rockymtnblueFri, November 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM UTC·10 min readRIVLARY! RIVALRY! RIVALRY!
Now that MNWildkit is three, we’ve started to expand out our limited TV programming allowances into the educational classics—Mrs. MNW is champing at the bit for Wishbone, but for now, it’s all Magic School Bus, all the time.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo shout-out to the Season 2 episode about butterflies, which is allowing me to get this written.
About Last Week
Congrats White Speed Receiver. 6-2 is doin’ work.
We’re all the way up to three of us over .500. Look at us go!
I feel like it takes a special talent to tie for the weekly lead straight up at 7-1, but manage to get only 2 of 8 right ATS. Don’t worry. larry31 and I were up to that challenge.
The Picks
All times CDT, because reasons.
Friday, November 28
Iowa Hawkeyes @ Nebraska Cornhuskers11AM | CBS | Iowa -6.5 | O/U 38.5Straight Up: Iowa 10-0Against the Spread: Iowa 7-3
Larry31: I just don’t see Iowa winning by a touchdown. Iowa for the win, Huskers cover.
HoustonBoiler: I’m with Larry31 on this one. After all, Kirk is STILL the head coach of Iowa.
RockyMtnBlue: I broke my own rule and actually researched this (I looked at a winsipedia page for 11 seconds). It appears Nebraska has a history of losing close ones in this rivalry. Let’s bet the streak. Iowa 20-17
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMNW: Seems pretty straight forward—I don’t think the Huskers have the offense needed to keep up with Iowa’s strategy of “Uhhh…well…Gronowski! RUN!”—so we’ll take this as Iowa, 16-8.
(2) Indiana Hoosiers @ Purdue Boilermakers6:30PM | NBC / Peacock | Indiana -28.5 | O/U 54.5Straight Up: Indiana 9-1Against the Spread: Tied 5-5
Larry31: That’s a big spread for a rivalry game. Hoosiers for the win, Purdue covers.
BoilerUp89: Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me! Fire the cannons and sink the Hoosiers ship in the harbor!
HoustonBoiler: Arrrgggg!!!!! While that would be amazing BU89! Sadly, the Purdue defense is not good, particularly the pass defense. I just don’t see how Purdue can pull it off. Indiana wins and covers. Cig likes to run up the score and Mendoza needs to pad his stats for his Heisman campaign.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRockyMtnBlue: That’s a big spread. Especially for a road team. It’s not big enough. Indiana 49-10
MNW: HAVE SOME PRIDE, PURDUE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
Anyway, a take that I’ll be workshopping in the offseason is that 2020s Indiana is going to become 2010s Michigan State—good as long as the coach sticks around, with some really annoying fans coming out of the woodwork. Still time for that last one to come true. Indiana, 42-14.
Saturday, November 29
(1) Ohio State Buckeyes @ (15) Michigan Wolverines11AM | FOX | Ohio State -9.5 | O/U 44.5Straight Up: Ohio State 9-1Against the Spread: Ohio State 6-4
Larry31: Gotta pick OSU to cover given the questionable offensive fortitude of little Blue.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBoilerUp89: Ohio State is the better team. Michigan is at home, it’s going to start snowing in the 2nd half, and the Wolverines are in OSU’s head. The Buckeyes typically drive to Ann Arbor. They are flying this year because they have to make adjustments according to Ryan Day. Yeah, give me Michigan.
HoustonBoiler: This is THE year! Ryan Day finally figures out how to obliterate Michigan. Death Star gonna Death Star.
RockyMtnBlue: Oh goodie. This should be fuckin’ fun. Michigan has been a paper tiger all year, with a gaudy 9-2 record propped up by an easy schedule and more than their fair share of luck. Oh yeah, and their best offensive player is on crutches. Oh, and if you don’t believe me, the only guy who thinks Michigan wins this game is also the guy who thinks Purdue beats Indiana this week. Ohio State 38-10
MNW: Meh. Whatever. Please stop making me care about this game. Ohio State, 24-20.
(5) Oregon Ducks @ Washington Huskies2:30PM | CBS | Oregon -6.5 | O/U 51.5Straight Up: Oregon 10-0Against the Spread: Oregon 9-1
Larry31: Oregon covers. Oregon is definitely a touchdown better than the Huskies.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHoustonBoiler: Washington is a good team, but, as Larry31 said, Oregon is definitely a TD better.
RockyMtnBlue: Counterpoint: Washington has some good players who sometimes look like it. I don’t think this is a particularly good team. Oregon, on the other hand, is. Oregon 31-17
MNW: I’m still confused as to why this is a rivalry game. If you’re an Oregon fan and want to write a little piece on how/why I should care about this nonsense, hit me up at minnesotawildcat at gmail. Quacka, 32-24.
Wisconsin Badgers @ Minnesota Golden Gophers2:30PM | FS1 | Minnesota -1.5 | O/U 37.5Straight Up: Tied 5-5Against the Spread: Tied 5-5
Larry31: Why am I picking the trasch pandas to not only cover, but to win? They lost to frickin’ sorry-ass Locksley. I am dead last this year in picking ATS. Let’s go full George Costanza…do the exact opposite of what I think, and you’re guaranteed to win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHoustonBoiler: Bingo! Minnesota wins and covers. Nevermind that I followed Larry31 earlier.
