Big Ten and other biggest college football game expert picks and predictions for Week 12

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Big Ten and other biggest college football game expert picks and predictions for Week 12

It's tradition now. Every year (and every week of the season), we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination when it comes to picking the Big Ten football games and some of the bigger college football contests throughout the season, now that conference play is in full swing.

Though we never really know, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana are getting a lot of national notoriety and seem to be the three teams contending for league superiority. However, you can't count out teams like USC and Michigan, who also have just one loss in the conference and hope to have something to say about it all. And Penn State … well — that's another story for another day.

So, just how will Week 12 play out in the Big Ten? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the conference straight up and against the spread for your wagering and reading consumption — do with it as you wish.

As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried, yet true, coin flip, where George Washington has the say.

EXAMPLE: If Ohio State is favored -3.5 over Michigan:

If you think Ohio State will win outright and cover: OSU

If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*

If you think Ohio State will lose: Michigan

Here are our expert picks for Week 12 as things get deeper into conference play and we head towards the home stretch of the regular season. We throw in the top five non-Big Ten games as well to make it more interesting.

Standings so far

Follow Phil Harrison: 114-30 SU, 75-69 ATS

Follow MarkRussell: 113-31 SU, 71-73 ATS

Follow Griffin Dreifeldt: 119-25 SU, 82-62 ATS

Follow Yesh Ginsburg: 109-35 SU, 84-60 ATS

CONSENSUS PICK: 116-28 SU, 83-61 ATS

First up … Big Ten games

Minnesota at Oregon

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) receives the snap Nov. 8, 2025 during a Big Ten Football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Friday, Nov. 14

9:00 p.m. ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Oregon -25.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oregon

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oregon*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Oregon

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Oregon

CONSENSUS PICK | Oregon

Wisconsin at Indiana

Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

Noon ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Indiana -29.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Indiana

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Indiana*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Indiana

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Indiana

CONSENSUS PICK | Indiana

Michigan at Northwestern

Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone (8) passes against Tulane Green Wave during the second half at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

Noon ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Michigan -11.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Michigan

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Michigan

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Michigan*

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Michigan

CONSENSUS PICK: Michigan

Iowa at USC

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) talks with Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

3:30 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | USC -6.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | USC

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | USC*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | USC*

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | USC

CONSENSUS PICK | USC

Penn State at Michigan State

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 17: The Michigan State Spartans celebrate after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 27-23 in the college football game at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Saturday, Nov. 15

3:30 p.m. ET | CBS (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Penn State -7

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Penn State

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Penn State

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Penn State

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Penn State

CONSENSUS PICK | Penn State

Maryland at Illinois

Oct 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) breaks free of a tackle by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Caden Curry (92) during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

3:30 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Illinois -14.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Illinois

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Illinois

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Illinois*

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Illinois

CONSENSUS PICK | Illinois

Purdue at Washington

Sep 27, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch stands on the sideline during a second quarter timeout against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

7:00 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Washington -16.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Washington

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Washington

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Washington

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Washington

CONSENSUS PICK | Washington

UCLA at Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads his team on the field for the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.

Saturday, Nov. 15

7:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Ohio State -31.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Ohio State*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Ohio State*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Ohio State

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Ohio State

CONSENSUS PICK | Ohio State

Next … 5 biggest non-Big Ten games

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

Notre Dame wide receiver Jerome Bettis Jr. (15), cornerback Cree Thomas (20) and others celebrate after winning a NCAA football game 49-10 against Navy at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in South Bend.

Saturday, Nov. 15

Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Notre Dame -11.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Notre Dame

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Notre Dame*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Notre Dame

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Notre Dame

CONSENSUS PICK | Notre Dame

USF at Navy

Nov 6, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Golesh looks on against the UTSA Roadrunners during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

Noon ET | ESPN2 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | USF -10.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | USF*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | USF*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | USF

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | USF

CONSENSUS PICK | USF

Oklahoma at Alabama

Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Bray Hubbard (18) and linebacker Justin Jefferson (10) celebrate after a play against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second quarter of the game at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Alabama -4.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Alabama

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Alabama

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Alabama

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Alabama

CONSENSUS PICK | Alabama

NC State at Miami (FL)

Oct 17, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) looks for a passing option against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Miami -14.5

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Miami

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Miami

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Miami*

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Miami

CONSENSUS PICK | Miami

Texas at Georgia

Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) runs the ball against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half of the game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Saturday, Nov. 15

7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Betting Line | Georgia -6

The Picks:

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Georgia*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Georgia*

Griffin Dreifaldt (@griffin_drei) | Texas

Yesh Ginsburg (@yesh222) | Georgia

CONSENSUS PICK | Georgia

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: College football predictions: All Big Ten and other big games, Week 12

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