Follow Sean & Jordan throughout the 2024 college football season as they give picks for EVERY Big Ten game & compete in the FanDuel $100 Balance Challenge
by Sean Szymczak and Jordan Beckley
We are almost officially in the thick of it.
Two Saturdays have passed and slowly we will start taking for granted all the football filling out our weekends. After 5 straight nights of football, it’s time to decompress and bet next week’s games. Just make sure to take a beat this week and enjoy the moment.
First, let’s hit the categories from week 2:
Largest Cover: Indiana!! at -42.5
- Ohio State obliterated Western Michigan and probably could have matched Indiana’s 77 points if they kept the starters in like it was a game of NCAA 24
- Honorable mention to USC 48-0 over Utah State and dishonorable mention to Oregon who failed to cover again
Lowest Under: Nebraska 28 Colorado 10 (38 total points)
- Iowa escapes this category again after a heartbreaking and possibly greatest renditions of Cy-Hawk Series ever in their 20-19 loss on 54 yard field goal from Iowa State
- Instead shoutout to the Blackshirts for reminding us that we don’t need to give Colorado as much attention as the media (or Coach Prime) wants us too
Bad Beat of the Week: Minnesota O45.5 points
- Minnesota scored three touchdowns in the 4th quarter including the backup QB Drake Lindsey tossing a TD with under 2 minutes left to make sure I didn’t get all my picks right and hit the over
Still, it’s been a profitable start to the year with our Cover 3 hitting at 75% and our total Big Ten tally being correct two thirds of the time. Plus, we both have been growing our FanDuel balance in the $100 challenge… so make sure you follow us and get picks in early before lines move!
This week’s slate is … well uh it isn’t great. If the College Football season was a menu, this week would be the house salad. There might be a few good bites here and there, but in a few weeks you won’t look back and remember it.
We have just two ranked matchups this week (both with the 2nd team ranked 20+) and plenty of byes before the Big Ten matchups really get going. Still there’s 10 Big Ten games to pick many of which will be in the somewhat tame spotlight of Week 3.
Cover 3
Sean & Jordan‘s 3 Big Ten Locks of the Week
Sean: 2-1 last week (5-1 overall)
Jordan: 2-1 last week (4-2 overall)
Sean’s 1st Pick:
Indiana (-1.5) vs UCLA
UCLA’s opening game was sloppy at best, squeaking by Hawaii 16-13. They’ve had an extra week to prep for Indiana in their first home game, but I was alarmed by the way their run game struggled. Indiana’s defensive front has been stout so far and I expect them to be able to control the line of scrimmage on defense.
Bruin QB Ethan Garbers has a good arm and has some talent to throw the ball to. The Hoosier defense has been tested by a team with this many receiving options and could be susceptible to some big plays. But I don’t think Garbers’ decision-making and accuracy are consistent enough to consistently lead 8+ play drives, which will be necessary against the sure-tackling Indiana defense.
It was hard to get a complete read on UCLA’s defense against Hawaii. Safety KJ Wallace looked like a game-changer, but I’m not sure if they have enough play-makers on the line of scrimmage to keep up with a much improved Indiana offensive line. Indiana has plenty of depth and talent at receiver and in the backfield to beat you in a variety of ways. I ultimately think they will find success on Saturday.
The country will be introduced to Curt Cignetti’s version of Indiana football in a resounding Hoosier victory in the Rose Bowl.
Jordan’s 1st Pick:
Alabama (-15.5) vs Wisconsin
The Crimson Tide will head up north to visit Camp Randall in theoretically the biggest matchup of the weekend in the Big Ten. Now, it’s not the snow-covered, fog-breathing, November to December type of visit Big Ten fans fantasize Bama or any SEC school making to the North. In fact it seems to be coming at the worst time for Luke Fickell and the Badgers.
Wisconsin so far has beaten South Dakota & Western Michigan by 14 points each. That’s the same Western Michigan team that Ohio State just beat 56-0 with their starters pulled in the 3rd quarter. Former Miami Hurricane golden boy Tyler Van Dyke has not recaptured the potential draft experts saw in him in Madison throwing for only 406 yards and 1 TD on 60% completion percentage so far.
Meanwhile, Alabama looks as good as ever under Kalen DeBoer. Jalen Milroe has had 5 TDs and 394 yards through the air in nearly half the amount of attempts as Van Dyke. Oh and Milroe has 4 rushing Touchdowns too. The Tide have beat USF & Western Kentucky by a total of 105-16.
Say all you want about home teams and yada yada me about large spreads. The lesson I learned from last week was I didn’t bet enough money on Texas against what was a visibly weak looking Michigan team. I will bet accordingly this time. BAMA -15.5
Sean’s 2nd Pick:
Purdue (+9.5) vs Notre Dame
It’s so difficult to read Purdue on one game against Indiana State, but it’s hard not to love the direction of this football program. Fresh off of a bye week, I am sure Ryan Walters will have his team prepared and Ross-Ade Stadium will be deafening. This will certainly be no picnic for a Notre Dame team looking to pick up the pieces after dropping their home-opener to NIU last weekend.
