Big Ten football picks: Who wins, Illinois or Oregon? Penn State or Wisconsin?

Illinois is 6-1, but now comes undefeated Oregon. Meanwhile, the Badgers try to extend a three-game winning streak.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 23, 2024 at 6:00PM
Illinois coach Bret Bielema will look to keep his team rolling against No. 1 Oregon. (Barry Reeger/The Associated Press)

The final weekend of October takes us one step closer to the final debate over who gets into the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Big Ten has five contenders: Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana and Illinois, and each faces a challenge this weekend. (All games Saturday unless noted. The Gophers-Maryland prediction will run later this week.)

Three with intrigue

No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon, 2:30 p.m., CBS

• Which Illini team do you trust at Oregon: the one that held off lowly Purdue 50-49 in overtime or the one that dominated Michigan 21-7? The top-ranked Ducks will show it’s more of the former than the latter. Oregon 45, Illinois 20

Nebraska at No. 4 Ohio State, 11 a.m., Fox

Drubbed by 49 points at Indiana, the Huskers venture to Ohio State, where they’ve lost by an average score of 53-22 since joining the Big Ten. The Buckeyes need a win after losing at Oregon, and they’ll get one. Ohio State 38, Nebraska 17

Washington at No. 13 Indiana, 11 a.m., BTN

• The Hoosiers turned heads with their 56-7 pounding of Nebraska. They can bolster their playoff case by beating the Huskies, but they’ll have to do so without QB Kurtis Rourke (injured thumb). The Huskies had a bye week to prepare, but Indiana still wins. Indiana 31, Washington 21

Keep an eye on

No. 3 Penn State at Wisconsin, 6:30 p.m., NBC

• The Nittany Lions can’t afford a slipup in Madison with a showdown vs. Ohio State coming up next week. The Badgers keep it close but drop their 11th in the series. Penn State 17, Wisconsin 13

Michigan State at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., BTN

• The Wolverines’ two-game skid easily could have been four. The Spartans take advantage of a Michigan team handcuffed on offense. Michigan State 23, Michigan 13

And the rest

Northwestern at Iowa, 2:30 p.m., BTN

• The Hawkeyes will try to rebound from a sluggish effort in their loss at Michigan State. The Wildcats will face a more focused Iowa team. Iowa 31, Northwestern 10

Rutgers at USC, 10 p.m. Friday, Fox

• Something’s got to give here. The Scarlet Knights have lost three straight. The Trojans have lost three in a row and four of five. USC coach Lincoln Riley figures out a way to avoid coaching himself into a loss. USC 27, Rutgers 14

about the writer

about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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