Week 9 Big Ten Previews: Season on line for Huskies, Illini

Northwestern at Nebraska

Saturday, October 25
9:00 AM PT, FS1

Line: Nebraska –7
Over/Under: 43.5

Winners of four in a row, the nation’s 10th-longest active winning streak resides in Evanston, Illinois.

Northwestern, at 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in Big Ten play, has been a surprisingly solid football team this season and sits just one win from bowl eligibility.

The Cats have a home game with Minnesota left on the schedule, but with a visit to Michigan along with trips to USC and Illinois, this one at Nebraska is an opportunity to get win number six.

Nebraska also sits at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. And while the results have been the same as their guests this weekend, the feelings hardly can be.

The fact that I include this as one the Wildcats could steal it tells you all you need to know about the Huskers in 2025.

The high expectations in Lincoln have given way to another loss to a ranked opponent, and the embarrassing loss at Minnesota last Friday, in which the Huskers quite simply were not competitive.

Last week the offense was stagnant; Dylan Raiola was sacked nine times, and Nebraska allowed nearly 200 yards on the ground. The Huskers will have to be better against the run vs. the Wildcats, who are averaging 190 on the ground per outing.

Not only does Northwestern run the ball well; they also do a good job of keeping teams off the scoreboard, allowing just 15.1 per game.

The defense is stingy, and Northwestern is disciplined as their 28.4 penalty yards per game is the third best mark in America.

Preston Stone will have to be stellar at QB for Northwestern to leave with a win in this one.

Nebraska will eek out the win and get to bowl eligibility themselves, but the Wildcats will keep it close and cover the spread.

Against the spread: Northwestern
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Nebraska

UCLA at No. 2 Indiana

Saturday, October 25
9:00 AM PT, FOX

Line: Indiana –25.5
Over/Under: 54.5

Only three teams in Big Ten history have started 0-4 and had a 3-4 record after seven games: 1963 Indiana, 2001 Penn State, and 2025 UCLA.

Since 1998, the 2021 version of Florida State is the only other Power Conference team to accomplish that in addition to PSU and UCLA.

So, now the Bruins get to try and make it four in a row at Indiana.

Curt Cignetti has yet to lose a home game since taking over at IU, as the Hoosiers have now won 13 in a row at home for the third longest active streak in the nation.

A tall task awaits Tim Skipper and his red-hot Bruins.

This will be the toughest defensive team UCLA has played, and by quite a lot. Indiana is seventh in the nation in total defense and third nationally with 3.7 sacks per game.

The Hoosiers are going to make a lot of plays in the backfield. If this Indiana defense is susceptible to anything, it is the potential big play.

UCLA might be able to bust a couple on IU with some misdirections and option reads from Nico Iamaleava.

The Hoosiers could get caught over pursuing if the Bruins can avoid the backfield stops.

Indiana allowed a couple big QB runs in the opener against ODU and saw some breakdowns at the backend of the defense against Oregon and Illinois.

Now, I just highlighted four plays this season that the Hoosiers have allowed a TD due to a botched assignment.

The problem is, they have allowed only seven touchdowns in seven games, and the fact that the botched plays can be recalled from memory also might say more about how good this team is playing than any glaring issue.

The other issue for UCLA in this one, and perhaps the biggest issue for them on the season—if they can consistently get some scores—is if they can also create some stops.

UCLA’s defense made some plays against Maryland last week and limited MSU the week before, but this will be the most explosive offense UCLA has faced by a large margin.

Indiana has scored on 65.3% of their drives that did not end with a kneel down, and has scored a TD on 52.8% of those drives.

At home, those numbers jump to 74% and 66%, respectively.

UCLA will not be able to match the Hoosiers scoring a TD on two-thirds of their possessions.

Indiana keeps on winning, but the Bruins will find the endzone a couple of times—which would be more than every other Big Ten offense has against Indiana this season.

Against the spread: Indiana
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: Indiana

No. 23 Illinois at Washington

Saturday, October 25
12:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network

Line: Washington –4.5
Over/Under: 53.5

Illinois and Washington both enter this one with 5-2 marks on the season and 2-2 records in conference play.

In each case, one of the losses came at home to Ohio State, and in both cases, that loss to the Buckeyes came by 18 points. I’d say this one is pretty darn even.

So, how even is it?

Well, through the opening half of the season, the Illini offense has looked a little bit more explosive, but the Washington defense has looked like they have the edge.

So, again, a wash?

The game will come down to the trenches and UW quarterback Demond Williams Jr.

Illinois has allowed 23 sacks this season, and 11 of them came in their two losses. Washington has allowed 18 sacks, with eight of them coming in the two defeats.

Washington has run the ball for 214.4 yards per game in their five wins, but just 50.5 in the two losses. Last week Michigan dominated the Huskies up front.

Illinois does not have the same kind of athletes on the defensive front that Michigan does, but they can push teams around.

