Analysis

Big Ten Picks: It’s Desperation Time For Huskies

It’s desperation time.

The Washington Huskies fell to 0-2 in the conference Saturday in LA, and they need a win Friday night against No. 20 Iowa to stop the downward spiral.

UW freshman running back Brian Bonner Jr. ran with confidence in Saturday’s 25-21 loss at USC, and Jedd Fisch’s playcalling had its moments. The Hawkeyes are a different deal, however. Iowa has given up an average of 12.6 points per game, and will present a massive challenge up front for a Washington offensive line that has yet to consistently establish itself. The likely return of fourth-year center Landen Hatchett should help.

The Hawkeyes have been offensively challenged for much of the decade, however, and will likely be without starting quarterback Hank Brown. This matchup has defensive struggle written all over it.

Demond Williams Jr. has been sacked 12 times in two Big Ten games, both losses, and must get rid of the ball quickly to avoid a similar fate. The third-year quarterback appears to have regressed this season. The Huskies likely won’t win many games if they continue to convert third downs at a 29% clip, including 1-for-12 at USC.

Hunter “The Punter” Green could be the MVP of this one.

Big Ten Picks

Point spreads courtesy of BetMGM. All games Saturday, unless otherwise indicated

No. 7 Indiana (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) -7.5 at Nebraska (5-0, 2-0)
9 a.m., FOX

This is where we find out if Nebraska is for real after the Cornhuskers loaded up on Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State and Maryland. This is where they walk into a telephone pole.
Pick: Indiana 38, Nebraska 17

Ball State (1-4) +35.5 at Northwestern (3-1)
9:30 a.m., Big Ten Network

The Wildcats are actually a good football team. Hung in there with Indiana and waxed Penn State. Ball State, on the other hand, not so much.
Pick: Northwestern 48-10

No. 21 UCLA (4-0, 2-0) +11.5 at No. 13 Oregon (3-1, 1-0)
12:30 p.m., CBS

Bob Chesney is off to a nice start, but the win at Cal looks smaller every week.
Pick: Oregon 42, UCLA 30

Illinois (2-3, 0-2) -2.5 at Michigan State (2-3, 0-2)
12:30 p.m., FS1

Illinois stinks this year, but the Spartans smell worse.
Pick: Illinois 31, Michigan State 24

Maryland (2-3, 0-2) +32.5 at No. 5 Ohio State (4-1, 2-0)
1:15, BTN

Why is Ohio State playing an FCS team in Week 5? Hold on, I’m being told Maryland is, for some reason, in the Big Ten.
Pick: Ohio State 42, Maryland 3

No. 19 USC (5-1, 2-1) -1.5 at Penn State (3-2, 0-2)
4:30, NBC

I can’t bring myself to pick Penn State to win a football game right now. I also can’t bring myself to pick USC to win on the East Coast. I needed a pure mind for this selection, so I asked the 5-year-old neighbor kid, and he said roll with the Nittany Lions and lay the point-and-a-half.
Pick: Penn State 31, USC 30

Minnesota (4-1, 2-0) -2.5 at Purdue (2-3, 1-1)
5 p.m., BTN

Purdue is frisky this season, but the Golden Gophers might actually be good.
Pick: Minnesota 24, Purdue 16

The Pick

No. 20 Iowa (4-1, 1-1) -2.5 at Washington (3-2, 0-2)
6 p.m., Friday, FOX

Washington’s defense will almost certainly keep the Huskies in this one. If the Huskies can avoid major disaster like the USC scoop-and-score from last week, UW should be in the game until the end. If you have small children, you should cover their eyes for this one. It’s going to be ugly, and I like the home team on a Friday night. Just don’t expect it to invoke Pac-12 After Dark memories.

Washington 16, Iowa 13