October 13, 2025
Friends, fans, and followers, thank you for visiting Nooz Buffet. It’s now the eighth week of the college football season, and there’s so much going on within the Big Ten. There are nine games scheduled featuring teams from the Big Ten conference this weekend, and eight of those games are interconference games, while the ninth is the rivalry game between Notre Dame and USC.
The game between the Washington Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines was my pick for “Big Ten Game of the Week,” and that’s because there’s so much riding on it. Right now, Michigan is fighting to stay alive in the conference, and they’re fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. It’s a must win for the Wolverines. If Washington wins, they’ll improve to 6-1 overall, 3-1 in the conference, and quite possibly appear back in the AP Top 25. Nebraska versus Minnesota will be another good game, and of course, the game between USC and Notre Dame. Man, those pollsters just can’t get enough of Notre Dame. What is the obsession?
Big Ten Game of the Week
Saturday, October 18th
12:00 P.M.
Washington (5-1) @ Michigan (4-2)
The Washington Huskies are traveling to Ann Arbor this weekend to face the Wolverines. Since suffering their first loss of the season to Ohio State, the Huskies managed to put together back to back wins against Maryland and Rutgers. This weekend, Washington looks to extend that winning streak to three games, and a win against Michigan might be enough to propel them into the Top 25.
Michigan just took their second L of the season last week to USC, and the alarm is now sounding. Michigan has already fallen out of the Top 25, but a third loss would end any playoff hopes they might’ve had. The Wolverines are in a desperate situation with their backs against the wall. They can not lose at home this weekend.
Friday, October 17th
8:00 P.M.
25 Nebraska (5-1) @ Minnesota (4-2)
Do you want to hear something crazy? If it wasn’t for a five-point-loss to Michigan on September 20th, the Cornhuskers would be undefeated right now. Nebraska also just broke into the Top 25 at #25. Talk about flying under the radar. Holy crap.
Minnesota is home for this game, and the Golden Gophers are a good football team that’s well coached. Drake Lindsay is a decent quarterback. He’s fast, he can make plays with his feet, and he does have a strong arm. Wide receiver, Lemeke Brockington, can be hard to handle once he gets in space. Nebraska has their hands full here.
Saturday, October 18th
3:30 P.M.
Purdue (2-4) @ Northwestern (4-2)
The Purdue Boilermakers are 2-4 after a week seven loss to Minnesota. Quarterback, Ryan Browne, completed 21 of 40 passes for 203 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. That’s not good, and that’s not a recipe for success, but there’s some hope. In that seven-point loss to Minnesota, running back, Devin Mockobee, rushed for 98 yards on 21 carries. Believe me, the players on this Purdue team are not depressed by their 2-4 record. They show up every week, they’re enthusiastic, and if they can have success running the football again this week with Mockobee, they have a chance.
Surprisingly, Northwestern is 4-2. This Wildcat team doesn’t give up, and they just had a huge win over Penn State last week. That’s three wins in a row now, and Northwestern is playing with confidence. They believe in themselves. I think Northwestern get win number five at home this weekend.
Michigan State (3-3) @ 3 Indiana (6-0)
We kind of knew Indiana was a good football team, but after last week’s victory over Oregon in Eugene, I think I need to reevaluate just how good this Hoosiers team is. Indiana is now 6-0 overall, 3-0 against Big Ten opponents, and they leaped to #3 nationally from #7. We always talk about Indiana’s offense and players like Fernando Mendoza, Roman Hemby, and Elijah Sarratt, but Indiana has a championship caliber defense.
It would really take a miracle for Michigan State to win this week. The Spartans are now 3-3 overall and 0-3 against Big Ten teams after last week’s demoralizing loss to UCLA. They started off good with three straight wins, but things changed immediately once the interconference games began, and it won’t be any easier this week.
1 Ohio State (6-0) @ Wisconsin (2-4)
Ohio State picked up their sixth win of the season last week after defeating Illinois 34-16, and in the process, those of us who watched the game, had an opportunity to witness just how great this Buckeye team is. Great, yes, that’s what they are, and they looked crisp, well oiled, and fine-tuned against an Illinois team that was ranked #17. Wisconsin was shut out at home by Iowa last weekend, and for the Badgers, getting back in the win column might not be a possibility until November 29th when they play Minnesota because after the Buckeyes, they have Oregon, Washington, Indiana, and Illinois. Yikes!
