Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Big 10 SQUAD - What the Iowa Hawkeyes Will do in Week Nine

Episode Date: October 23, 2025

Is the nation underrating the Big 10's championship potential? Plus, game picks for the biggest matchups for Week 9. Can the Indiana Hoosiers fend off the red-hot UCLA Bruins? The Northwestern Wildcats are visiting the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Washington Huskies are hosting the Illinois Fighting Illini.Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/talkbig10 Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-big-10/ Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.RipplingGet Rippling FREE for 6 months. Terms and conditions apply. See site for details: https://app.rippling.com/legal/promotermsPrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)#big10 #BIGTEN #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #NCAA

What must the Big Ten do to get their five and two teams into the top 25? And we make our game picks for week nine on today's Locked-on Big Ten Squad. You're talking ball with the Big Ten Squad, sponsored by game time. From USC to Ohio State, from Michigan to Oregon, from Nebraska to Washington, it's the local experts of the Locked-on Podcast Network, bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming Big Ten weekend. No hurt feelings and thin skin allowed. squad up you're part of the big 10 squad happy thursday everybody welcome to this week's locked on

big 10 squad i'm your host spencer mclaughlin roman thomasoff is here of locked on husky zach anderson yoxheimer of locked on ucla wait roman you're in the wrong place i'll fix that later i was going to make a comment about that yeah trent conden what what what like what you were in your car like two minutes ago before we recorded and now you're muted walking around in an office depot Zach Seiko of Locked on Nettney Lions is here. Ryan Herrings have locked on Badgers as well. Trent has now unmuted himself. Kind of like the Iowa offense, Trent.

It has unmuted itself. We might start. I want to start with your Hawkeyes, Trent. I really do. Yeah. Because they're five and two. They're suddenly scoring points. What do they have to do to get ranked?

They got to beat somebody with a pulse. I mean, you look through and, well, Penn State, we know what they were in the preseason, still doesn't have a conference win. You look at the victory. that they've had. You've got to beat somebody with the pulse. And I don't know if that'll come this week against Minnesota. But then after that, there's somebody with the pulse, something that I've been telling our arbitrator over there since the summertime, look out for Kiddick Stadium. And that'll

be their opponent after the gopher. So get through this one, get to six and two. And if they can get a win against the ducks, then we'll be having a different conversation. Yeah, good luck with that. Roman, last week, Washington was five. Play better against the Hoosiers than you did. Yeah, I don't have to come back to that. That's just objectively true. Roman, Washington last week was 5 and 1. There were a bunch of calls for them to be ranked. They lose Michigan 24 to 7.

Now they're 5 and 2. But again, they're one of several. We've got Iowa at 5 and 2, Minnesota at 5 and 2 unranked. Michigan is in there at 25. So at least there's that. Illinois is in there at least. But Nebraska and Northwestern and Washington and Minnesota and Iowa are all 5 and 2 and none of them are ranked.

Do you think that is wrong, given the number of SEC teams that are in that same position, but in the top 25, like LSU. Absolutely. Absolutely. It's exhausting where, I mean, on the Washington side of things, yeah, you did not look good at all and that loss at Michigan. You look lifeless and now, you know, you have an opportunity to bounce back against a ranked team. And by the way, and this is, this is where I want to go with this from the Washington side of things. I can't wait for, let's say Washington does win this game against number 23, Illinois. I don't think anything is going to change because we've seen all these SEC teams, ranked teams play ranked teams.

just not affect anything at all. And on the big 10 side of things, what do not even just Washington, Spencer, you just named all these other teams. What do they have to do? I think Trenton brings up a good point of beating teams with a pulse, but how is that going to happen and how, like, you know, the SEC is getting all this credit for doing whatever it is that they do.

