough weapons on offense it’s going to be difficult to plan against us. How ‘bout a special team touchdown from Jacory Barney? Nebraska 35, Michigan State 17

Jill: Wait, what? We’re favored? Okay, so I’m guessing Husker fans will be in meltdown mode for at least two and a half quarters at some point in this game. If it is the first 2 1/2 we win. If it is the last 2 1/2, we lose. If I’m completely wrong and we aren’t melting down for more than a quarter, we win comfortably. #Analysis. At the very least, we will learn if our lines are up to the task of Big Ten football. I like the explosiveness the of the offense to give Nebraska the edge. Huskers 28 Michigan State 20

Andy: Michigan State won’t bring much to the table offensively, but they will try to run it and we will see if we can keep stopping the run against a P4 team. The Spartan defense held Notre Dame to 27, but also gave up 20 to Toledo. The Rockets were their first game, so let’s go with recency. Offensively, we’ll run down & score on the opening drive because that’s what Dana does.

Now, the real question is – Matt Rhule appears to have kept his mitts off things offensively in the first three games. Can he remain hands off if and when the Huskers get an early lead? That appeared to be an issue last season, and also with Satterfield if we’re honest. Dana will run plenty enough if left alone, and one big question is will Rhule truly just let him cook this season? Oh, it’s Michigan State, so things will be mucky and close because they always are, last year’s Wind Bowl aside. The old boys keep their poise & return with a W. HUSKERS 27 Sparty 20

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