Hlastradamus: Badgers, Huskers will prey on Big Ten newbies

If time has taught us anything, it's that time teaches us things.

Over time, Hlastradamus always leads you where you want to go. The prophet has sort of slogged through the 2014 college football season after some sterling results the last couple years. But Saturday showed he still is more powerful than a locomotive.

The seer went 4-1, and would have gone 5-0 had Iowa done the right things and gone for a touchdown instead of settling for a chip-shot field goal when it trailed Maryland 38-28. That brought Hlastradamus' season-record to 19-18-3. Now it's time to really make some hay, so ... Hay Now!

Wisconsin -11

vs. Maryland. This is a lot of points to lay against a team that is 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten. But this is an atmosphere unlike what the Terrapins have ever known in a conference setting.

Well, other than Florida State, anyway.

Physicality and defense aren't Maryland's specialties. You kind of need them against the Badgers.

Nebraska -17

vs. Rutgers. Another Big Ten newcomer is being led to another slaughter.

Rutgers was at Ohio State last Saturday and got pounded, 56-17. Meanwhile, Nebraska showed some ruthless aggression in the second-half of its 38-17 win at Northwestern.

The Huskers, by the way, are a Big Ten-best 6-1 against the point-spread this season.

This is the wrong time and wrong place for the Scarlet Knights. Again.

Michigan +17

at Michigan State. There's little Michigan State would enjoy more than burying the Wolverines. In fact, there's nothing it would enjoy more.

It was a burial last year when MSU won 29-6, also in East Lansing.

The more the prophet looks at this, the more he wonders why his crystal ball is telling him to take Michigan and the points. Here's his thinking: Michigan State believes it must obliterate teams to make its case to the College Football Playoff people. That can stress a team out, and stress isn't good for you.

Missouri -21

vs. Vanderbilt. Vandy isn't dandy.

Sometimes it's just that simple.

LSU +3.5

vs. Mississippi. Ole Miss has had a fun run. But what kind of world are we living in when the Rebels are road-favorites at LSU?

There must be order, there must be rules. And one of those rules is that LSU doesn't lose home games to Ole Miss. Mississippi State, yes, but not Ole Miss.

Ole Miss is the only team in the nation that is unbeaten against the spread. Which makes this pick nothing short of sensational, which you have come to expect from the seer.