And on the big 10 side of things, there's just, it just doesn't seem to be the same thing. No, I agree. And I think that if you look at a schedule like LSU, what's LSU's best? win. Anybody know? Off top of your head? The answer is calling up. Yeah, showing up,

showing up is good. LSU's best win is Clemson. Great win at the time. Clemson's been playing a little bit better, but that's their, that's their best win right now. But, Zach, I understand in the Oxheimer, I mean, we'll get to say go. I want to go to the Bruins here because should we just view the Bruins team? My dad actually called me the other day. I'm not kidding. He asked me, what would UCLA have to do to get into the college football playoff? Because can you just ignore the O and 4 start and look at this team in a vacuum for what they've done since Tim Skipper got there? And I said, well, no, you can't. And then I thought, but maybe we should just for Zach.

I mean, we could. But UCLA also what controls their path I've seen to the Big Ten championship game. So they can still play their way in anyways. And if they do that, that would include a win at Indiana. at Ohio State and at USC. So those would all be very strong road wins. At the time, Penn State very much had a pulse, Maryland, somewhat scrappy and, you know, going to Michigan State and dominating them.

They look like a completely different team. I don't know if you can ignore the first four games because, you know, these not that good. New Mexico is only all right. Utah's pretty solid, but then Northwestern, we talk about wagons. Man, Northwestern's pretty good now. I thought that was the pillow fight of the century if it came to UCLA Northwestern. And that might be the game that defines the Big Ten championship race.

Seiko, you want to weigh in? It's hard to ignore the SEC bias. But I do see it to an extent. I'm actually going to just kind of stay a little neutral here that the SEC, right, when you look at those five and two teams losing to a Georgia or something like that, we're losing to Ole Miss, is a lot different than the Brown. losing to Minnesota, for example. Okay, so Michigan's in there.

Illinois is in there. Would any of us rank a five and two Northwestern team? Would we? Okay, okay. I would depend on the schedule, but no, not at the moment. Exactly. Yeah, yeah, Anderson, Yoxyvers, like, yeah, I'd rank them. Top 10 team in college football, man.

Look out. Quality loss. Quality loss for the Bruins. So is there SEC bias in the AP rankings because there are a lot of SEC writers that, that make that cast these votes yes this is true but still at the same time it's i'm going to have i'm going to be a little more lenient for a team like old miss who loses to georgia in a shootout versus nebraska who loses decisively 24 to six to minnesota who again old miss was

considered a playoff contender georgia you know although a lot of those cc teams nobody was saying you know watch out for minnesota here and then you get bullied by them if you're in So that's why we are where we are. The Big Ten, it's very top-heavy. It's still Ohio State. It's still Oregon. Of course, no Penn State. But it's Indiana.

Now, Indiana takes the place of what Penn State was supposed to be. So the Big Ten is still top-heavy compared to the SEC, but the SEC is the deeper conference. Yeah, I think on the Minnesota point, like the Golden Gophers probably have the strongest case of any of those teams to be ranked at the moment. They just beat Nebraska-handle-law who was in the top 25. Why don't they get that swap? Texas got to go in the top 25 when they beat Oklahoma, even though they have a loss to Florida that we're all just supposed to forget about. Ryan, I won't make you talk about Minnesota because you're going through enough suffering over there.

But I'm sure you have thoughts on the conversation. Yeah, I'm just here. Like, I don't know. I'm just here. I feel like everyone else, maybe except for Zach Seiko is like this, you know, you're here for a reason. You're here to talk about. I feel like I snuck into the party. Like this is some luxury retreat and I really shouldn't be here.

going to get kicked out in any second. I think, listen, I think Zach has a good point. You know, the SEC is probably a little deeper, but let's also not ignore the fact that if the SEC had multiple five and two teams, those teams are going to be ranked. There's institutionalized SEC bias built into all of this. There just is. And I think for years, the SEC has been top heavy as well. I think the middle of the SEC gets a little overrated because they beat up on each other and that people just assume those are always good wins. They're not always good wins. So the Big Ten does get a little shafted in the middle. That's been true for a long time. It's tough to go to Kinnick and win. It used to be kind of hard to go to Madison and win.

