One reason to think that the Badgers are superior is thanks to their offensive weapons. While Wisconsin beat the Purdue Boilermakers by three touchdowns on the road, Illinois lost that same matchup by 25, which suggests these teams aren’t actually on the same level. If nothing else, we can see how much better the Badgers have played than the Illini against similar competition. The Wisconsin Badgers are traveling to visit the Illinois Fighting Illini, in a game that could still have some implications for the West Division standings.įirst off, I think Wisconsin should be able to walk away with the win in this matchup. We’re taking the Over here to round out our parlay.įor my same-game parlay this week, I’m focusing on a Big Ten matchup that may be overlooked by the general public. The Hawkeyes have played above that number in six of their seven games this year, while Minnesota has exceeded that total in five of its six games. There may be no team more defensive-minded in the country than Iowa, but that’s no excuse for a putrid total of just 30.5 points. If I have to pick, I think the Buckeyes win this game, but Penn State is the smart bet to cover a generous 5.5-point spread.įinally, we have a matchup between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Penn State has yet to be challenged this year, while Ohio State had one close call in a 17-14 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish back in September. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes in a game that might be a College Football Playoff eliminator.

7 Penn State Nittany Lions against the No. The country's biggest game of the week pits the No. I expect the Michigan State Spartans to put up a fight, limiting the Michigan offense enough to cover the 24.5-point spread.

Sure, Michigan has blowout wins against weaker opponents, but a rivalry matchup doesn’t seem like a place where the Wolverines will name their own score. But the Wolverines have largely gotten to this point on the strength of their defense, especially when they play against reasonable opposition.

They’ve proven enough to earn serious consideration as the top team in the country, even if Georgia still holds the top spot in all major polls. There’s no doubt that the Michigan Wolverines are a threat to win the national championship this year.

Best bets week 8 college football