6:30 P.M.
8 Oregon (5-1) @ Rutgers (3-3)
Wow, okay, so, the Oregon Ducks lost at home last weekend to Indiana and fell to #8 in the AP Top 25. Also, Oregon fell into this large group of teams in the Big Ten with one conference loss. Plain and simple, Indiana knocked the Ducks off of their high horse, and it was surprising to see. I expect Oregon to make an example out of Rutgers this week, and honestly, that’s the only way to get over a defeat like the one they just suffered. Rutgers is now 3-3, and after starting this season 3-0, they’re in what I call the bottom third of the Big Ten (I’ll tell you about that later in another article). Rutgers is at home this weekend, and the Scarlett Knights do play tough in New Jersey, but this is David versus Goliath. Athan Kaliakmanis to Ian Strong is still a thing, but will it be enough to make a difference? I doubt it.
7:00 P.M.
Penn State (3-3) @ Iowa (4-2)
Head Coach, James Franklin, was fired on Sunday, and quarterback, Drew Allar is out for the rest of the season with an injury. What in God’s name is going on in Happy Valley? Penn State beat Villanova 52-6, and everyone was talking about championships and playoffs. Things were going really well, and the Nittany Lions were as expansive as ever, but then, a devastating-six-point-loss to Oregon at home changed things. Here we are now in week eight, Penn State is now 3-3 overall after losing three straight games, and all the conversations about winning a national championship have seized.
Iowa, on the other hand, is 4-2, and they’re playing good football right now. The Hawkeyes only lost by five points to Indiana. They actually did better against Indiana than both Illinois and Oregon. Iowa seems to be peaking at just the right time, and they have some momentum behind them. A win this week at home against Penn State could open a lot of eyes-or a lot of Hawkeyes. 🤣
Maryland (4-2) @ UCLA (2-4)
Maryland lost at home to Nebraska last weekend, and UCLA won on the road against Michigan State. This week, it’s the 2-4 Bruins against the 4-2 Terrapins, and it kind of sounds funny to say this, but I think this is a game UCLA can win. The Bruins did not look like a 2-4 team last week. I don’t know where they’ve been hiding, but they’re out and about now.
7:30 P.M.
20 USC (5-1) @ 13 Notre Dame (4-2)
After suffering a heart breaking two-point loss to Illinois, USC responded with a huge win over the Wolverines at home last week. With that win, the Trojans improved their overall record to 5-1 and they’re now back on the national scene.
After losing the first two games of this season, the Fighting Irish fell off the map, but they’ve been consistent and persistent. Miraculously, after winning four straight, Notre Dame somehow reappeared in the Ap Top 25 at number thirteen! I mean, wow.
This is going to be an interesting game because Notre Dame’s first two loses were to Miami, who’s now ranked #2, and Texas A&M, who’s now ranked #4. In all actuality, Notre Dame might not be that bad, they just happened to draw two of the best teams in the country during weeks one and two. Um, and you know what? They lost to Miami by three and Texas A&M by one.
This week, Notre Dame will need another great performance from their defense. Against NC State last week, Notre Dame’s defense picked off three passes, they had four quarterback sacks, and they held the Wolfpack offense to just 51 yards on the ground. USC running back, King Miller, rushed for 158 yards and 1 touchdown on 18 carries against the Wolverines. That’s 8.8 yards per touch, and something the Fighting Irish must stop.
Week 8 Picks
Washington, Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Iowa, UCLA, Notre Dame
Week 8 Picks Versus the Point Spread
If you would like my expert predictions for all the games written about in this article, then you’re going to have to email me at, noonooz@noozbuffet.com. The Week 8 Pick Sheet is $4.50. Email me, type Week 8 Pick Sheet in the Subject Line, and I’ll get back to you.
Overall Records Picking Games Since Week 3
Straight Up: 33-9
Versus the Point Spread: 23-13-1
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