But like the Big Ten is, it is tougher. It is undervalued. And the SEC does get biased. It's okay to acknowledge that. I think Zach has a point too. Team by team, you can certainly make cases that certain SEC teams deserve the benefit of doubt over certain middle tier big 10 teams. But overall, the Big Ten does get shafted in this. It's been like that for a long time. Jeez, Ryan, are we going to keep this G-rated over here? Goodness gracious, man. We know. We know. We're here for you. We're here for you, man. He's in a fickle, man. Yeah. Nice. Nice. I support. Yeah, round of applause.

Right. Zach Anderson, Yoxheimer, everybody. Resident Pundmaster here on the Lock Dunn Big Ten Squad. We're going to get to our week nine picks, and we're not going to rush through them. We're going to flush them all out. A lot to get to stick around. First, this episode brought to you by Quo, one of the tools that helps make a huge difference. business owners is Quo formerly open phones the same great business phone that you've heard me talk about for just with a new name and here's why it matters every miss call is money left on the table when every customer conversation counts you need a phone system that keeps you connected 24-7 Quo is the number one business phone system that streamlines customer communications

it works right through an app on your phone or computer so no more carrying two phones or relying on a landline and you'll love how Quo formerly open phone lets your team share one number and collaborate on calls and texts like a shared inbox so no customer gets left hanging see why over 90,000 businesses trust quo formerly open phone get started free and get 20% off your first six months at quo.com slash locked on college that's QUO dot com slash locked on college you can even keep your existing number for free quo no miss calls no miss customers guys your mics are hot over there be mindful that this episode is brought to you by friends at Fandwell the NFL seasons here college football as well and Fandwell has an offer you just

don't want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $300 in bonus bets. If you win, that's right. You pick a bet, put down $5. And if it hits, you'll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. We're about to talk about every game in the Big Ten slate this upcoming weekend. They are all available to be wagered upon over at Fandle. You got money line, you got point spread, point totals, prop bets. Everything you possibly want, Fandwell has you cover for. For college football, the NFL, and beyond. So ask yourself this question. Think carefully. What are you waiting for? I don't know either. Visit fandal.com. to download the Fandual app today and get started. Check them out at fanduel.com. All right, let's get into our week nine picks, and we will start with the game that I am most excited to see Roman, Illinois, and Washington. Huskies are favored against the ranked Delineye, I suspect, and hope the winner of this game will be ranked. And of course, this is college football, not the NFL. So we have no ties because it's utterly ridiculous. was an un-American, quite frankly, and I hate that the NFL does that. Anyway, Illinois, Washington, Roman, how you feeling?

I feel good about this game. This is one of those ones where Illinois coming off a buy is certainly going to be interesting and something to be monitored. But, I mean, you know, we can have the multiple time zone conversation if you want to. I prefer not to just because I feel like it takes away from the actual discussion of football. And this is one of those games where I was talking to our good buddy, Jake Butt, over the Big Ten network the other day. And he was saying that after Michigan went in late nag at USC, they come.

back and play and inspired their best play, best coach game of the year against Washington in the big house. And now Washington has an opportunity to do the exact same thing because you had a chance to go on the road and get yourself a true signature win for Jedfish in the big house. And you aren't able to do that. You come out and you just really look awful from start to finish. Demont Williams throws three interceptions. And I think Washington has a tremendous opportunity to bounce back against an Illinois defense that is solid. I know the numbers don't necessarily play that up, especially after Indiana dropped 60-something on them a couple of weeks ago. So that plays into this too. But I feel really good about where Washington is sitting in this

game. You know, I heard a similar comment about how to frame this game and how to look at it on Locked on College football. I wonder if Jake Budson every day or if that guy. I heard he's pretty good. I've seen his work out there. Yoxheimer. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, Illinois or Washington. Who do you like in this game? I have to go with the home side here. You've got to go Washington, Illinois is very good, obviously beating USC earlier this year. Other than the Indiana game, I think they've been pretty impressive, but I'm going to lean Washington at home. They did me dirty earlier this year, but I think you, Dub, can get it done. Trent.

