Big Ten picks: MLive’s predictions for Michigan-UNLV, Michigan State-Richmond
It’s FCS week across the Big Ten, and that’s a tough go for pickers.
Four of the conference’s teams are playing games against FCS opponents, including Michigan State against Richmond. Our friends in the desert don’t love handicapping those games, given the lack of good information and large talent disparities. So we don’t have lines on those contests and won’t be picking them – although Matt Wenzel will still give a final score prediction for the Spartans.
And yet it’s the non-conference season, so we still have 10 other games to try our luck at. Here’s where our pickers stand after one week of action:
Aaron McMann 7-3
Ryan Zuke 6-4
Andrew Kahn 6-4
Kyle Austin 5-5
Matt Wenzel 4-6
- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
- Line: Kansas -3
The Illini needed a field goal with five seconds left to avoid an upset loss to Toledo in their opener. In their first game since Ryan Walters decamped to Purdue, the Illini defense gave up 416 total yards. Kansas opened its season by beating FCS Missouri State handily.
MLive staff picks:
- Illinois (+3): Zuke
- Kansas (-3): Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Kahn
- When: Noon
- Line: Virginia Tech -3
The Boilermakers are just a three-point dog on the road despite losing their opener to Fresno State at home. That either says something about how good Fresno is or that folks weren’t sold on Virginia Tech’s 36-17 Week 1 win over Old Dominion after a 4-7 campaign last year. Probably both.
MLive staff picks:
- Purdue (+3): Zuke
- Virginia Tech (-3): Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Kahn
After stunning the college football world with a Week 1 upset win at TCU, Coach Prime and the Buffaloes turn their sights to the Big Ten. Nebraska could have won at Minnesota last week if not for a costly late turnover. New QB Jeff Sims will need to clean up on his three-interception opener.
MLive staff picks:
- Nebraska (+3 1/2): McMann, Zuke, Kahn
- Colorado (-3 1/2): Austin, Wenzel
A Northwestern team that went to the 2020 Big Ten title game is now a home underdog to UTEP. Oof. The Wildcats didn’t inspire much confidence when they recorded just 201 yards and seven points in their opener at Rutgers. UTEP is 1-1 with a loss to Jacksonville State and a win over Incarnate Word.
MLive staff picks:
UTEP (-1 1/2): Wenzel, McMann, Zuke, Kahn
Northwestern (+1 1/2): Austin
If you like defense, this is the game for you: in the last four CyHawk games, only once has a team scored more than 20 points. Don’t expect much different this year: Iowa topped Utah State by 10 in its opener and Iowa State played FCS Northern Iowa.
MLive staff picks:
- Iowa (-4): Austin, Wenzel, McMann
- Iowa State (+4): Zuke, Kahn
- When: 7:30 p.m.
- Line: Minnesota -20
Plenty of love in this line for Minnesota despite its close call at home in Week 1 against Nebraska; the Gophers are working in plenty of new players in skill positions. Eastern Michigan topped Howard by 10 in its opener.
MLive staff picks:
- Eastern Michigan (+20): Wenzel, McMann, Zuke, Kahn
- Minnesota (-20): Austin
- When: 7:30 P.M.
- Line: Maryland -24 1/2
Former Michigan analyst Biff Poggi brings his Charlotte team to the Big Ten to face Taulia Tagovailoa, who accounted for four total touchdowns in his team’s season-opener. Charlotte was picked to finish last in the American Athletic Conference this year.
MLive staff picks:
- Maryland (-24 1/2): Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Zuke Kahn
Rutgers snuck by in this matchup last year, 16-14. It’ll hope for an easier day this year after its defense put together a strong showing in Week 1 against Northwestern. Temple beat Akron, 24-21, in its season-opener last week.
MLive staff picks:
- Rutgers (-9): Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Zuke Kahn
- When: 7:30 p.m.
- Line: Wisconsin -6 1/2
After an impressive three-touchdown victory in his debut, in which Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen both went over 140 yards rushing, Luke Fickell takes his Badgers out West. Washington State was impressive in putting up 50 points in its opener against Colorado State.
MLive staff picks:
- Wisconsin (-6 1/2): Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Zuke Kahn
Wenzel’s pick: Michigan State survived a sloppy start to pull away in the second half for a comfortable win against Central Michigan in the opener while Richmond was upset at home by Morgan State. Look for the Spartans to turn in a cleaner performance against an FCS program while cruising to a victory. Noah Kim throws for three touchdowns and Michigan State forces multiple turnovers to move to 2-0 with a visit from No. 8 Washington looming the following week. Michigan State 41, Richmond 7
- When: 3:30 p.m.
- Line: Michigan -36
McMann’s pick: Just like last week, Michigan is staring at a big number to cover at home. Jim Harbaugh won’t be on the sideline again, but the Wolverines do get their offensive coordinator (and offensive line coach) Sherrone Moore back. I do think that matters, especially when it comes to adjustments in the run game. UNLV won its opener, 44-14, over Bryant despite total yards winding up even (409-409) and Bryant commanding an 18-minute time-of-possession advantage. That bodes well for a Michigan offense that put together two strong quarters of offense against East Carolina. I’m picking the Wolverines to run away with this one and cover. Michigan 51, UNLV 10
- UNLV (-36): Austin, Wenzel
- Michigan (+36): McMann, Zuke, Kahn
