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Week 5 Recap
Alex’s Week 5 Record: 4-7
Alex’s Overall Record: 30-41
Adam’s Week 5 Record: 3-7
Adam’s Overall Record: 10-12
CQ Readers’ Week 5 Record: 5-5
CQ Readers’ Overall Record: 16-16
Best Pick: None. In a week where we (Alex, Adam, and the readers) went a combined 12-19, we don’t get to give ourselves any kind of kudos.
Bad Beat: Anyone who had the Redskins +7 or Under 48 on Monday Night Football.
Hoosier Special
Charleston Southern at Indiana, NL
The Hoosiers had to add Charleston Southern to the schedule after the cancellation of the contest against Florida International. Vegas doesn’t put lines on games between FBS and FCS schools.
Top 25 Games
Crimson Quarry apologizes for not publishing this article prior to the Louisville-NC State game.
23 West Virginia at 8 TCU (-13.5), O/U 67.5, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: Adam is out of town this week, so it’s all my analysis. Sorry. TCU looks like the real deal, and their win over Oklahoma State a couple weeks ago is one of the best in the country thus far this season. West Virginia, though, is probably better than they’re getting credit for being at this point in the season. The line scares me. If it was 14, I’d probably take the Mountaineers and have a shot at pushing on 14. Instead, I’ll bank on an underrated TCU defense to keep the game score reasonably low.
Alex’s Pick: Under 67.5
Adam’s Pick: West Virginia +13.5
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: West Virginia at TCU (-13.5), O/U 67.5
This poll is closed
-
28%
West Virginia (+13.5)
(13 votes) -
35%
TCU (-13.5)
(16 votes) -
6%
Over 67.5
(3 votes) -
28%
Under 67.5
(13 votes)
Big Ten Games
4 Penn State (-13) at Northwestern, O/U 51, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: An 11:00 a.m. kickoff local time means a sleepy start for Northwestern. Penn State probably wins another easy one, but what I think the Hoosiers showed last week is that the Penn State offense is not invincible. 14 of Penn State’s 45 points came off of special teams plays, seven points off the dumbest and cheapest trick play in history, and seven points on a drive that had stalled and was kept alive by an incorrectly called roughing the kicker. The Penn State offense scored 24 unassisted points against Indiana. I think Northwestern’s defense can contain Barkley like the Hoosiers did (offensively, not on special teams, obviously) and keep this game in the under. Plus, Northwestern’s offense stinks.
Alex’s Pick: Penn State (-13) and Under 51
Adam’s Pick: Over 51
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Penn State (-13) at Northwestern, O/U 51
This poll is closed
-
70%
Penn State (-13)
(29 votes) -
14%
Northwestern (+13)
(6 votes) -
9%
Over 51
(4 votes) -
4%
Under 51
(2 votes)
Illinois at Iowa (-17), O/U 42.5, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: Iowa let me down last week and I’m not sure I have any faith left in Kirk and his Hawkeyes. But, c’mon, it’s Lovie Smith, so I can’t take Illinois either. For the third time in three games selected this week, under.
Alex’s Pick: Iowa (-17)
Adam’s Pick: Iowa (-17)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Illinois at Iowa (-17), O/U 42.5
This poll is closed
-
17%
Illinois (+17)
(7 votes) -
46%
Iowa (-17)
(18 votes) -
10%
Over 42.5
(4 votes) -
25%
Under 42.5
(10 votes)
Minnesota at Purdue (-4), O/U 46.5, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: Minnesota’s loss last week to Maryland has to be the most disappointing loss any team in the Big Ten has had this season. One week after the Terps lost by 28 to UCF, the Gophers just couldn’t stop the Maryland offense being led by a 17th string quarterback. Now PJ Fleck’s boatrowers have to try not to tip the thing completely over and drown in West Lafayette. Tough task. I lean toward Purdue winning this one, but think it could be really close. Instead of the line, I’ll go with a lot of points.
Alex’s Pick: Over 46.5
Adam’s Pick: Minnesota (+4)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Minnesota at Purdue (-4), O/U 46.5
This poll is closed
-
38%
Minnesota (+4)
(17 votes) -
38%
Purdue (-4)
(17 votes) -
22%
Over 46.5
(10 votes) -
0%
Under 46.5
(0 votes)
Maryland at 10 Ohio State (-31), O/U 60.5, 4:00 p.m.
Alex: I can’t tell if what Maryland did last week was impressive for them or just flat out embarrassing for Minnesota. I’m leaning toward the latter based on what the Terps did against UCF two weeks ago. I think Ohio State is starting to roll and Maryland is certainly just another casualty along the way. 31 points is a lot, though, and more than Vegas was giving Rutger last week against the Buckeyes. I think the Terps keep it within 30.
Alex’s Pick: Maryland (+31)
Adam’s Pick: Maryland (+31)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Maryland at Ohio State (-31), O/U 60.5
This poll is closed
-
57%
Maryland (+31)
(22 votes) -
21%
Ohio State (-31)
(8 votes) -
18%
Over 60.5
(7 votes) -
2%
Under 60.5
(1 vote)
Michigan State at 7 Michigan (-10), Over/Under 40.5, 7:30 p.m.
Alex: Michigan is so much better than Vegas has been giving them credit for being. Just like the Purdue game, 10 is not nearly enough. Also, unless the Michigan defense scores a time or two, there is no risk of hitting the over here.
Alex’s Pick: Michigan (-10)
Adam’s Pick: Michigan (-10)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Michigan State at Michigan (-10), O/U 40.5
This poll is closed
-
7%
Michigan State (+10)
(3 votes) -
73%
Michigan (-10)
(31 votes) -
4%
Over 40.5
(2 votes) -
14%
Under 40.5
(6 votes)
9 Wisconsin (-10.5) at Nebraska, O/U 45.5, 8:00 p.m.
Alex: Bucky. Bigly.
Alex’s Pick: Wisconsin (-10.5)
Adam’s Pick: Over 45.5
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Wisconsin (-10.5) at Nebraska, O/U 45.5
This poll is closed
-
74%
Wisconsin (-10.5)
(29 votes) -
10%
Nebraska (+10.5)
(4 votes) -
12%
Over 45.5
(5 votes) -
2%
Under 45.5
(1 vote)
Parlay of the Week
Swick is on vacation and didn’t provide any analysis, but did still want to provide his shark-like wisdom for this week’s parlay:
- Penn State (-14.5) at Northwestern
- Western Michigan at Buffalo, Over 49.5
- Kentucky (-9.5) vs. Missouri
- Notre Dame at North Carolina, Under 60
Those bets will give you parlay odds of roughly +1235.