GAZETTE/KCRG Pick 'ems

Iowa at Minnesota

MARC MOREHOUSE - People seem to think the bronze pig has a preference for where it sits on a shelf. I'd ask the bronze pig, but I don't speak bronze pig. Iowa 31, Minnesota 21

MIKE HLAS - Fun fact: Floyd of Rosedale put himself through college by working as a Chippendale dancer. Minnesota 20, Iowa 19

SCOTT DOCHTERMAN - I've often wondered if Floyd takes a pit stop in Floyd on his trips north or south. Iowa 24, Minnesota 23

SCOTT SAVILLE - The Hawkeyes have been stout against the run this season and they should be able to slow down the Gophers. Iowa is getting better in the passing game and that will be the difference in this one. Iowa 24, Minnesota 17

BETH MALICKI - Minnesota's Golden Gophers will not win because their mascot has buck teeth, likely from sucking its thumb. I had the same vice once and my mom insisted it would lead to my demise. She's rarely wrong. Iowa 24, Minnesota 17

BOB BROOKS - Iowa has improved every week and that improvement will show at Minnesota as Iowa retains Floyd of Rosedale. Iowa 32, Minnesota 21

NICK PUGLIESE – I love bacon but it has to be crispy. Almost burnt. Minnesota 21, Iowa 17

J.R. OGDEN – I have to admit the Hawkeyes are getting better and are much more fun to watch this fall, but this is a tall task. Minnesota 24, Iowa 17

JEFF JOHNSON – “Correct me if I'm wrong, Sandy. But if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key.” “I SAID GOPHERS!!” Iowa 28, Minnesota 21

JEREMIAH DAVIS – Neither team has a win over a marquee opponent but both are coming off solid showings last week. Both teams play similarly by relying on the run, so I'll give this to the home team. Minnesota 27, Iowa 24

SAM LOUWAGIE – Lack of Gopher passing game allows Hawkeyes to win an ugly one. Iowa 23, Minnesota 14

ROB GRAY – Hawkeyes appear to be on the right track offensively, but four touchdowns from special teams/defense will do that. Kill's boys are getting tougher, but ... Iowa 27, Minnesota 24

 Wisconsin at Ohio State

MOREHOUSE - Wisconsin Wife has made me wear Urban Meyer gear all week. Her behavior didn't change all that much, but the headphones gave her something to grab. OSU 34, Wisconsin 27

HLAS - They opened a Dunkin' Donuts in Cedar Rapids Wednesday morning and I've resisted going there so far. Of course, I made these picks on Wednesday morning. That may be six Boston Kremes ago as you read this today. OSU 31, Wisconsin 24

DOCHTERMAN - Why do the Buckeyes have a mascot named Brutus and the Badgers have a mascot named Bucky? It seems backward to me. Wisconsin 38, OSU 34

SAVILLE - Ohio State has two QB's better than the Badgers quarterback. Very hard to beat Brutus in Columbus. OSU 28, Wisconsin 21

MALICKI - Bet ya can't name the seven U.S. presidents born in Ohio without using the Google machine. I know I couldn't. OSU 31, Wisconsin 20

BROOKS - Badgers are good, Ohio State is better no matter who plays quarterback. OSU 21, Wisconsin 10

PUGLIESE – Buckeyes roll no matter who's playing QB. OSU 31, Wisconsin 21

OGDEN – This is a tough one. So go with the home team. OSU 17, Wisconsin 14

JOHNSON – Referees screw over the Badgers again. Or maybe not. OSU 31, Wisconsin 17

DAVIS – This all comes down to whether or not Braxton Miller is healthy enough to play – and play effectively. Wisconsin is a good team (and a referee mistake from being undefeated), so Miller's performance separates a win from a loss for the Buckeyes. Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 24

LOUWAGIE – OSU proves conference superiority. Ohio State 36, Wisconsin 17

GRAY – Some people are picking the Badgers here. I'm not. OSU 41, Wisconsin 21

Oklahoma at Notre Dame

MOREHOUSE - Notre Dame won't have the stink from the Michigan State offense washed out of its britches yet. Oklahoma 33, Notre Dame 20

HLAS - Beth was bragging here last week about her vast number of Facebook followers. But no one in the 319 has been blocked on Twitter more than I have. Notre Dame 28, Oklahoma 24

DOCHTERMAN - There's a higher concentration of coaches with Iowa ties in South Bend today than in Minneapolis. Oklahoma 31, Notre Dame 24

SAVILLE - Lucky Charms are magically delicious worked last week. Why not try it again. This game is truly a Pick' em. Notre Dame 20, Oklahoma 17

MALICKI - Just read “Lean In” and am now a born-again feminist. The fact that Notre Dame didn't admit women undergrads until 1972 is weighing heavily on me. Notre Dame 17, Oklahoma 13

BROOKS - Strange things usually happen when the Irish are at home. That does not bid well for Sooners. Irish have mystique on their side. Notre Dame 24, Oklahoma 21

PUGLIESE – I've picked against the Irish too much for a good Catholic boy. Notre Dame 24, Oklahoma 21

OGDEN – This is an even tougher one to pick, so go with the heart. Notre Dame 21, Oklahoma 20

JOHNSON – How can it be South Bend when it's in northern Indiana? Weird. Oklahoma 28, Notre Dame 26

DAVIS – The Sooners rely heavily on the run with quarterback Blake Bell, and have seen success at it early. But the Fighting Irish are hitting their stride defensively after a solid game against Michigan State. Home field advantage will help, too. Notre Dame 24, Oklahoma 20

LOUWAGIE – Sooners stay undefeated. Oklahoma 34, Notre Dame 23

GRAY – A superior Sooners team somehow lost to the Fighting Irish last season. Defense will lead to reversal. Oklahoma 27, Notre Dame 20