Analysis

Big Ten Picks: Huskies Ready to Jump in USC Dumpster Fire

One fanbase will be extremely displeased Saturday night after Washington face USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Both Washington and USC disappointed last week, though for slightly different reasons. Washington suffered its first loss at home to an unranked team since 2021, while the Trojans lost to Oregon for the fourth straight time.

The ground was already cracking around USC head coach Lincoln Riley entering the season, and his handling of Desman Stephens’ dirty hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and dirtier celebration after. Now that ground is crumbling.

Since Steve Sarkisian left UW in 2014 and headed south to coach the Trojans, USC has generally underachieved, finishing the year with a higher ranking than it entered the season just three times. Riley’s squads have finished unranked twice in his four seasons.

USC faces about $80 million reasons why it’s hard to part with Riley, though. His buyout is reportedly around $70 million, and the rest of the staff would be due $10 million.

Meanwhile, Jedd Fisch brings a young team to LA that has suffered injuries at several key spots, including long-term injuries to three running backs and starting X receiver Christian Moss. Center Landen Hatchett could return to anchor an offensive line that has taken a surprising step back this season.

Issues with the team — visible in unimpressive wins over Washington State, Utah State and Eastern Washington — showed up again in the loss to Minnesota. Falling to 0-2 in Big Ten play would leave a large hole to dig out of to become bowl-eligible, let alone achieving a College Football Playoff berth.

Washington needs Demond Williams Jr. to do what he hasn’t done yet in his career — dominate against an above-average team on the road. USC’s soft defense could help.

Jeff Fisch’s seat wouldn’t quite be hot yet with this loss, but some will be locating the thermostat. Both teams need this one.

Big Ten Picks

We have a real football schedule this week. No Westerns, Easterns, Centrals or schools some of us had forgotten had football teams. It only took a third of the season to get here, and we’ll learn a lot about who is good, bad, ugly.

Games Saturday unless otherwise indicated. Point spreads courtesy of BetMGM.

Penn State (3-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) -2.5 at Northwestern (2-1, 0-1)
5 p.m., Friday, FOX

The Wildcats made Indiana look mortal last week, and Northwestern is opening its new $875 million stadium.
Pick: Northwestern 24, Penn State 23

Michigan (3-1, 0-1) -6 at Minnesota (3-1, 1-0)
9 a.m., FOX

The two most confusing teams in the conference square off. Minnesota gets hammered by Mississippi State, then wins at Husky Stadium. Michigan gets a last -.01 second win against Western Michigan, beats Oklahoma and loses at home to Iowa.
Pick: Minnesota 19-17

Michigan State (2-2, 0-1) +9.5 at Wisconsin (3-1, 1-0)
9:30 a.m., BTN

I’ve been wrong about these two teams more than any other this year, and that’s saying something.
Pick: Wisconsin 24, Michigan State 20

No. 5 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0) at No. 14 Iowa (4-0, 1-0)
12:30 p.m., CBS

Sticking with my “there are no great teams in college football this year” mantra and hoping the Hawkeyes prove my point.
Pick: Ohio State 20, Iowa 10

Maryland (2-2, 0-1) -14.5 at Nebraska (4-0, 1-0)
1 p.m., FSN

The Terrapins lost by 41 points at home last week, and both Maryland fans were very upset.
Pick: Nebraska 38, Maryland 10

Purdue (1-3, 0-1) +10.5 at Illinois (2-2, 0-1)
1:15 p.m., BTN

The Boilermakers may have hit their ceiling by almost beating Wake Forest.
Pick: Illinois 47, Purdue 26

No. 6 Indiana (4-0, 1-0) -24.5, at Rutgers (1-3, 0-1)
5 p.m., BTN

I’d really enjoy a Purdue-Rutgers matchup this year.
Pick: Indiana 49, Rutgers 10

Byes: Oregon, UCLA

The Pick

Washington (3-1, 0-1) +8.5 at USC (4-1, 1-1)
4:30 p.m., NBC

If Washington’s offense were ever to find its way, it would be against the defensively challenged Trojans, who gave up 20 to Louisiana, 35 to hapless Rutgers and 41 to Oregon the past three games.

If Washington’s offensive line can play like many anticipated this season, the Huskies would certainly stand a chance. But it’s hard to imagine UW getting a road win against a ranked team right now.

USC 27, Washington 17