These are kind of the simplest conversations, right? It is as simple as team from the middle of America going out west, and we know what's going to happen. So this is also from the gambling perspective, an absolute smash spot. You mentioned ranked team as an underdog, go the other way. It's going to be very profitable. so Tuskees all day here, can't come up with a compelling one for the Illini. That's the word from Trent, who's on his fourth background of this show. Seiko, Washington, or Illinois?

These teams are actually fairly similar, right? Defenses are questionable, but the offense can actually move the football. And I think that DeMond Williams is only going to continue to get better. However, Illinois is still a really good team. We consider them a fringe playoff contender, right? somebody that could sneak in. Washington was in that category as well, but maybe not as much buy-in as Illinois had. So I think we're going to get a shootout. I think we're going to get a lot of points. Illinois covers Washington wins, which means it'll be a field goal game.

That's a classic Lee Corso pick. Washington, by a field goal. By a field goal. Ryan, I'm not going to make you talk about Oregon and Wisconsin in this game. We're going to tape our crossover later on. But Aligni Huskies, who do you like? I actually agree with Zach. I think Illinois covers, Bilema can travel. I think that team is veteran. The quarterback's always travel. You have a veteran quarterback going out there.

I think that's fine for them. I don't think it's a massive road disadvantage to do that with that type of squad that they have. I do think Washington wins. They're just a little bit better at home. They need it. But Illinois coming off a buy, and I thought they showed a few things against Ohio State where you can look into their DNA and say, like, that team has the characteristics to compete at a high level. So give me Illinois cover, Washington win.

I think it's going to be a really good game. Yeah, four and a half the point spread on that game, according to our friends at Fandall. Trent, we start with you next. Iowa, Minnesota. Winner should be ranked at six and two after this game. Do you like the Hawkeyes to get it done? I like him to get it done. It does feel like too much.

I mean, this thing seems destined for 1310, 10, 10, 9, you know, just a slugfest kind of game. Taylor, Minnesota is a different team when he's there and running the ball. But historically, he has struggled in the matchups against Iowa. He has not run the ball very well. I think it's going to come down to the end, and I'll take the guy that is not a carnival barker. I'll take the real football coach. So give me, Kirk Ferrence, finding a way to get it done. It'll be ugly again.

Everybody will make their jokes, and the Hawkeyes will get the victory. If the Golden Gophers were represented on this show, they'd be furious. But alas, they are not. Roman, Hawkeyes, or the Golden Gophers. I mean, Trent, no offense, it's always hard to pick an Iowa offense, but they have looked better over the last couple of weeks. And I do like them to get it done in this game. I don't see how you could possibly offend Trent by insulting Iowa's offense. It just feels like a jab, but you ever say, hey, this offense sucks, like, no matter what and when, but I mean, maybe you're used to it at this point?

It's been six years. Yeah. Remember, Roman, Roman, remember. Trent is old. He's very old. He's what he's been rooting for Iowa since before Kirk Ferrence was the head coach. Also known as before you and I were born, which is literally. true. Not sarcastic. That's just literally true. Trent is never going to show up to one of these

again. Anyway, I was whispering because I don't think he could hear me. Zach Anderson, Yoxheimer, Iowa or Minnesota in this spot. I mean, last time we had picked, I went against Minnesota when they were playing Nebraska and then just laid the smackdown, what, nine sacks against Nebraska. I'm going to go with Minnesota this one to out muscle the hot guys on the road. Surprising, but Golden Gophers get the dub. Trent, you hear that? Out muscled. Yeah. Bring it. That's what I say to Phil Fleck. And I'm not real worried. Seiko. I mean, I watched this Hawkeyes team, right? I saw them, I saw them struggle against a Penn State team that doesn't have a head coach, that doesn't have any, they're demoralized, doesn't have a starting quarterback. And it went,

it went down to the wire. It was 25 to 24. That was a game that Iowa should have been leading by 11, should have been leading by double digits. And it took a, you know, took a comeback. So I like Minnesota to definitely cover. I'm kind of on the same page as my counterpart, Zach, that there's a very good possibility of an upset chance. I mean, you make a statement against Nebraska. Iowa is, and Iowa is showing life offensively. Mark Rannowski has three touchdowns to four interceptions.

