Hlastradamus has ridden Hawkeyes hard lately, but is it time to dismount?

Week after week. College football has been setting them up, and Hlastradamus has been knocking them down.

Yet again last week, the prophet succinctly told you what to do regarding Iowa and Iowa State. If you did it, you’re quietly thankful. Because you sure didn’t try to contact the seer to sing his praises, let alone forward a gratuity.

At some point, how about a little something for the effort?

The seer has called the last four Iowa games correctly, the failure to cover a huge number at Ohio State, the cover against Northwestern, the cover against Purdue, the cover against Wisconsin. Here comes No. 5.

Iowa +2.5 at Minnesota

The Gophers are favorites against Iowa. That isn’t an every-year deal. The Gophers winning against the Hawkeyes hasn’t been an any-year deal since 2014.

The Gophers can’t throw. You saw what happened last week when Wisconsin’s less-than-balanced offense tried to move the ball on Iowa. It didn’t take.

Minnesota shoved Iowa into last year’s Big Ten title game when it beat Wisconsin on the season’s final day. It will push the Hawkeyes back toward Indianapolis Saturday by not pushing Iowa’s defense around.

Hlastradamus has ridden the Hawkeyes hard the last three weeks, and they’ve gotten him to the pay window every time. Now is not the time to hop off the horse.

Iowa State -3.5 vs. Texas Tech

The Cyclones have allowed 60 fewer points in Big 12 play than any of the nine other teams. They are in last place. That would be an impossibility were it not a fact.

On a Saturday night on the frigid prairie, Texas Tech will wonder what life is all about. Is this what the Red Raiders signed on for, to play a night game in Iowa on Nov. 19 with c-c-c-collllllld weather you never experience in Lubbock, not to mention Gunter, Katy, Bushland or Humble?

Great teams survive mental obstacles like fear of frostbite. Mediocre ones can’t wait to get on the bus to the airplane to their home, and hide under a pile of blankets. Texas Tech, which is vying to land in an Armed Forces or Guaranteed Rate bowl, may subconsciously want to avoid such tripe.

Other picks Hlastradamus encourages:

Michigan -18 vs. Illinois

Purdue -18.5 vs. Northwestern

Nebraska +12.5 vs. Wisconsin

And … World Cup opening matches:

Sunday:

England -280 vs. Iran

England had Beckham. That dude could bend it.

Has Iran had a Beckham? Hlastradamus thinks not.

Monday:

USA +160 vs. Wales.

Wales? Its population is 3 million. The U.S.’ is 331 million. Thus, the Americans should be 110 times better, and they only need to be one goal better.

Do the math!