The picks

Northwestern at Iowa

MARC MOREHOUSE - I think I have the perfect defense against Kain Colter: a net, dynamite and pole vaulting. Iowa 28, Northwestern 24

MIKE HLAS - You always hear football coaches say their teams need to play for 60 minutes. But games are three hours long. Something doesn't add up. Iowa 24, Northwestern 20

SCOTT DOCHTERMAN - If Kain is able, would that make the first murder a suicide? Iowa 27, Northwestern 24

SCOTT SAVILLE - Should be an entertaining football game. Both teams are hungry for a win. Hawks at home and the injuries to Venric Mark and Kain Colter are the difference makers. If Colter plays how effective will he be? Iowa 31, Northwestern 27

BETH MALICKI - For everyone over the age of 30, be grateful. We went to college without Twitter. Northwestern 27, Iowa 24

BOB BROOKS - Today's a day Iowa starts its roll to a bowl game. It's also payback time against the 'Cats. Iowa 28, Northwestern 10

NICK PUGLIESE – Wildcats are a walking M*A*S*H unit so there's no way Hawkeyes lose. Is there? Iowa 28, Northwestern 24

J.R. OGDEN – Something tells me today will be Iowa's day. Iowa 28, Northwestern 17

JEFF JOHNSON – The march to the Who Cares Bowl goes on. Iowa 24, Northwestern 14

JEREMIAH DAVIS – The Hawkeyes have lost two in a row, but played really well in a 10-point loss to the No. 4 team in the country. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have taken a “nosedive” (hat tip to Marc Morehouse) and their best player in Kain Colter is hurting. Iowa 24, Northwestern 17

SAM LOUWAGIE – If Mark and Colter were healthy, I would pick Northwestern. Iowa 27, Northwestern 20

ROB GRAY – These 'Cats lack some bite, given running back Venric Mark's injury. They do force turnovers (17) and give them up (13). Iowa 30, Northwestern 24

Oklahoma State at Iowa State

MOREHOUSE - Iowa State has erased the No. 71 from the alphabet. OSU 49, ISU 21

HLAS - If I ever met Oklahoma State benefactor T. Boone Pickens, I'd only ask him for $250,000. Because people ask him for millions all the time, and that gets old fast. OSU 42, ISU 28

DOCHTERMAN - I gave the Cyclones the benefit of the doubt last week. Yowza. OSU 55, ISU 14

SAVILLE - No magic against the Cowboys this time in Ames. OSU 38, ISU 20

MALICKI - After paying for Netflix for two years without using it, I finally figured the service out. Six straight hours of “Orange is the new Black” later, my life has not improved. OSU 34, ISU 24

BROOKS - The sting of the Baylor game will give Oklahoma State the win today. Cowboys certainly have payback on their mind. OSU 24, ISU 14

PUGLIESE –--- Don't see many miracles in Ames this season. OSU 31, ISU 21

OGDEN – ISU usually pulls off a big upset. Not this year, I'm afraid. OSU 42, ISU 35

JOHNSON – Every Fantasy Football owner wishes their players could play against the Cyclones each week. OSU 39, ISU 26

DAVIS – The Cyclones haven't followed up a terrible loss with another under Coach Paul Rhoads, but also have only followed one up with an upset once (2010, a win at Texas after a 52-0 loss to Oklahoma). ISU plays better, but it's still a lost season. OSU 34, ISU 21

LOUWAGIE –Wheels are falling off in Ames. OSU 28, ISU 24

GRAY – The Cowboys should go with J.W. Walsh at quarterback, but might not. He totaled 461 yards of offense vs. ISU last season. OSU 28, ISU 17

Nebraska at Minnesota

MOREHOUSE - To me, this is the Iron Range against Carhenge. Nebraska 33, Minnesota 17

HLAS - I'm giving kids saltines for Halloween. If they're lucky, one of my neighbors will hand out aerosol cheese. Nebraska 38, Minnesota 28

DOCHTERMAN - The

Gophers used to regularly beat Nebraska. Gas used to cost 10 cents a gallon, too. Nebraska 41, Minnesota 28

SAVILLE - Big Red has too much talent for the Gophers. Nebraska 34, Minnesota 27

MALICKI - Look for purple in the stands of this game as the Gophers raise awareness about epilepsy. Pretty cool in my book. Nebraska 28, Minnesota 17

BROOKS - Nebraska gets its quarterback back and an improving defense will give Gophers more than they want. Nebraska 31, Minnesota 21PUGLIESE – Cornhuskers seem to be revived after early-season woes. Nebraska 35, Minnesota 20

OGDEN – Minnesota looked great last week. But that was last week. Nebraska 45, Minnesota 17

JOHNSON – Haven't heard Bo Pelini's off-the-record rant for a couple weeks. Need to find it again. Nebraska 24, Minnesota 17

DAVIS – The Gophers may be coming off a road win at Northwestern, but that may have just been a case of the right opponent at the right time. Minnesota covers the 10-point spread, but Nebraska takes its win streak to four. Nebraska 30, Minnesota 21

LOUWAGIE – Gophers don't build on Northwestern win. Nebraska 20, Minnesota 12

GRAY – Just for the sheer potential, if unlikely, bleeped-out entertainment value ... I'll go Minnesota 28, Nebraska 27