Last week....well last week was bad for all of us with our picks. Only one person finished with positive money (Matt O’Neall) and nobody finished with a winning picks record. EMU beating Purdue and Airzona State upsetting Michigan State will do that to you along with Ohio State scoring 52, but somehow still hitting the under in their game.

But, there was one person who really showed his skills to make bad bets very clear: Austin Jabs. Jabs went 3-10 in his picks and lost a whopping $275 dollars and now stands at -$475 for the competition, a full $250 below Mark Schaer in 6th place (-$225).

Now there are a lot of games left, but as we move into conference play there will be less games to play and fewer opportunities for Jabs to dig himself out of this gambling hole. We wish him the best of luck in these trying times.

For now, here’s a reminder of the rules before we get to this week’s gambling picks:

• Each participant will bet on every Big Ten game being played that weekend, and they can bet either the point spread or the over/under
• The participant will assign an amount to their bet, which can be either $25, $50 or $100. Each participant is allowed only one $100 bet per week. Everybody starts with a $0 balance, and balances can be negative

And now, the picks.

Penn State (-35) vs Kent State, O/U 62

1. Birkhead: $25 Penn State (-35)
2. Repplinger: $25 Kent State (+35)
3. Jabs: $50 Over 62
4. O’Neall: $50 Over 62
5. Huisinga: $50 Over 62
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Over 62
7. Schaer: $25 Under 62

Birkhead: Well, let’s find out if Kent State really does suck or not.

Rutgers (+2.5) @ Kansas, O/U 46.5

1. Birkhead: $50 Rutgers (+2.5)
2. Repplinger: $25 Over 46.5
3. Jabs: $50 Rutgers (+2.5)
4. O’Neall: $50 Rutgers (+2.5)
5. Huisinga: $25 Kansas (-2.5)
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Rutgers (-2.5)
7. Schaer: $25 Rutgers (-2.5)

O’Neall: Oh come on, Rutgers. Not like this.

Indiana (-14.5) vs Ball State, O/U 57.5

1. Birkhead: $25 Indiana (-14.5)
2. Repplinger: $50 Indiana (-14.5)
3. Jabs: $25 Under 57.5
4. O’Neall: $25 Ball State (+14.5)
5. Huisinga: $50 Ball State (+14.5)
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 Under 57.5
7. Schaer:$50 Under 57.5

Repplinger: IT’S THE DAVID LETTERMAN BOWL!!!

Maryland (-16) vs Temple, O/U 53.5

1. Birkhead: $50 Maryland (-16)
2. Repplinger: $50 Maryland (-16)
3. Jabs: $25 Temple (+16)
4. O’Neall: $50 Maryland (-16)
5. Huisinga: $50 Maryland (-16)
6. Thumpasaurus: $100 Maryland (-16)
7. Schaer: $25 Maryland (-16)

Thumpasaurus: BUT WHAT IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE WRONG?

Nebraska (-12) vs Troy, O/U 59.5

1. Birkhead: $25 Under 59.5
2. Repplinger: $25 Nebraska (-12)
3. Jabs: $50 Nebraska (-12)
4. O’Neall: $25 Under 59.5
5. Huisinga: $25 Nebraska (-12)
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Under 595
7. Schaer: $50 Nebraska (-12)

Repplinger: Even with Adrian Martinez being a gametime decision, this one is all Huskers.

Illinois (+10) vs USF, O/U 59

1. Birkhead: $100 USF (-10)
2. Repplinger: $100 USF (-10)
3. Jabs: $25 Over 59
4. O’Neall: $100 USF (-10)
5. Huisinga: $100 USF (-10)
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 USF (-10)
7. Schaer: $50 USF (-10)

O’Neall: Trust me.

Wisconsin (-21) vs BYU, O/U 44

1. Birkhead: $25 Wisconsin (-21)
2. Repplinger: $50 Wisconsin (-21)
3. Jabs: $50 Wisconsin (-21)
4. O’Neall: $50 Over 44
5. Huisinga: $50 Wisconsin (-21)
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 Over 44
7. Schaer: $25 Over 44

Birkhead: Wisconsin should absolutely destroy BYU, but they can do that by winning 24-3 as they are a team that cares not about style points.

