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 & Jordan Beckley
It’s getting to nut crunching time.
A couple teams are up against it for College Football Playoff bids. Many more programs are fighting for Bowl Eligibility and us bettors only have a few weeks to escape the red.
So, pour over our Betting Guide and try to make some money with us too and check out our CFP Elimination Pool after the action is finished to find out what teams met their demise.
Cover 3
Sean & Jordan‘s 3 Big Ten Locks of the Week
Sean: 1-2 last week (15-15 overall)
Jordan: 1-2 last week (15-15 overall)
Sean’s 1st Pick: Ohio State (-28.5) vs Northwestern
I originally misread this line as -38.5 and was still going to take Ohio State.
Northwestern’s defense can cause some more problems than Purdue did last week. They stay disciplined in the back-end and have a couple sure-tackling linebackers in Mac Uihlein and Xander Mueller. In a weird environment on Wrigley Field (which is just begging for someone to get injured), I could certainly see the Buckeye offense getting off to a slow start. Northwestern actually ranks in the top-half of the country in total defense and turnovers forced.
But nothing about the Wildcat offense scares me. Going up against an Ohio State defense that is humming right along, I don’t see Northwestern having much more success than Purdue did last week.
Ohio State isn’t playing with their food. This is another easy dub.
Jordan’s 1st Pick: Over 51.5 Oregon at Wisconsin
Honestly, I don’t feel too strongly about most of this slate. However, one number that sticks out to me is 51.5 in the Ducks vs Badgers.
Wisconsin has given up 42 to Iowa, 38 to USC and 42 to Bama at Camp Randall. Oregon has scored 31-49 points every week since week 1. The Badgers get points too. It may not be a ton, but they will not be shut out.
91% of the total handle is on the over as well, so I’m not the only one thinking this way.
Sean’s 2nd Pick: UCLA vs Washington: U46.5
Deshaun Foster has the Bruins riding a three-game win streak on the back of a great defense. They’ve allowed 21 or fewer points in three of their past four games and face a Washington offense that has looked lethargic ever since halftime of the Iowa game (that was over a month ago).
Washington hasn’t scored more than 27 points since their second game of the season and have failed to surpass 20 points in three of their past four games. UCLA is a top-10 run defense in the country and will put the game on the back of Will Rogers who has been under duress all season.
This looks like a classic Big Ten defensive showdown for a couple of our new members.
Jordan’s 2nd Pick: Michigan State at Illinois (-2.5)
People are off the scent of the Illini.
Illinois is still a decent bowl level team. I don’t believe Michigan State is the same level. The Illini are at home and despite my logic failing last time with picking them at home against Minnesota, I am going with the mantra ‘right logic, wrong pick’.
I love this pick too at -2.5. Feels like I get a few free points here. Illinois -2.5.
Sean’s 3rd Pick: Nebraska (+8.5) at USC
I don’t quite understand this line – I see this game more of a pick ‘em.
I get Nebraska has been a massive disappointment ever since September ended, but they’ve been relatively consistent along the line of scrimmage throughout their ups and downs. USC is turning to QB Jayden Maiava who is far more mobile than Miller Moss and adds another dimension to this offense. But I’m not sure a QB change is what this offense really needed. The Trojans have been getting manhandled up front all season long and I don’t expect that to change on Saturday.
The Trojans’ home environment won’t be much of a factor and Matt Rhule understands this is a near must-win in order to reach bowl eligibility and keep his seat from getting hot. USC, meanwhile, seems to have already thrown in the towel on the season. I like Nebraska to battle hard and maybe even pull off the upset.
Jordan’s 3rd Pick: Penn State -28.5 over Purdue
This pick is an excuse to talk about the Dead Man Walking in West Lafayette.
Ryan Walters is 5-16 at Purdue since becoming the Boilers head coach. 4 of those wins were in his first year. He’s lost 8 straight games and the Athletic Department has buried his entire future by not firing him yet. It’s truly a disservice to him, the fans and the program to keep him around still.