In their five wins, the Illini have held opponents to 99.8 yards on the ground while surrendering 209 per game in the two losses.

Williams has been dynamic this season, but last week he did not handle the Michigan pressure well. The three turnovers by the QB were a result of the Wolverines dominating the line and it forced him into errors.

If Williams can play fast and free, the Huskies will find success. If Illinois can bottle him up, it could force some mistakes.

The two losses for Illinois this season have come against the top two ranked teams in the nation. The Illini are playing for the playoff hopes, and a loss would most likely do them in.

But a win would be a significant one on the road and certainly one that is looked at in December.

Husky Stadium is a tough place to leave with a win. This one will be as close as it gets, but I think the Illini will keep their playoff aspirations alive with a big road victory.

Against the spread: Illinois
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Illinois

Minnesota at Iowa

Saturday, October 25
12:30 PM PT, CBS

Line: Iowa –8.5
Over/Under: 39.5

This one is for Floyd. For the 119th time, Minnesota and Iowa will meet on the gridiron, and for the 91st time, the winner will claim the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy.

Originally, in 1935, it was the actual pig, but since then, it has only been the bronze replica named after the then Governor of Minnesota.

The 90 battles for Floyd are as close as it gets, with Iowa holding a 45-42-2 edge. But the Hawks have taken seven of the last eight, though the Gophers did win the last meeting.

Both teams have been pretty dominant on the defensive side of the ball this season.  Iowa ranks eighth in the nation in total defense while Minnesota is 19th.

The Gophers are coming off a dominant win over Nebraska in which they stymied the Huskers.

In the last two games, Iowa limited Wisconsin and Penn State to just 238 yards per game, holding both to under 100 yards through the air.

This boarder battle is sure to be a defensive struggle and one that should still be in doubt entering the fourth quarter.

I think the Hawkeyes have a bit more firepower on the offensive side of the ball, with Mark Gronowski starting to settle in at QB.

For that reason, I think Iowa reclaims the pig, but the Gophers keep it within nine points in a low scoring game.

Against the spread:  Minnesota
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Iowa

Wisconsin at No. 6 Oregon

Saturday, October 25
4:00 PM PT, FS1

Line: Oregon –33.5
Over/Under: 44.5

The Ducks took out some much-needed frustrations following the loss to Indiana out on Rutgers last week.

This week, frustrations aside, Oregon should be able to handle Wisconsin in just about every possible way.

Wisconsin opened the season with a pair of wins but has lost five in a row, managing to score just 34 total points in those losses.

The Badgers have been shut out in the last two games and have scored just three points in their last 11 quarters of football.

Simply put, Wisconsin, is playing terrible football at the moment, and the offense is absolutely dreadful.

The fact that the Ducks are favored by 33.5 is one thing, but the point total being only 44.5 tells me Vegas thinks he Ducks will do all the scoring. I tend to agree.

Last week, the Ducks limited Rutgers to just 2.9 yards per play while the offense set a program record with 12.5 yards per play.

That offensive total was the best for a Big Ten team since Michigan averaged 12.76 yards per play in 2010.

The Ducks totaled 750 yards of offense, the fourth most in program history.

This week, the Badger defense will offer a stiffer test, but the offense of Wisconsin will not.

One thing the Badgers have done well is stop the run. Wisconsin allows just 97.6 yards on the ground per game, good enough for 18th in the nation.

Iowa and Michigan in recent weeks were able to find success on the ground as those two teams averaged 192.5 against Wisconsin.

The Badgers have not been good against the pass, however. If the Badgers are able to take away or limit the ground attack, Dante Moore should find plenty of success through the air.

Not a lot of teams run it better than the Ducks, though, and they should be able to move the ball at will.

Look for Oregon to pile up points—enough to push the total over 44.5—and the lead may be close to 33 at the break.

Against the spread: Oregon
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: Oregon

No. 25 Michigan at Michigan State

Saturday, October 25
4:30 pm PT, NBC

Line: Michigan –14.5
Over/Under: 47.5

It is the battle for bragging rights in the Mitten, and the winner earns the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines have taken the last three meetings between the two schools.

This time around, it looks like Michigan is starting to find their stride following a win over Washington last week.

Meanwhile, the Spartans are struggling, having lost their last four games.

MSU is still looking for its first win in conference play, and have been outscored 159-84 in those contests.

Both teams have hot QBs coming into this one.

Against Indiana last week, Aidan Chiles only had six incompletions on 33 pass attempts while throwing for 243 yards and adding 78 on the ground.

Bryce Underwood also is coming off the best game of his career in the Wolverines win over Washington last week.

The difference will be on defense, where the Wolverines are much better on paper.

Being a night game in East Lansing will give the Green and White a lift, but I don’t think it will be enough.

Michigan gets the win and takes the four-foot wooden lumberjack back to Ann Arbor.

Against the spread: Michigan
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Michigan