Michigan (-35.5) vs SMU, O/U 53.5

1. Birkhead: $25 SMU (+35.5)
2. Repplinger: $25 Michigan (-35.5)
3. Jabs: $100 Over 53.5
4. O’Neall: $25 Over 53.5
5. Huisinga: $50 Over 53.5
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Over 53.5
7. Schaer: $25 SMU (+35.5)

Birkhead: I don’t trust this Michigan offense to put up a bunch of points two weeks in a row to be able to cover this giant spread.

Minnesota (-13.5) vs Miami (OH), O/U 46

1. Birkhead: $25 Over 46
2. Repplinger: $50 Minnesota (-13.5)
3. Jabs: $50 Miami (+13.5)
4. O’Neall: $50 Minnesota (-13.5)
5. Huisinga: $25 Over 46
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Minnesota (-13.5)
7. Schaer: $25 Under 46

Birkhead: PJ Fleck is Tim Beckman with better marketing.

Purdue (+6.5) vs Missouri, O/U 65

1. Birkhead: $50 Mizzou (-6.5)
2. Repplinger: $25 Under 65
3. Jabs: $50 Mizzou (-6.5)
4. O’Neall: $25 Over 65
5. Huisinga: $50 Mizzou (-6.5)
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 Over 65
7. Schaer: $50 Over 65

Birkhead: So it looks like Purdue is trash again. Illinois will still find a way to lose to them at home.

Iowa (-20) vs Northern Iowa, O/U 43.5

1. Birkhead: $50 Iowa (-20)
2. Repplinger: $50 Under 43.5
3. Jabs: $25 Under 43.5
4. O’Neall: $50 Under 43.5
5. Huisinga: $25 Under 43.5
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Over 43.5
7. Schaer: $25 Over 43.5

Birkhead: Iowa’s lack of offense last week was more on Iowa State’s defense playing incredibly well than on Iowa’s offense — not that it is anything special. This is still a very solid team that will crush their FCS opponent as they should.

Northwestern (-21) vs Akron, O/U 45.5

1. Birkhead: $25 Northwestern (-21)
2. Repplinger: $25 Under 45.5
3. Jabs: $25 Akron (+21)
4. O’Neall: $50 Northwestern (-21)
5. Huisinga: $25 Akron (+21)
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Under 45.5
7. Schaer: $25 Under 45.5

Jabs: I don’t care if I lose this bet. Fitzee is the worst kind of human and I want to see him miserable.

*Narrator voice, Jabs will lose this bet.

Ohio State (-13.5) @ TCU (game played in Dallas), O/U 60

1. Birkhead: $25 Ohio State (-13.5)
2. Repplinger: $25 TCU (+13.5)
3. Jabs: $50 Ohio State (-13.5)
4. O’Neall: $25 Ohio State (-13.5)
5. Huisinga: $50 Ohio State (-13.5)
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 Over 60
7. Schaer: $25 Over 60

Repplinger: I have to stick with my BIG12 Champ in this one. Which is also the game that dethrones Ohio State.

Money on the line this week

Birkhead: $500

Repplinger: $525

Jabs: $575

O’Neall: $625

Husinga: $575

Thumpasaurus: $525

Schaer: $425

Standings

1. Thumpasaurus $75 (11-12), Last week -$150 (4-9)
2. Birkhead $50 (12-11), Last week -$100 (6-7)
3. Repplinger $25 (11-12), Last week $0 (6-7)
4. Huisinga -$50 (11-12), Last Week -$100 (5-8)
5. O’Neall -$125 (10-13), Last Week $25 (6-7)
6. Schaer -$225 (10-13), Last Week -$200 (5-8)
7. Jabs -$475 (6-17), Last Week -$250 (3-10)