Notre Dame’s defense tightened up last week and resembled the elite unit we expected in the off-season and we thought we saw against A&M. But for the majority of the first half and at the end of the game when it counted the most, the Irish struggled to stop much of anything. Purdue’s offense should be much crisper in year 2 under OC Graham Harrell. Hudson Card might be on the best QBs in the conference and he’s playing behind an experienced & underrated offensive line. It might not be pretty at times, but Purdue should find some success against Notre Dame’s defense.
Offensively for the Irish – yikes. After an ugly couple games to start the season where nothing seems to be working, QB Riley Leonard revealed he suffered a shoulder injury last week which he will attempt to play through. For an offense still searching for an identity, Ryan Walters’ defenses is one of the last you want to face. They are difficult to read pre-snap and force a lot of mistakes. They have great athletes in the secondary and along the front. Notre Dame could generate some big plays, but I don’t expect a great outing from Riley Leonard.
I believe in Ryan Walters and the direction he has Purdue heading in. I know they will be ready for this opportunity to show the country how much they’ve grown. I’m very tempted to pull the trigger on Purdue ML.
Jordan’s 2nd Pick:
Maryland vs Virginia O54.5
The ACC revival match of the Terps vs the Cavs is another Power 4 matchup happening this week in the Big Ten. Maryland beat UVA 42-14 last year in College Park, but that was with Taulia Tagovailoa against an inexperienced Anthony Colandrea.
Vegas has this as a pickem as each Moneyline is near even money, with the line slightly favoring the road Terps at -2.5. I like Mike Locksley, Maryland and the Big Ten but I am biased.
Billy Edwards Jr is now the inexperienced QB and Colandrea is the one seasoned by more career starts.
With limited data on these teams, the smarter play than hazarding a guess on a pickem is the over. UVA has hit the over on 7 of the last 8 games vs power 5 opponents with Colandrea under center. The one game they didn’t was a push. Both teams gave up 27+ points (halfway to 54.5) to worse offenses last week.
It’s a lot of points, but I predict Maryland to get ahead early and for Virginia to be throwing all game. Without strong run games on either team, there should be more plays to go around and points should flow. Over 54.5 it is! Get it before it goes up.
Sean’s 3rd Pick:
Washington State (+4.5) vs Washington
Washington State ran for over 300 yards in their 37-16 route of Texas Tech. John Mateer isn’t consistent as a passer, but it almost doesn’t matter with his athleticism next to RB Wayshawn Parker. The Cougar line has only given up one sack so far this season and has a scary wide receiver duo in Kyle Williams & Kris Hutson. Needless to say, Washington State’s offense poses a challenge that their rival has not seen yet.
Will Rogers showed off his ability to stretch the field with his arm against WMU last week. RB Jonah Coleman has been one of the most efficient runners in the country and receivers Jeremiah Hunter & Giles Jackson will be difficult for anyone to cover. Despite that, the Huskies have struggled in the red-zone so far this season.
I see a pretty evenly matched game across the board in this rivalry game. The Cougars should be able to keep this one tight and might even pull off the upset on the road.
Jordan’s 3rd Pick:
Oregon State (+16.5) vs Oregon
Ducks vs Beavers is the second installment of the revenge rivalry games featuring the orphaned PAC-12 schools.
Oregon State lost their head coach Jonathan Smith (now at MSU), their starting QB DJ Uiagalelei (soon to be benched at Florida State?) and their backup QB Aidan Chiles (MSU’s starter).
Stepping in is former linebacker and longtime defensive coach Trent Bray as the new Head Coach. Bray has lived and breathed Oregon State football for most of the past 22 years. Bray already has an established identity in his brief tenure of hard nose football, running the ball nearly two thirds of plays and allowing less than 250 yards of offense per game so far.
Bray knows what this rivalry means and all of the returning players will have plenty of motivation against Oregon. The Corvallis crowd should be aggressive and the Ducks have not fully put it together yet. The under is shrewdly placed at 49.5 so I am going with Beavers cover +16.5. Disclaimer I have incorrectly picked Oregon to cover the past two weeks and this pick might be biasedly influenced by those outcomes!
