The Big Ten needs to take it slow and get a nice glass of water and get itself together. It’s been a wild few weeks to start the season with upsets and crazy scores abound, and with that our picks have been all over the place and mostly wrong.

But, there is one man who has risen above. One man who has the pulse of the wacky Big Ten in 2018. One man who actually knows what he is doing with these picks. Thumpasaurus.

Steve has an advantage because he writes for Off Tackle Empire as well as TCR. He knows the fans of all the teams and what they really think to give him an advantage in picking.

But actually, Steve’s strategy is rather simple. Thumpasaurus “Well, what you gotta do is when you’re on the fence, go with whatever would be the less interesting, exciting or preferable thing.”

And on that note, let’s get into it. With conference play starting there were be less picks each week, making it harder and harder to make up money. We all have a lot of work to do except Steve.

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

#10 Penn State @ Illinois (+28.5), O/U 60

1. Birkhead: $25 Penn State (-28.5)
2. Repplinger: $25 Illinois (+28.5)
3. Jabs: $50 Illinois (+28.5)
4. O’Neall: $25 over 60
5. Huisinga: $25 Illinois (+28.5)
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Illinois (+28.5)
7. Schaer: $25 Illinois (+28.5)

Thumpasaurus: It feels like a precisely 28 point loss is coming. For some reason, this will annoy me.

Nebraska (+19) @ Michigan, O/U 50

1. Birkhead: $25 Over 50
2. Repplinger: $25 Over 50
3. Jabs: $25 Michigan (-17)
4. O’Neall: $25 Michigan (-17)
5. Huisinga: $50 Under 50
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 Under 50
7. Schaer: $25 Michigan (-17)

Birkhead: Oh Frosty. You just learned Nebraska isn’t the Nebraska you played for anymore didn’t you?

Boston College @ Purdue (+7), O/U 68

1. Birkhead: $100 BC (-7)
2. Repplinger: $50 BC (-7)
3. Jabs: $25 Over 68
4. O’Neall: $50 Over 68
5. Huisinga: $100 Purdue (+7)
6. Thumpasaurus: $100 BC (-7)
7. Schaer: $50 BC (=7)

Birkhead: Just a bunch of guys being dudes. My preseason surprise team is freaking really good this year.

Husinga: I love Rondale Moore. As bad as Purdue has been, give me some Jeff Brohm at home

Buffalo @ Rutgers (+4), O/U 50

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

Jabs: Two lackluster defenses equates to 25+ for each team. Take the over and make some money.

Minnesota (+3) @ Maryland, O/U 46

1. Birkhead: $25 Minnesota (+3)
2. Repplinger: $100 Over 46
3. Jabs: $50 Maryland (-3)
4. O’Neall: $25 Maryland (-3)
5. Huisinga: $50 Minnesota (+3)
6. Thumpasaurus: $25 Maryland (-3)
7. Schaer: $25 Maryland (-3)

Repplinger: This one feels like a 31-28 shootout

Birkhead: Gopher defense is quietly really good.

Tulane (+34) @ Ohio State, O/U 69

1. Birkhead: $50 Ohio State (-34)
2. Repplinger: $50 Tulane (+34)
3. Jabs: $50 Over 69
4. O’Neall: $50 Ohio State (-34)
5. Huisinga: $50 Ohio State (-34)
6. Thumpasaurus: $50 Tulane (+34)
7. Schaer: $25 Tulane (-34)

O’Neall: I’m just assuming Ohio State won’t be able to blow up the score, because last time I bet on it they couldn’t.

#24 Michigan State @ Indiana (+4), O/U 49

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

Thumpasaurus: Indiana quietly looks like a very complete team

#18 Wisconsin @ Iowa (+6), O/U 43

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

O’Neall: Wisconsin may not be as good as we thought, but i don’t think they are gonna put up back to back letdown performances.

Money on the line this week

Birkhead: $350

Repplinger: $325

Jabs: $400

O’Neall: $350

Huisinga: $400

Thumpasaurus: $375

Schaer: $275

Standings

1. Thumpasaurus: $150 (19-17), Last week $75 (8-5)
2. Birkhead: -$150 (17-19), Last week -$200 (5-8)
3. Repplinger: -$200 (15-18), Last week -$225 (4-9)
4. O’Neall: -$250 (16-20), Last week -$125 (6-7)
5. Huisinga: -$275 (16-20), Last week -$225 (5-8)
6. Schaer: -$300 (15-21), Last week -$75 (5-8)
7. Jabs: -$600 (11-25), Last week -$125 (5-8)

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