Purdue has lost every game to a D1 opponent this year and half of them by 35+ points. He is racking up program records for the largest blowout losses, the most shutout losses, and it’s left the school abandoned. All of the recruits are decommitting, players on the team have given up and the Paint Crew are being threatened to stop “Fire Walters” from happening.
Penn State will win 45-0 and I’m begging Mike Bobinski to do the right thing and fire Walters before Indiana wins by 90 points in the Oaken Bucket game. Give the team a new leader to rally behind, let Walters leave without more embarrassment, and please listen to the fans.
Sean & Jordan’s Picks for Every Big Ten Game
Sean: 1-5 last week (55-43 overall)
Jordan: 3-3 last week (57-41 overall)
Disclaimer: Spreads & Over/Unders (left column) are updated up until kick-off, but our picks are locked in every Thursday. Follow @TheFloorSlap to get in on our picks ASAP!
| Game | Sean’s Picks | Jordan’s Picks |
| UCLA at WASH (-4.5) O/U: 46.5 | Unofficial Big Ten West game U46.5 | Why not? UCLA +4.5 |
| OSU (-28.5) at NW O/U: 43.5 | Buckeyes are riding OSU -28.5 | Two of the best Defenses. One of the worst offenses. U43.5 |
| MSU at ILL (-2.5) O/U: 47.5 | Feel like anything could happen in this game ILL -2.5 | I’m not out on Illinois yet ILL -2.5 |
| PSU (-28.5) at PURD O/U: 50.5 | Weekly reminder that Purdue sucks PSU -28.5 | Betting against Purdue is free money if Walters is the coach PSU -28.5 |
| NEB at USC (-8.5) O/U: 50.5 | USC seems like they threw in the towel NEB +8.5 | ‘Skers can’t score & USC doesn’t go above 24pts U50.5 |
| RUTG at MD (-6) O/U: 51.5 | Neither of these defenses have really showed up this season O51.5 | If you bet this game (sicko), bet ML RUTG +6 |
| OREG (-14.5) at WISC O/U: 51.5 | Just a gut feeling this one will be tight WISC +14.5 | Badgers Bad. Not sure why people don’t see it. OREG -14.5 |
$100 FanDuel Balance Challenge
| Last Week | Current Balance | |
| Sean | ($30) | $43.89 |
| Jordan | ($11.15) | $59.99 |
Starting Balance of $100
Sean’s Picks
I’m not going out without a fight. How about instead of getting cute outside the conference, I stick with the picks I feel really good about?
UCLA vs Washington: U46.5 (-105)
Betting $10 to win $9.52
Nebraska (+8.5) vs USC (-110)
Betting $20 to win $18.18
Parlay (+137): BYU ML (-134) vs Kansas, Boise State ML (-550) vs San Jose State, South Carolina ML (-670) vs Missouri
I feel good about all three of these teams winning. Moneyline favorite parlays have never failed anyone as far as I know.
Betting $10 to win $13.27
Jordan’s Picks
Do we think I can win this by just not betting much and hoping Sean goes Bankrupt?
I’m being told I legally have to make a pick, so here are some.
Penn State -28.5 over Purdue
I covered Purdue’s misery in Cover 3.
Betting $5 to win $4.39
PARLAY Oregon -13.5 over Wisconsin, South Carolina -13.5 over Missouri
Going with a pair of two TD favorites that I just think are much better than their opponent.
Betting $5 to win $12.50
Under 46.5 UCLA Washington, Under 51.5 Oregon Wisconsin, Under 51.5 Nebraska USC
Three unders that I love this weekend. UCLA Washington is a lock. Oregon under depends on if they keep their focus for all four quarters. Nebraska can’t score normally and Raiola isn’t 100%.
If you parlay all three of these together it’s +596. I am placing straight bets risking $5 on each.
Betting $15 to win $13.66