Look, I'm throwing stones in a glass house here. I know he can move, but Penn State can't stop a mobile quarterback to save its life. So I will take the golden gophers here to cover and get the upset. don't think Iowa's that good. Ryan, you have to pick between the team that just trounced your badgers. I mean, who hasn't done that this year, though, at home? Again, who hasn't done that? And say something nice about Minnesota. So, rock and a, Trent's gone. Trent's gone. Rocking a hard place for you, Ryan. Go for it. I think it's Iowa. You know, Zach talked about the Penn State game, but we also saw Iowa in Kinnick lose by five to the number two team in the country. You know,

This is a team that's been playing well, and Iowa with offense is kind of a scary proposition. Iowa with a quarterback is kind of a terrifying proposition, even in some semblance. So I'm going to go Iowa. I think they cover and they beat Minnesota. I'm obviously horrifically biased against Minnesota to begin with. But I do think in Kinnick, Iowa's a really tough program, and we've seen what they can do. So give me Iowa there. I think the offense is decent, which for Iowa is exemplary.

That's a good way. That's a good way to put it. Decent is exemplary. in Iowa City. Before we wrap this segment, we're going to go with a wrapped fire, then we'll get to the rest of the games next week. Zach, don't worry. We will talk about UCLA and Indiana. Goins didn't have the guts to show up this week and pick Indiana to beat UCLA. Just couldn't stomach it. Rutgers and Purdue, one of these teams is getting their first big 10 win this week. Somewhere Mark Colkin is furious that we are even mentioning these games

here on the squad show. Too bad. He's not here. Rutgers or Purdue Give me Rutgers I kind of like their offense I think that they have a lot of questions on the defense side of the ball but I think Cleek Manus has had a really nice season he's got a really talented trio receivers

yeah I'll take the Scarlet Knights in this game Yaxheimer I think the only team winning in Indiana this Saturday is Purdue jokes aside but we're going with Purdue Seiko yeah I got to agree with Roman Rutgers offense looks better

and how to look last week That's that's an that's an Oregon team. Hey, they look they put up 28 points against an Iowa defense. It's a shame that Trent had to bail out. But records scored 28 against and Iowa was holding all night long. I imagine if the refs called a half decent game records might get the upset in that instance. Like I said, that's why I think Iowa was overrated. But give me records in this game. It also means that records is going to be ahead of Penn State for the first time in big 10 conference play. And however long, Penn State's not going to have a big 10 win. Oh, man. from national championship aspirations to behind rutgers that that is um that is a fall unlike anything that we have we have seen before ryan boiler makers or the scarlet nights no we cannot talk about basketball my camera literally just pan the great guard bites oh i thought you did that when that happens yeah it was my i camera and it went right to great nice give me give me peru calic manis has a badger pelt on his wall because he beat wisconsin once i'm not going to root for that guy former former gopher's quarterback give me peru boiler up let's go boiler up says ryan your

camera just knows in your mind that you don't want to be talking about football you're like hoops season is so close it's just a couple weeks it's like 12 days guys it's like two weeks two weeks and we can start talking about basketball but and by the way ryan i know you're concerned about this but don't worry jackson shellstead is expected to be all right so we will We'll wrap our picks in the final segment. Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, looking for a bounce back. More to get to on his Locked on Big Ten Squad.

