College football picks: Hoosiers, fourth among Big Ten teams in playoff rankings, biding their time

One of nan nitpicks astir nan first College Football Playoff rankings was that nan committee undervalued Indiana.

The Hoosiers' No. 8 ranking — they're successful nan aforesaid spot successful nan Associated Press Top 25 canvass — puts them 4th among Big Ten teams down No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State.

If nan play ended today, Indiana would beryllium successful nan 12-team bracket arsenic nan No. 9 seed. The Hoosier religious would reason they merit a higher seed.

Indiana is unbeaten, and nan Buckeyes and Nittany Lions each person a loss. The Hoosiers person won each 9 of their games by astatine slightest 14 points and they've outscored their opponents by a mixed 419-123.

The sound against them is their schedule, classed 103rd strongest by ESPN. They've played nary teams successful nan AP Top 25. Six of their 9 opponents went into this week pinch losing records, 1 is 4-4 and 2 are 5-4.

First-year coach Curt Cignetti, successful comments earlier nan CFP rankings were released, seemed OK biding his time.

The Hoosiers big Michigan, different of those 5-4 teams, connected Saturday. Then, aft a week off, they spell to Ohio State for what would beryllium 1 of nan season's astir anticipated games if they get past nan Wolverines.

“Every week presents its ain caller group of circumstances and truthful there’s a batch of that going connected this week,” Cignetti said of nan sound astir his program. “I’m alert of it. But to get benignant of caught up connected that and suffer your attraction would beryllium nan buss of death.”

The picks, pinch Associated Press canvass rankings and lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:

No 1 isolated from Ohio State has travel wrong 3 touchdowns of nan Ducks since nan first week of September. Maryland is playing a regular-season crippled connected nan West Coast for nan first clip successful 15 years.

Pick: Oregon 48-20.

QB Jaxson Dart has nan basking hand, and disruptive LB Suntarine Perkins leads an Ole Miss walk unreserved that's racked up an FBS-best 41 sacks. Since Week 5, nary FBS backmost has thrown much interceptions than nan Bulldogs' Carson Beck (8).

Pick: Mississippi 31-28.

Buckeyes person scored 20 and 21 points successful their past 2 games and are owed to break out. They've outscored Purdue 100-38 successful 2 meetings since they were upset successful West Lafayette successful 2018.

Pick: Ohio State 49-10.

Hurricanes person mislaid 3 of their past 5 against nan Yellow Jackets, but those teams didn't person Cam Ward. The Georgia Tech discourtesy is coming disconnected its worst 2 games of nan season.

Pick: 33-21.

Florida freshman QB DJ Lagway near past week's crippled against Georgia pinch a hamstring injury, leaving his status uncertain for his return to his location state. Texas is coming disconnected an unfastened date.

Pick: Texas 35-17.

The Nittany Lions person immoderate pent-up vexation to merchandise aft losing different 1 to Ohio State. This is Washington's 4th roadworthy game, and 3rd successful nan Eastern clip zone, since Sept. 27.

Pick: Penn State 42-24.

The Vols' Nico Iamaleava played his champion crippled successful weeks against Kentucky, and nan shape is group for him to put up immoderate immense numbers against a defense that's allowed SEC opponents to complete 78% of their passes for 318 yards per game.

Pick: Tennessee 38-10.

Indiana's Kurtis Rourke was crisp successful his return from thumb surgery, and nan Wolverines conscionable don't person capable offense. Hoosiers should beryllium 10-0 erstwhile they spell to Ohio State.

Pick: Indiana 30-20.

Cougars mislaid 9 successful a statement successful this rivalry earlier winning 26-17 astatine location past year. They haven't won successful Salt Lake City since 2006.

Pick: BYU 27-16.

The past clip these teams met, successful 2021, FSU backup QB McKenzie Milton put a scare into nan ninth-ranked Irish, who squandered an 18-point lead earlier winning 41-38 successful overtime. Don't expect nan Seminoles to put up nan aforesaid conflict this time.

Pick: Notre Dame 37-10.

These are 2 teams battling for spots connected nan playoff bracket. Alabama would beryllium successful it now; LSU would beryllium close. Both are coming disconnected unfastened dates. Tigers get nan separator successful a nighttime crippled successful Death Valley.

Pick: LSU 28-27.

National rushing leader Ashton Jeanty of Boise State averaged 4.3 yards per transportation his past 2 games, astir half his play average. This is an opportunity to jump-start his fading Heisman Trophy campaign.

Pick: Boise State 49-21.

The Cyclones person gotten disconnected to slow starts successful their past 4 games, and it caught up to them past week erstwhile Texas Tech handed them their first loss. Kansas has won past 2 meetings. This one's astatine Arrowhead Stadium.

Pick: Iowa State 31-24.

Army QB Bryson Daily, who missed past week's triumph complete Air Force because of an undisclosed injury, is trending toward a return. The Mean Green mean 41 points per game.

Pick: Army 42-27.

The Tigers mislaid power of their destiny successful nan ACC pinch past week's home nonaccomplishment to Louisville. They've won six consecutive against nan Hokies since 2007, but Virginia Tech has proved to beryllium a reliable retired this season.

Pick: Clemson 28-24.

Cougars person won 3 straight, and dual-threat John Mateer is nan champion under-the-radar backmost successful nan country. Utah State ranks 133rd retired of 134 FBS teams successful scoring defense.

Pick: Washington State 45-21.

Buffaloes travel retired of their unfastened date having won 5 of six, vessel eligible and successful nan heavy of nan Big 12 race. The Red Raiders showed moxie past week, driving for nan winning touchdown against Iowa State aft losing nan lead pinch conscionable complete 2 minutes left.

Pick: Colorado 35-34.

Pittsburgh sewage embarrassed astatine SMU successful its first nonaccomplishment and looks to rebound. Virginia is successful nan nutrient of its schedule and has mislaid 3 successful a row.

Pick: Pittsburgh 34-24.

Gamecocks are amended than their 5-3 grounds indicates, and they've sewage momentum from a 24-point triumph complete what was a top-10 Texas A&M team. Vanderbilt plays everybody close.

Pick: South Carolina 27-21.

Last week: Straight-up — 12-3; Against dispersed — 8-7.

Season: Straight-up — 151-39; Against dispersed — 98-91.

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