RockyMtnBlue: Coinflip game and I usually take the home team in those. But Wisconsin has actually been on a roll so once again I’ll bet the streak. Wisconsin 21-17
MNW: As I was finishing these late on Friday morning (sorry, RMB! this HFM stuff absolutely blows and we were up with Wildkit2 from 1-3:30am), Wildkit1 leaned over and pointed at the W and M and said “It’s the bucky badgers and Goldy Gophers!” Then I asked her “And who do you like?” and she responded “The PurpleCats!”
The kids are alright, is what I’m saying. Gophers, 20-17.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPenn State Nittany Lions @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights2:30PM | BTN | Penn State -13.5 | O/U 55.5Straight Up: Penn State 10-0Against the Spread: Penn State 9-1
Larry31: Sorry Rutgers. Kicking Maryland’s ass doesn’t mean you are suddenly good. James Franklin got dumped but a loaded roster remains. Penn State covers.
HoustonBoiler: Penn State seems to be getting their act together, just in time to punch their ticket to NYC for a game in December. Penn State wins and covers.
RockyMtnBlue: Penn State has finally remembered their one of the most talented teams in the league. Rutgers is a mess. Penn State 31-10
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMNW: BOWL GAME ELIMINATION GAME WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I mean, this should absolutely be a Penn State romp, right? But maybe we dare to dream that the Scarlet Knights come out swinging with the Meek Greek, just one last time.
…nah. Penn State, 28-14.
Maryland Terrapins @ Michigan State Spartans6PM | FS1 | Michigan State -3.5 | O/U 48.5 | at Ford Field (Detroit, MI)Straight Up: Tied 5-5Against the Spread: Tied 5-5
Larry31: Maryland loses out to go 4-8 and 1-8 for a second straight year. I predicted this back in October when they got their asses kicked by Indiana. I also predicted Locks would get canned. Apparently, Locks is staying on for another year. Our new AD has willingly sacrificed attendance for next season, which will be horrible, to reduce Locks’ buyout, but also, to raise more funds to go after a quality coach. Also, this year is the absolute worst year to go coach shopping, demand far out-weighing supply. It makes sense from a business perspective but, as an emotional fan who at least just wants hope at the start of a season, this is depressing. After seven years, the best Locks can do is 7-5, 4-5. I expect far worse next year. The fan base has quit on Locks. The players will quit once October rolls around.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHoustonBoiler: Larry, Larry, Larry. This game is at Ford Field, i.e., indoors, which means it’s basically September as opposed to a bitter cold night in very late November. Maryland wins straight up.
RockyMtnBlue: I’ve been getting entertaining results by picking Sparty. Why stop now? Michigan State 27-21
MNW: Selling this game to Detroit gives me shades of Illinois trying to play Northwestern at Soldier Field in the 2010s. I’m sure people will come out to watch your shit-ass team just because it’s slightly closer to home. Maryland, 24-21.
UCLA Bruins @ (19) Southern Cal Trojans6:30PM | FS1 | USC -21.5 | O/U 58.5Straight Up: USC 10-0Against the Spread: UCLA 6-4
Larry31: Again with a huge spread. I like USC but not by more than 3 TDs. UCLA covers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHoustonBoiler: USC wins, UCLA covers.
RockyMtnBlue: I’m sure this rivalry has a history of some kind, but someone please tell me again why I’m writing even one sentence about a Pac10 game. USC 34-17
MNW: Too big a spread for me to like it. USC, 35-21.
Northwestern Wildcats @ Illinois Fighting Illini6:30PM | FOX | Illinois -6.5 | O/U 46.5Straight Up: Illinois 7-3Against the Spread: Northwestern 6-4
Larry31: Why am I picking NW not only to cover but to win? I am dead last this year in picking ATS. Let’s go full George Costanza…do the exact opposite of what I think, and you’re guaranteed to win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHoustonBoiler: Illinois is the better team will win and cover
RockyMtnBlue: Ah. MUCH better. Who doesn’t love a good B1GWest rivalry game? Plus they play for a fucking hat! Northwestern keeps it close, but the Fighting Berts pull it off. Illinois 24-21
MNW: hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat hat
But, y’know, you saw what the ‘Cats allowed Great Value Raiola (get it, because Drake’s from Arkansas) to do to them last weekend? Unless Luke Altmyer’s got any residual issues from the end of the wisconsin game last week, he’s got the horses to throw those 10-12 yard out routes to. Northwestern’s secondary has been game, but not…y’know…good enough.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdd to that a pissed-off Illini front and a ‘Cats pass rush that doesn’t exactly impose its will, and I see Northwestern trying—but struggling—to win this game in the trenches. Illinois, 31-10.
Let us know your picks in the comments! Thanks for reading OTE. Happy Thanksgiving!
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