Which is brought to you by our friends over at Mazda. Mazda crafts cars for those who do more than simply move. Mazda delivers confidence with every ride like Iowa's offense is playing with confidence right now. Crazy thing to say, but it's just factually accurate. They look and probably feel pretty darn good. They have more IHS top safety pick awards than anyone. else as of August 2025. That's Mazda. Just to be clear, not Iowa, though Iowa's offense does at times look like over the years, like it's just playing for safety and nothing else. Like they're

trying to punt to create a safety anyway. So from footwork to breathwork, athletes on your favorite team are sweating all the details. Mazda brings the same intention to how they craft every model. You make everyday drives feel like anything but why be boring, bland, vanilla, boy, I could take so many shots at Iowa, but I really can't because their offense has been better over the last several weeks. From smooth handling to intuitive controls and all-wheel drive standard in every crossover SUV, you can drive with confidence through almost any season.

Like the players of your favorite team, they sweat every detail at Mazda, because when you make every move count, like every player and team and coach needs to do this weekend. Impossible becomes irrelevant. Mazda move and be moved. Wrap it up this week's Locked on

Big Ten squad with some big game picks. Are we going to make Yoxheimer wait, or should we start? Show of hands amongst the four of us. Should we make Yoxheimer wait to predict the upset of the year? Ah, the eyes have it. He's going to have to wait. Michigan, Michigan State rivalry game. Could we start to see Jonathan Smith hot seat talk really ratchet up if he doesn't win this game, Roman, as a two touchdown home underdog against the Wolverines? I think definitely, yes. There just hasn't been much about that team that I think has gotten noticeably better since he's gotten there. I think Jonathan's a good coach,

but it just doesn't seem to be working in East Lansing. It's a little disappointing, and I certainly don't expect him to cover this two touchdown spread. Michigan really did look like they found something and it clicked last week. And I don't know if it's the Sherrodmore blue collar jacket thing, which just so corny, man, I was not a fan of that. But hey, it seemed to inspire the front seven. They're playing really well, and they still have a lot of talent on that team. Yoxheimer, Spartans pulling upset this week, or is it all Wolverines? No, after saying UCLA dismantle them in East Lansing, I think the Wolverines will have just a fine time handling the Spartans on an evening game in Spartan Stadium. Seco? I mean, UCLA might be looking at Jonathan

Smith as its next head coach. And that's, you know, kind of ironic in the team. I think they have their next head coach. He's the interim head coach. Yep. I mean, I, Tim Skipper and Jerry new Heisle, right? James Franklin, who knows? Who's going to coach at UCLA, right? When I look at this Michigan, Michigan State game right now and the present, I think Michigan appreciates the rivalry more than, and that's what's going to be the deciding factor here. Michigan's the better football team. But when we're talking about, okay, margin of outcome, what is Jonathan Smith in this Michigan state that it doesn't mean anything to them? I feel like Sharon Moore and everybody that's coaching this team still kind of take pride in this rivalry game. So they're going to look to make a statement

and just Michigan State's kind of down bad at this point. Herrings, do you think we got an upset brewing in East and Lansing? No, Michigan State struggles a little bit on the ground against physical teams. Michigan is just going to pound the rock coming off what they did against Washington. I think they have some juice right now. I don't think Michigan State's going to cover. I don't think it's going to be that competitive. So give me Michigan covering, taking home the trophy and the rivalry game.

Northwestern goes to Nebraska looking for a revenge spot. Cornhuskers are favored by. eight and a half at home, Roman. And by the way, they enter this game trailing Northwestern in the Big Ten standings. That's a three and one Big Ten conference team. I have a horrendous, just record when picking Matt Rule on this show. And I'm going to go back to the well.

