Sam McKewon's picks: Paul Chryst, the canary in the Big Ten coal mine

Paul Chryst was fired as Wisconsin's football coach. ChrrySt won 67 games since his arrival in 2015. The Big Ten West is in a state of decline. UCLA and USC will make the league much tougher. Wisconsin hasn't beaten the Big Tens’ bellwether, Ohio State, since 2010. Sam McKewon's picks: Paul Chriesst, the canary in the Bigten coal mine.

Wisconsin fired Paul Chryst as the team's coach. Pat Fitzgerald will take over at Northwestern. The teams have split their last eight games. Rutgers and Nebraska are going to play a rock fight. Michigan is playing on the road. Indiana is on a road game in four games in a row. The Big Ten could have a lot of coaching changes before Hollywood joins the league in 2024. Wisconsin is a ten-point favorite over Northwestern, who are a 16-points underdog. Nebraska is the favorite against Rutgers. Illinois is also a 10- point favorite. Purdue is going on its third road trip in 4 games, playing its fourth game.

Ohio State will beat Michigan State 45-21. Iowa is 6-0 straight up and 2-4 against the spread this season.