Hawk Fanatic Week 1 predictions
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Welcome to the first of what we hope are nine weeks of predicting the outcome of Big Ten football games during a global pandemic.
Pat Harty and Tyler Devine will do the predictions each week, and will provide commentary with each pick, along with some poor attempts at humor.
We might even have a guest picker every now and then.
The important thing is that we have a season that goes from start to finish.
Pat Harty’s picks
Iowa 31, Purdue 27 – I was sticking with Purdue, even after Jeff Brohm was declared out for Saturday’s game after having tested positive for COVID-19. But to also lose Rondale Moore is just too much. He’s so good that his first name has two first names.
Wisconsin 28, Illinois 10 –  Imagine if Barry Alvarez’s parents had named him Lovie.
Ohio State 41, Nebraska 23 – Nebraska fans cope with the loss by partying like it’s 1999.
Michigan State 10, Rutgers 9 – An hour of watching this game, or an hour of watching CSPAN?
Penn State 30, Indiana 27 – Thought about picking Indiana until I realized we’re talking football rather than men’s swimming from the early 1970s.
Michigan 27, Minnesota 24 – Jim Harbaugh celebrates the win by pretending Minnesota is Ohio State.
Northwestern 24, Maryland 21 – Pat Fitzgerald usually comes through under pressure, and remember, the Wildcats were dreadful last season, finishing 3-9.
Tyler Devine’s picks
Purdue 31, Iowa 27 – Rondale Moore was injured last season and David Bell shredded Iowa for 13 catches and 197 yards last season. The Boilermakers choo-choo their way to victory.
Wisconsin 34, Illinois 9 – I don’t know which will be colder, the Camp Randall press box or the Illinois offense.
Ohio State 56, Nebraska 21 – Two words. Justin Fields.
Rutgers 27, Michigan State 24 – I would hate to be the athletic director at either of these schools. Flip a coin.
Penn State 45, Indiana 31 – Indiana will do what it always does – build a two-touchdown lead and blow it.
Minnesota 24, Michigan 20 – Jim Harbaugh can’t pick his nose with a mask on and Minnesota is elite. Ski-U-Mah!
Northwestern 17, Maryland 14 – Chicago’s Big Ten team is used to playing without fans.