What if college football threw an epic kegger and the Big Ten was not invited?
Actually the league of Bo and Woody did get the Evite but mainly hit decline.
The national slate is loaded with potential instant classics such as Alabama-USC, Florida State-Ole Miss, Georgia-North Carolina and UCLA-Texas A&M.
The Big Ten is giving us the likes of Hawaii-Michigan and Kent State-Penn State. Only three games feature matchups of Power Five teams, and four lack official spreads (Furman-Michigan State, Eastern Kentucky-Purdue, Murray State-Illinois and Howard-Maryland).
This column will home in on the eight Saturday games that feature two FBS teams. Please note: These picks (selections in bold) are against the spread. Use them at your own risk. And the lines, taken from Pregame.com at noon Thursday, might have shifted.
Hawaii (plus 40.5) at Michigan: Jim Harbaugh’s favorite sound is shhhhh. His team is nearly a six-touchdown favorite, but his starting QB is a secret. For that annoyance alone, take Hawaii.
Western Michigan (plus 5) at Northwestern: The Broncos are a nightmare of an opener: Dangerous but in the MAC, so you get no national credit for a victory. At least Northwestern has the secondary to deal with stud receiver Corey Davis, so lay the points.
Bowling Green (plus 28) at Ohio State: The Urban legend was built at Bowling Green, where the Ohio State coach flipped a program, going 17-6 before departing for Utah. Meyer’s young Bucks will help make another nice memory.
Kent State (plus 22) at Penn State: Something tells me the post-Christian Hackenberg Nittany Lions will be better than the Hackenberg ones. Give the points.
Rutgers (plus 26.5) at Washington: There are fewer things stranger in this world than Rutgers’ nonconference scheduling. Why fly 2,800 miles for a butt-whupping? Take the Huskies.
Miami of Ohio (plus 27.5) at Iowa: We’ll guess the Hawkeyes are looking ahead to next week’s visit from Iowa State. So if you must choose, roll with the RedHawks.
LSU (minus 10.5) vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field: Tigers coach Les Miles said any player who takes the Lambeau Leap will have to walk home? Where’s the zany coach we fell for? Still, take LSU.
Fresno State (plus 28.5) at Nebraska: SB Nation called Fresno State the “biggest wild card” in the Mountain West. Thus ends my research. Take the points.
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
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