Big Ten picks: MLive’s predictions for Michigan-Texas and Michigan State-Maryland

The first full week of the college football season is over. For the Big Ten, that meant all 18 teams took the field and played Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

While only one Big Ten team lost (Minnesota), the results were more varied among our experts. The rankings after the first week are below, with each expert’s “best bet” record in parentheses.

• Aaron McMann: 12-6 (1-0)
• Ryan Zuke: 11-7 (1-0)
• Matt Wenzel: 8-10 (0-1)
• Kyle Austin: 8-10 (0-1)
• Andrew Kahn: 7-11 (0-1)

This week, three Big Ten teams face FCS opponents, so there are no point spreads for the following games: Western Illinois at Indiana (Friday), Rhode Island at Minnesota and South Dakota at Wisconsin.

Below are MLive’s Kyle Austin, Andrew Kahn, Aaron McMann, Matt Wenzel and Ryan Zuke’s predictions against the spread. All start times are Eastern and all odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Northwestern vs. Duke

• When: 9:00 pm on Friday
• TV: FS1 | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Northwest -2.5

The Wildcats are coming off a 13-6 win over Miami, Ohio, in which they shut down Miami’s running game. Northwestern lost 38-14 at Duke last season.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Northwest -2.5: Kahn
• Duke +2.5: Austin, Wenzel, McMann (best bet), Zuke

Penn State vs. Bowling Green

• When: Saturday at 12 noon.
• TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Penn State -34.5

A lightning delay was the only setback in Penn State’s 34-13 win at West Virginia to open the season. Bowling Green played tough against Michigan last season.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Penn State -34.5: Austin, Wenzel, Zuke
• Bowling Green +34.5: McMann, Kahn

Rutgers vs. Akron

• When: Saturday at 12 noon.
• TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Rutgers -23

Last week against Howard, the Scarlet Knights scored a touchdown on the final play of the game to make it 44-7 and take the win.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Rutgers -23: Austin, McMann
• Akron +23: Wenzel, Zuke, Kahn

BET: Get to know the best sportsbooks in Michigan

Iowa vs. Iowa State

• When: Saturday 3:30 p.m.
• TV: CBS | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Iowa -2.5

The Hawkeyes have won seven of the last eight games in this rivalry, including a 20-13 victory in Ames last season. Iowa won its opener 40-0 against Illinois State.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Iowa -2.5: Austin (best bet), Wenzel, McMann, Zuke (best bet), Kahn

Washington vs. Eastern Michigan

• When: Saturday 3:30 p.m.
• TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Washington -27.5

Eastern Michigan will play a Big Ten team, but will travel more than 2,000 miles to do so. After a slow start, Washington easily won 35-3 over Weber State last week.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Washington -27.5: Wenzel
• Eastern Michigan +27.5: Austin, McMann, Zuke, Kahn

Illinois vs. Kansas

• When: 7 pm Saturday
• TV: FS1 | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Kansas -6

After not playing since 1968, Illinois and Kansas are now in the second year of a home-and-away series. Kansas won last season’s matchup in Lawrence, 34-23.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Illinois +6: Zuke, Kahn (best bet)
• Kansas -6: Austin, Wenzel, McMann

Ohio State vs. Western Michigan

• When: 7:30 pm Saturday
• TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Ohio State -38.5

It took the Buckeyes a while to get into a rhythm against Akron, but they finished with a 52-6 victory.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Ohio State -38.5: Austin, Zuke, Kahn
• Western Michigan +38.5: Wenzel, McMann

Nebraska vs. Colorado

• When: 7:30 pm Saturday
• TV: NBC | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Nebraska -7.5

Dylan Raiola, the third-highest ranked quarterback in the class of 2024, had an excellent debut for Nebraska in a 40-7 win over UTEP. Colorado looked shaky against North Dakota State but has won three straight against Nebraska, including a 36-14 win in Boulder last season.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Nebraska -7.5: Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Kahn
• Colorado +7.5: Zuke

Oregon vs. Boise State

• When: Saturday at 10pm.
• Television: Peacock
• Line: Oregon -19.5

Last week, the Ducks were 44-point favorites over Idaho, but led by just three points at the end of the fourth quarter and won 24-14. Boise State won the previous three meetings, most recently in 2017.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Oregon -19.5: Austin, Wenzel, McMann, Zuke
• Boise State +19.5: Kahn

USC vs. Utah State

• When: 11:00 pm on Saturday
• TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: USC -28.5

USC earned one of its biggest wins of opening weekend with Sunday night’s victory over LSU in Las Vegas and jumped to No. 13 in the AP poll.

MLive Staff Picks:

• USC -28.5: Wenzel, McMann, Zuke, Kahn
• Utah State +28.5: Austin

Michigan vs Texas

• When: Saturday noon
• TV: FOX | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Texas -7

This is the game of the week, a top-10 matchup that will draw FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN’s College GameDay to Ann Arbor. Both teams made the playoffs last season.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Michigan +7: Kahn
• Texas -7: Austin, Wenzel (best bet), McMann, Zuke

State of Michigan in Maryland

• When: Saturday 3:30 p.m.
• TV: BTN | Fubo (7-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV
• Line: Maryland -8

The Spartans looked shaky in their win over Florida Atlantic, while Maryland, with new starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., swept UConn. Maryland has easily beaten Michigan State in each of the past two seasons.

MLive Staff Picks:

• Michigan State +8: Wenzel, McMann
• Maryland -8: Austin, Zuke, Kahn