P.J. Fleck literally wiped blood off linebacker Maverick Baranowski’s mouth and smeared it on his own face last weekend, right after Minnesota beat Washington. That’s the kind of wild energy pumping through the Gophers’ locker room right now, and it tells you everything about a team that’s suddenly looking like a Big Ten title contender. They’ve only dropped one game so far, and that was to a scorching hot Mississippi State team, so now they’re heading into a “Big Noon Kickoff” against Michigan with some serious momentum.
Huskies Losses And Big Ten Dreams
Our team from the Emerald City, Washington, found itself on the losing side last weekend against that fired-up Minnesota squad, and now they are part of a couple of really intriguing storylines for Week 5. The Golden Gophers are hosting Michigan today at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with Michigan favored by 5.5 points. But don’t sleep on Minnesota here. All three expert picks from RJ Young, Laken Litman, and Michael Cohen are leaning toward the Gophers pulling off another upset. Litman even pointed out that they can catch Michigan “while they’re down at home,” noting the Wolverines have a 3-1 record but with an “undercurrent of dysfunction.” Our Huskies’ loss last week really sparked something in Minnesota, and it’s clear they are riding that high. Meanwhile, No. 18 USC is looking to bounce back against Washington as well, setting up another crucial game for our guys.
DeBoer’s Road Dominance Meets Kamario Taylor’s Home Show
Over in Starkville, Mississippi, it’s a huge showdown at Davis Wade Stadium as No. 7 Alabama, favored by 6 points, takes on Mississippi State. Alabama’s head coach, Kalen DeBoer, has been absolutely spectacular on the road against AP Top 25 teams, rocking a 9-2 record overall, and an unblemished 4-0 on the road during his Alabama tenure. RJ Young and Michael Cohen are picking the Tide to roll. But hold up, because Laken Litman and Ben Portnoy are both calling for Mississippi State to pull off the upset, and for good reason. Quarterback Kamario Taylor is putting on a show at home, and Portnoy even says Taylor is the best player that program has seen since Dak Prescott. Starkville will be electric, with those cowbells ringing out, hoping to see the Bulldogs beat the Tide for the first time since 2007. Portnoy also has some “bones worth picking” with Alabama’s defense, even with quarterback Keelon Russell playing well.
Buckeyes Offense Vs. Iowa’s Stingy D
Then there’s the Big Ten battle in Iowa City where No. 14 Iowa’s famously stingy defense is geared up to try and finally stop Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes are favored by 14 points, and RJ Young is backing their offense to get the job done. It’s set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS.
What a slate of games! Catch the early action with Minnesota-Michigan at noon ET on FOX, then the Alabama-Mississippi State slugfest on ABC, also at noon ET. Then, wrap it up with Ohio State-Iowa later in the afternoon. It’s gonna be a wild Saturday!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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