Hlastradamus picks Illinois-Iowa and more college football games

Hlastradamus looks at Earth and doesn’t understand.

There shouldn’t be so much division, so much hatred, so much strife. Everyone should be happy and better off than they were three months ago, because he has given them 26 winners against the spread in 44 games.

That’s 59 percent. You can live well on 59 percent. You can change your life on 59 percent. So heed the prophet this week and start changing your life. Believe Hlastradamus when you read this: You need this.

Illinois +12.5 at Iowa

It’s Game 11. Teams are who they are.

The Hawkeyes aren’t suddenly going to become the Kansas City Chiefs on offense. They’ll win this game by grinding it out, just like they did against Minnesota and Northwestern the two weeks before this.

Illinois may not fire a shot offensively. Its passing game is dreadful. But it can run the ball and get enough first downs to keep Iowa’s defense on the field for half the game. And the Illini’s defense has been good overall, terrific at times.

If you’d have told Hlastradamus in August that he’d be picking Illinois with only 12.5 points at Iowa in November, you know what he would have said?

“Of course I know that. I see the future.”

Iowa State +3.5 at Oklahoma

The seer doesn’t want to ruin the suspenseful ending for you, but let’s just say a tie is broken on the final play by a 62-yard field goal.

Ohio State -19 vs. Michigan State

This is insane. Michigan State is 8-1. How would it lose by 19 points to anyone, especially with a head coach who is getting a 10-year contract extension for a billion dollars a year?

The answer is that MSU isn’t going to stop the Buckeyes from scoring, scoring, scoring.

Ohio State gets 49 points. How can Michigan State get 31 and cover?

Wisconsin -9.5 vs. Nebraska

The Badgers have allowed an average of 7.3 points over their last six games. They are silencing opponents, brutalizing them with their defense.

Hlastradamus doesn’t understand the respect from the oddsmakers for 3-7 Nebraska in this game. He knows the Huskers are 6-4 against the spread, but this is going into Madison against a defense that has no mercy.

Don’t waste your autumn praying in vain for a savior to rise from these streets, Huskers. Because when it comes to Wisconsin playing Nebraska, there’s just a meanness in this world.

Rutgers +17 at Penn State

Rutgers is 5-5, having fun not being terrible for a change.

Penn State is 6-4, not having fun being out of the discussion for anything meaningful after being ranked No. 4 in the nation in the first part of October.

Go with the fun bunch against the mopes, especially when 17 points are being offered.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com