Picks for Every Big Ten Game
Sean: 8-6 last week (20-12 overall)
Jordan: 9-5 last week (22-10 overall)
| Game | Sean’s Pick | Jordan’s Pick |
|---|---|---|
| ALA (-15.5) at WISC O/U: 50.5 | Wisconsin’s offense will be overwhelmed ALA -15.5 | Tide Rolls ALA-15.5 |
| ARKST at MICH (-23.5) O/U: 47.5 | The kids call this a lock U47.5 | Can’t trust UM covers rn U47.5 |
| CMU at ILL (-19.5) O/U: 48.5 | MAC underrated. Illini over-confident? CMU +19.5 | Chippewas Can’t Hang ILL -19.5 |
| ND (-9.5) at PURD O/U: 45.5 | Ryan Walters’ defense might have a field day on Saturday PURD +9.5 | No Damn offense Notre Dame U45.5 |
| OREG (-16.5) at ORST O/U: 50.5 | Duck D has been giving up big plays & Dillon Gabriel is still great O50.5 | Beavers get revenge… sorta ORST +16.5 |
| NEV @ MINN (-16.5) O/U: 44.5 | Still not convinced of Brosmer U44.5 | Sticking to Gopher Unders U44.5 |
| WSU at WASH (-4.5) O/U: 55.5 | This should be a tight one WSU +4.5 | Cougs don’t get revenge WASH -4.5 |
| TROY @ IOWA (-22.5) O/U: 38.5 | Easy money U38.5 | A tradition unlike any other…Iowa U38.5 |
| IND (-1.5) at UCLA O/U: 52.5 | Last chance to hop on the Hoosier hype train IND -1.5 | In on Hoosiers Bowl game Out on UCLA IND -1.5 |
| MD (-2.5) at VIRG O/U: 54.5 | I don’t think they’re as bad as they played last week MD -2.5 | Everybody’s favorite: Points! O54.5 |
$100 FanDuel Balance Challenge
| Last Week | Current Balance | |
| Sean | + $22.82 | $197.42 |
| Jordan | + $20.08 | $130.52 |
Sean’s Week 3 Picks:
Bet 1: Parlay (+272) – Tulane (+14.5) vs Oklahoma (-125) & Memphis (+6.5) vs Florida State (-110)
Betting $15 to win $40.91
The entire Sooner offense looked shaky at best in a 16-12 win over Houston last week. They won’t get away with 249 total yards against Tulane QB Darian Mensah. His accuracy broke down a bit down the stretch against Kansas State, but his mobility and play-making ability is sure to put stress on a Sooner defense – one that let Donavan Smith complete 24 of 28 passes last week.
The Green Wave arguably should have pulled off the upset over KSU last week, as they outgained them by nearly 100 yards and possessed the ball for seven minutes longer. But two turnovers by Mensah were ultimately very costly. That isn’t to say Mensah won’t do the same against an Oklahoma defense that is starting to play more like a Brent Venables unit. That’s why I’m not picking the upset here. But Mensah and WR Mario Williams are dynamic enough to keep this one close.
If you’re still trying to buy in to Florida State and think they turn their season around, I’m not sure you’ve watched the games. Memphis rushed for over 200 yards last week and has only given up one sack. Meanwhile they’ve generated 4 sacks and 16 TFLs. The Tigers might be the third straight team that’s able to dominate the Seminoles’ line of scrimmage.
Bet 2: Purdue ML vs Notre Dame (+315)
Betting $7.42 to win $23.37
I mean, what the hell? I think everyone would like to see it. And is it that crazy?
Marcus Freeman has a 20-9 record at Notre Dame – 5 of those losses have come in September. Riley Leonard is averaging 5 yards per attempt and hasn’t thrown a TD pass yet. Now he faces a Boilermaker defense that thrives on forcing turnovers and negative plays. What if Notre Dame just falls apart here?
Jordan’s Week 3 Picks:
Bet 1: Purdue at Notre Dame U45.5 (-105)
Betting $10.50 to win $10
Move on this bet now! Notre Dame has hit the under on 47.5 in the past two games by 29 total points. That is a mountain of underscoring. Vegas has adjusted by placing them just two points lower at 45.5 this week.
Could Notre Dame wake up after the Northern Illinois upset last week? Maybe. I also believe in Marcus Freeman turning around Notre Dame a little less each week. A vote for the over would require me more belief in Freeman than has been earned.
Purdue also had two weeks to prepare for this game in Ross-Ade Stadium and saw everything that worked for Northern Illinois. Hudson Card looked so good in week 1 that I would even say the Purdue cover seems pretty safe, but I am hammering this under.
Bet 2: Purdue +9.5 at ND, Bama -15.5 at Wisconsin, Oregon St +16.5 vs Oregon, Missouri -16.5 vs Boston College (+1262)
Betting $5 to win $63.14
I don’t normally condone Parlays, but this one has to hit right? I’m kidding.
Purdue covering is a risk here, but I stated why I like the Boilers at home with 2 weeks prep against Freeman earlier. I’m sprinkling in Bama here and doubling down on Oregon State as well too.
The new addition is Missouri smacking Boston College and what can I say? Are we sure BC is any good? They beat a hapless looking FSU and Duquesne so far. The Tigers meanwhile haven’t given up a point yet. I trust Eli Drinkwitz and Mizzou at home more than Bill O’Brien still getting his feel with the Eagles.
This is a low wager with a pretty great payout that will make Saturday a lot more fun.
Read more on The Floor Slap:
- My 2025 March Madness LOVE/HATE List
- Big Ten Tiers, Title Race & Bubble Update after the Halfway Point
- Midweek Madness: The Big Ten’s Top 5 and What I Got Wrong in the Preseason
- The 21 College Basketball Teams that Matter for the 2025 Season
- Midweek Madness: A Fast Break Recap as we barrel into Big Ten Play