After a big 6-2 week against the spread, your boy Big Country has finally broken the .500 mark, after flirting with it for weeks.  I'm barely over, going 27-26-1, but it's a start.  Thank God it happened last week, because I'm not going to lie, this week might be rough.  Thanks to some big spreads, weird match ups, and a few games that are OFF as of Thursday, picking games this week was a little tougher than usual.  But I was able to find 6 games that I really like, and plan on increasing my wins total this week.  So here are the 6 must pick games.  As always, the home team is in caps.

Maryland (+10.5) over WISCONSIN

I remember when I thought that Wisconsin was a good football team.  Then I actually watched them play, and they are bad.  Not just talent wise, but poorly coached.  The record is deceiving, as they lost to the only good team they faced this year (LSU) and toan average (at beast) Northwestern team.  Their best win was last week versus Illinois.  Maryland on the other hand just picked up a big win over Iowa, and played West Virginia tight.  If you had told me that Maryland was favored this week I wouldn't have been shocked.  Go with Maryland.

Minnesota (-6) over ILLINOIS

Minnesota is really only good at one thing.  Rushing the football.  Luckily for the Golden Gophers, that's the one thing that Illinois can't stop.  I'm serious, they rank 126th out of 128 teams in rushing defense, allowing 282.5 yards per game.  Minnesota is 20th in the nation for rushing yards per game, with 229.2.  Minnesota should be able to move the ball pretty easily, even on the road, and win this one by double digits.

KANSAS STATE (-10) over Texas

The Long Horns offense is 103rd in the nation in points per game.  Not very impressive.  I know they have done better the last couple weeks, but those were games at home.  Not the same as doing it on the road in Manhattan, Kansas.  And on the other side of the ball?  Well the Wildcats have put up 30 or more points in their last 3 games, and 5 of their 6 games this year.  The Wildcats are just a better team, and should win this by 2 touchdowns.

Mississippi (-4) over LSU

We all know how I feel about Bo Wallace and the Ol Miss Rebels.  They have the best defense in college football.  The most points they have allowed in a game this year was 20, to Texas A&M.  I don't care if it's Jennings or Harris at QB, they aren't going to be able to throw the ball on this defense.  There hasn't been a team all season to keep within 4 of Ol Miss, and I don't see anything in LSU that makes me think they can.

Ohio State (-14.5) over PENN STATE

I legitimately fear for Christian Hackenberg's safety on Saturday night.  Penn State's offensive line is atrocious, and Ohio State has a very good pass rush.  I know that OSU isn't as good as they were expected to be now that Braxton Miller is out, but JT Barrett is getting better every week, and OSU has won impressively there last 3 games.  They beat Cincinnati by 22, Maryland by 28, and Rutgers by 39.  Penn State on the other hand has lost it's last 2, and hasn't scored more than 20 points combined it's last 2 games.

UTAH (+1) over University of Southern California

This is essentially a pick em game, and I love Utah here.  USC is not very good.  They may be sporting a 5-2 record, but anyone who has been paying attention could tell you they should be 3-4.  They didn't beat Stanford.  Stanford beat themselves.  And the only reason they beat Arizona was the Wildcats missed a chip shot field goal.  Essentially USC has been outplayed by every good team they have faced.  And Utah is a good team.  They played on the Thursday last week, so they had a little extra time to rest/prepare, and are going to win this one.

So those are my games this week.  Best of luck to you, and follow me on twitter @michaelrooney26

Big Country

Friday, October 24, 2014