I think Northwestern has played good football as of late, but I think that this Nebraska team is going to be looking for a get back after what happened at Minnesota last week. It was ugly. And I think they still have a lot more talent and that's going to shine through this weekends. Yoxheimer. I think this game's an 11 a.m. local kick, if I'm not mistaken, in Lincoln. And that is Northwestern's bread and butter, nationally televised 11 a.m. local kicks normally at home, but they're playing Nebraska. I got smacked with water in the face to tell me

Northwestern is the truth from way back when UCLA lost them. We're going Northwestern. What do you mean you got? Remember I had the ice bucket water? Oh, that's right. That's right. Yes, I did forget about that. I wish we had a video that that we could, uh, that we could play right now. I really sent it to the chats. Seiko, uh, corn huskers or the wildcats. I wonder how focused Matt Ruel is at this point with Nebraska, uh, just being linked to the Penn State job. That's his alma mater. Uh, clearly it was an issue against Minnesota.

Like, it's not like that one went down to the wire. They were, they were done. They were out of it for, uh, earlier in the game. You could see a similar setup where Northwestern, Northwestern's definitely covering. I think that's that eight and a half point spread is a lot. which could turn into an upset. So I'll take Nebraska because they are at home. I think they are the more talented team. I would like to see Matt Ruhl bounce back, but it's going to be close.

It'll go down to the wire. It'll be a field goal type of game. Ryan, we're still talking about football, but who you got? Let me unmute for a second. Good idea. I think SAC goes dead on. Northwestern is absolutely covering. That's my shoe-in of the week,

if I were to ever have a shoe-in of the week. Northwestern, listen, they're running the ball, about 40 times a game. Nebraska gives up 4.6 per carry. They get worn down. Nebraska hasn't had a physical front seven since the days of Solich. And they're not going to do it against Northwestern. It's an early kick. It's going to be kind of a low energy environment. Northwestern is going to take the energy out of it. They're going to take the air of the football. They're going to run the ball 45 times. Give me Northwestern, which again has quietly become one of the better running teams in the big 10 over the last month. So yeah, let's let's go. Herring sounds like Timothy Shalamey talking about ball there, the prep of stats

there with a yards per carry that was that was some that was some good clean stuff uh yoxheimer and really quickly i've had time to divert my energy into other team yeah try to focus on anything but the badgers he's he's got he's got nebraska's opponents yards per carry memorized because anything in his head to avoid thinking about wisconsin football is a good is a good thing for for ryan all right Zach, you can go first since we made you wait. So here you go. Here you go. Make your case as a 25-5-5-point underdog.

Notably, UCLA has never won a game when they're that big of an underdog this year. So do you think UCLA can beat Indiana and truly shock the world? The floor is yours. Well, for UCLA, it's obviously the same spot they were against Penn State. Now Penn State fired their coach. I'm not sure. The same fate will happen to Kurt Zignetti in two weeks. But for the Bruins, they're facing a physical front.

There was some worry and injury concern about Nico after leaving the Maryland game injured, but he seems to be all good. Go shock the world twice. They're playing with house money still. You win this game. They're back to 500. And they're still on a blazing trail to potentially getting to the Big Ten championship game, which they control their own destiny.

I think UCLA covers. It's a stretch for me to come out here and say they're going to win the game, but they've shocked everybody so far in their last three. Why not do it for a fourth straight time? It's going to come down to UCLA having Nico get out and run the football and being more physical than Indiana, which is tough to do since Kurt Signetti's been there. This has to be the most anticipated

greater than three touchdown point spread game of all time, because I think we're all just curious to see can they do. Nico, of course, would need to play. Roman, do you think UCLA keeps it tight with the Hoosiers in Bloomington on big noon kickoff? I

can't go that far. I think the new Heisel sanity run comes to an end this weekend. I just, I look at this Indiana team and there's so much talent on the defensive side of the they've done such a good job just building up that defensive line obviously they got some great pieces on the back end as well and i do love what tim skipper and jerry new he has will have done for that program but i think that this is just too tall of a mountain to climb saco i mean i've watched this ucla team and they look like a completely completely different team right completely different program with tim skipper obviously everybody's highlighting jerry new heisle is it's like oh no he's he's not the interim head coach but uh the people that say well the travel and the big noon kickoff actually doesn't really apply to UCLA because I think they don't they practice said really early in the morning they practice the morning they already went early in the morning to michigan state and smacked them so yeah so the time the time thing does not matter that was uh so when

it applies to every it applies to everybody else that the time change the time difference actually it doesn't and that's why UCLA plays a lot of big noon kickoff games or or noon kickoff games because they actually practice early on the pacific coast so i think they cover i obviously don't think they win, but they definitely cover because this is just a brand new football team, and they're actually talented when you have the right coaches calling the place.

