Big 10 Football Week 8 Spreads: Buckeyes Huge Favorites Against Iowa
Reserve Quarterbacks Could Be Pressed Into Duty in Penn State-Minnesota Showdown

Second-Ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Look to Keep Rolling Against Iowa
Ohio State (-375) and Michigan (+350) have the best odds to win the Big Ten title followed by Illinois (+1400) and Purdue (+1600).
Big 10 Football Week 8 Spreads Preview: This is not the most compelling of weeks when it comes to the Week 8 Big Ten schedule, especially when looking at the Big Ten football Week 7 spreads.
Iowa might be able to slow down the high-powered Ohio State offense, but the offensively-challenged Hawkeyes will be hard pressed to hang with conference front-runner Ohio State.
With both starting quarterbacks injured, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Minnesota-Penn State matchup.
Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska all have bye weeks.
Ohio State and Michigan moved up to No. 2 and 3 in the American Football Coaches Association poll. In the Associated Press rankings, Ohio State is second and Michigan fourth. Penn State and Illinois are in the top 20 in both polls.
According to the college football betting lines, Ohio State (+175) has the best odds to win the national championship while Michigan (+1400) is fifth.
Ohio State (-375) and Michigan (+350) have the best odds to win the Big Ten title followed by Illinois (+1400) and Purdue (+1600).
Game of the Week
Iowa Hawkeyes vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Date, time (TV): (FOX)
Line: Ohio State -29
It is Iowa’s turn to try to slow down the Ohio State juggernaut and looking at the Big Ten football Week 8 spreads, it is not looking promising for the unranked Hawkeyes.
Iowa is one of two Big Ten teams to allow fewer than four yards per offensive play. Opponents are completing just 58.7% of their passes against the Iowa defense while the Hawkeyes have surrendered only three touchdown passes and 154 passing yards per game.
Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 in the Big Ten) is averaging 522 yards of total offense in three conference games.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud is not only listed by the sportsbook as the Heisman Trophy front-runner, but he is also the national leader with a passer rating of 207.57. With last year’s top receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba missing four games, Stroud has 24 TD passes and three interceptions with sophomores Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison combining for 66 catches, 1,193 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson are among the top 10 rushers in the Big Ten.
Jack Campbell leads the Iowa defense with 63 tackles while Cooper DeJean had three interceptions. Iowa’s offense has the fewest points (88) and fewer yards (1,433) in the conference, so it will be hard for the Hawkeyes to go score for score with the Buckeyes. Iowa snapped a five-game losing streak to the Buckeyes with a 55-24 win in 2017.
Other Games to Watch
Indiana Hoosiers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Date, time (TV): (Big Ten Network)
Line: Rutgers -3
Continuing Our Big 10 Football Week 8 Spreads Preview: Is this the week when Rutgers becomes the last Big Ten team to record a conference win?
The Scarlet Knights (3-3, 0-3) have managed just 33 points in three league games. They are facing an Indiana defense that has surrendered 124 points in four Big Ten contests.
In league play, Indiana (3-4, 1-3) and Rutgers are 11th and 12th out of 14 teams in total offense.
Indiana’s top rusher Shaun Shivers is averaging just 2.4 yards per rush in conference play. Rutgers freshman Samuel Brown has flashed some potential with 4.8 yards per carry in three Big Ten games.
Four of the last five games between Rutgers and Indiana have finished under the total.
Purdue Boilermakers vs Wisconsin Badgers
Date, time (TV): (ESPN)
Line: Wisconsin -2
When looking at the Big Ten football standings, Wisconsin (3-4, 1-3) is sitting in last place in the Big Ten’s West division and the jury is still out on whether the decision to fire head coach Paul Chryst has made much of an impact.
Purdue (5-2, 3-1) is currently tied for the West Division lead with Illinois.
Wisconsin leads the Big Ten with 11 interceptions and the Badgers are going against a Purdue team that is second in the conference with an average of 44.4 passing attempts per game. Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell is second in the conference with 1,950 passing yards, but he is averaging just 7.2 yards per passing attempt.
Iowa transfer Charlie Jones leads Purdue with 62 catches and 735 receiving yards.
Wisconsin has won 15 games in a row against Purdue. However, the Boilermakers have covered in three of the last six meetings.
Northwestern Wildcats vs Maryland Terrapins
Date, time (TV): (Big Ten Network)
Line: Maryland -13.5
The biggest thing to keep an eye on is the status of Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the conference leader with 2,001 passing yards. Freshman Billy Edwards was 0 for 3 in relief of Tagovailoa in last week’s win against Indiana.
Northwestern (1-5, 1-2) is looking to snap a five-game losing streak. The Wildcats are one of three Big Ten teams to average less than five yards per offensive play.
Quarterback Ryan Hilinski has completed just 25 of 59 passes for 357 yards with one TD and three interceptions over the last two games.
Maryland (5-2, 2-2) already has five pass catches with more than 20 receptions.
The last time these teams met, Northwestern rolled to a 43-3 win in 2020 as a 13-point favorite.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Penn State Nittany Lions
Date, time (TV): (ABC)
Line: Penn State -5
Concluding Our Big 10 Football Week 8 Spreads Preview: This could be the most competitive of Saturday’s games. Both starting quarterbacks – Sean Clifford of Penn State and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan could miss the game so it is hard to know what to expect and the Big Ten football Week 7 spreads could see some movement with this game.
Minnesota (4-2, 1-2) can’t afford another conference loss if it has any hope of winning the West Division title. Penn State (5-1, 2-1) looks to stay perfect at home.
Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim is second in the Big Ten with an average of 138.8 rushing yards per game even with him missing the Purdue game.
Freshman Nicholas Singleton is averaging 6.99 yards per carry for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions have won five of the last seven games against Minnesota. The Gophers have won two of the last three matchups. Be sure to look out for today’s NCAAF scores, and the latest news from your favorite conference.
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