Big Ten college football picks, odds in Week 4: Ohio State could be tested, Michigan needs style points

With so many faculty basketball blue bloods thriving on the gridiron early within the 2022 season, let’s maintain the synergy between sports activities going for a second. Let’s check out No. 4 Michigan because it prepares to host unbeaten Maryland — a college that many would take into account to be higher recognized for hoops. 

It is laborious to argue the Wolverines do not deserve their lofty rating. They’re, in spite of everything, a latest Faculty Soccer Playoff group that has outscored its first three opponents 166-17. Nonetheless, in case you utilized the Quadrant system that faculty basketball makes use of to categorize video games, the Wolverines could be one among solely a handful of Energy 5 groups to date to have completely performed Quad 4 video games. House victories over Colorado State, Hawaii and UConn are the soccer equal of beating Alcorn State, Fairleigh Dickinson and Jap Illinois on the hardwood.

With offensively lifeless Iowa and fully inept Nebraska serving as Michigan’s cross-division opponents, the Wolverines’ schedule is comically simple for a group competing in what’s typically thought to be one of the crucial tough divisions in faculty soccer. No. 14 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State are the one groups on Michigan’s schedule at the moment ranked.

What is the level of all this? It might be that model factors matter this yr for Michigan if it desires any margin for error within the playoff image. Profitable the Large Ten Championship Recreation as a one-loss group would absolutely get the Wolverines in, but when they should make it in as a one-loss non-champion, it stands to motive the weak spot of this schedule may wind up as a critical hindrance.

It is early to be considering such issues, however will probably be fascinating to see if Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh feels compelled rack up some model factors to face out amid a schedule which will solely present uncommon moments of adversity.

Because the Week 4 motion approaches, let’s take a deeper dive into the Large Ten slate and make some picks.

Week 3 report: 8-4

Maryland at No. 4 Michigan

Michigan’s 3-0 begin got here towards Colorado State, Hawaii and UConn, groups which might be ranked Nos. 113, 125 and 126, respectively, in our CBS Sports activities 131. The Wolverines scored at the very least 50 factors in every of these video games, however it stands to motive that the offense will return to Earth this week towards its first competent opponent. Nobody goes to mistake this Maryland protection for the ’85 Bears, however at the very least it has a pulse. Maryland overcame a whopping 15 penalties to beat an honest SMU group final week. A few of these automated touchdowns Michigan scored towards inferior opponents might wind up as mere subject objectives this week. 

Maryland can be due for some offensive regression because it faces the most effective protection it has performed thus far. When Maryland confronted a great group for the primary time final season (Iowa), quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw 5 interceptions. Even when the Wolverines do attain the higher 30s or low 40s, this underneath nonetheless seems to be prone to hit. Choose: Underneath 66.5

Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State

Featured Recreation | Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers

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These groups have didn’t surpass 57 complete factors in every of their previous 4 conferences, and it will take a breakthrough efficiency from the Wisconsin offense for the over to hit on this sport. The Badgers scored solely 14 in a house loss to Washington State, and the early indications from the Buckeyes recommend their protection is best underneath first-year coordinator Jim Knowles.

Ohio State confirmed us in a 21-10 victory towards Notre Dame in Week 1 that its offensive explosiveness is not any lock to translate towards high quality opponents. Wisconsin is stout defensively, just like the Preventing Irish, and may be capable of drive the Buckeyes to punt at the very least just a few instances in a sport the Badgers would possibly wish to play at a gradual tempo. Choose: Underneath 57

Featured Recreation | Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan has barely been touched by way of three video games. He is been sacked solely as soon as, and the Golden Gophers are permitting stress on simply 16.7% of dropbacks, per TruMedia and Professional Soccer Focus knowledge. That’s tied for fifth-best within the nation, and it is possible unsustainable within the Large Ten. Minnesota’s opponents have been Western Illinois, Colorado and New Mexico State. That is an FCS group and two of the worst groups within the FBS.

The Michigan State cross protection confirmed final week in a 39-28 loss at Washington that the demons of 2021 are nonetheless alive. Nonetheless, Minnesota’s passing assault is not almost as explosive as Washington’s and its offensive line will probably be examined in a much more important method. This may also be the primary street sport of the season for the Golden Gophers, and Michigan State ought to be capable of maintain serve at residence towards an untested opponent. Choose: Michigan State (+3)

Featured Recreation | Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Indiana Hoosiers

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The purpose complete right here could also be inflated by the truth that the groups totaled 62 factors final season in a 38-24 win for Cincinnati. Neither group surpassed 400 complete yards in that sport, nevertheless, and the rating was pushed up by six mixed turnovers and a 99-yard kickoff return for a landing by Cincinnati. Neither offense has dramatically improved from final yr, and Cincinnati’s protection appeared to discover a rhythm in final week’s 38-17 win over Miami (Ohio).

After discovering themselves behind 17-7 early, the Bearcats held the Redhawks scoreless on their ultimate 10 possessions and allowed simply 83 complete yards on these drives whereas forcing six punts, two turnovers on downs and an interception. Search for a few of that defensive mojo to hold over into this sport because the Bearcats maintain constructing their id following the departure of 9 NFL Draft picks from final season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff group. Choose: Underneath 57.5

It is well-established simply how horrible the Iowa offense is, and that ugly actuality has overshadowed simply how dominant its protection is but once more. The Hawkeyes are No. 1 nationally in yards per play allowed at 2.92 and have given up only one landing by way of three video games. Rutgers proved final week simply how ill-equipped it’s to maneuver the soccer on this matchup. The Scarlet Knights squeaked out a 16-14 win over Temple, mustering simply 201 complete yards and 12 first downs towards an Owls squad that was torched for 500 yards in a 30-0 loss to Duke in Week 1.

Rutgers will probably be lucky to attain on this sport, and Iowa may very well profit from happening the street for the primary time this season. Angst is excessive in Iowa Metropolis proper now about this program’s offensive ineptitude, however there have been at the very least some indicators of life from the operating sport in a 27-0 win over Nevada final week. The Hawkeyes’ glorious punter, Tory Taylor, ought to set his group up nicely within the subject place sport, resulting in some subject objectives and perhaps a landing or two. The protection will deal with the remainder. Choose: Iowa -7.5

Picks for remaining Large Ten video games

Which faculty soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 4, and which High 25 favourite will go down laborious? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed pc mannequin that has returned greater than $3,300 in revenue over the previous six-plus seasons — and discover out.