Ryan? Indiana by whatever. I think Indiana covers. I think Indiana takes care of business here. I mean, UCLA is one of the best stories in college football. It's incredible, but I still think Nico's turnover prone, even in the stretch. He's got a two to one touchdown interception ratio. Indiana's defense is opportunistic. I think they're going to force

him into some issues. And Cignetti, man, that dude doesn't care. He's going to put the foot on the gas. I don't believe in UCLA's defense at this point yet. They're playing better and it's incredible. Like what they've done is amazing. But I still don't trust Nico in that environment. I think Indiana turns them over a couple times and it snowballs.

Indiana by 30, 35, something like that. They cover and win big. By the way, right. Ryan is just so done with football. Just Indiana by whatever is just. I'm going to actually make him even more done with football because I just noticed this. And it does, it does make me feel sad for the proud Badger program that this is a reality against Oregon this week.

Has anybody, first, has anybody looked at the point spread and point total for Oregon and Wisconsin? Ryan, you have? Yeah. Okay. Roman, you, Zach and Zach, you have not? I have, but I have a better question for Ryan, but I can say that for him. Okay, okay.

Just really quick for you three. The point spread for Oregon against Wisconsin is 33 and a half. Oh, I was going to guess 34. which not okay okay money coming in on the badgers yeah money coming out of the badgers probably because the weather forecast might not be great what do you think the point total in the camera's killing me bad the cameras kill me okay 33 and a half point spread what do you think the point total in the game is roman 58 and a half okay yoxheimer i have it up so i know it but oh you cheap okay seiko i mean i know i know it Did you guys look at, did you not want to play this fun?

That was a really fun thought that. Hey, I did. I went around the Big Ten already. I did a preview before this preview. Oh, okay. Roman, you said 58, right? I did. It's 44.

A 34.5. A 33 and a half point spread with a 44.5 point total. I don't even, I've never seen that. Just in context. this is amazing. Wisconsin has scored 93 points this year. We scored 93. We played seven games. That's not. But isn't that, but that's the margin of outcome that it's been the past two weeks in Big Ten play, 37 to nothing, 34 to nothing. Like what is Vegas not supposed to respond

to that? No, they're right. It's just, it's, I've just never seen a, a 30 plus point spread with a total that is within 10 or 11 points if I can actually do math in my head of that spread. Ryan, will Luke Fickle get fired after this week? Dan Lannings gotten three coaches fired this year. Listen, I've been telling you guys, he's not getting fired in season.

It's not happening. I've been consistent on that from the jump. It's not happening this season. Chris McIntosh, the athletic director, literally this week, came out with his second boat confidence. Oh, boy. The second one this year.

So, no, it's not a vote of confidence based on what exactly? You know, Big Ten's tough, injuries, more money. You know, I don't know, it's a lot of word salad. I mean, it's nothing. It's based on nothing, but. Yeah. Yeah. A sticker that says, I voted.

I don't know what we voted. It's based on nothing, but it's out there. They're not going to fire up this season. It is one of the decisions. There are some whispers. He's the guy next year, too. like that is on the table for the badgers okay Ryan really wants basketball season roman Thomashov locked on husky Zach Anderson yaksamore locked on UCLA Zach Saka

locked on nettingy lines Ryan herrings locked on badgers we had Trent canton of locked on hawkeyes I'm Brents McLaughlin from locked on you know all over the place and what I appreciate everyone listening and we'll see you next time until then hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day