College football Week 14 picks: Nebraska vs. Iowa, Kansas State vs. Iowa State, Minnesota vs. Wisconsin

The Gazette’s Pick ‘Ems for Week 14 of the college football season including a crucial home finale for Iowa State against Kansas State and Iowa’s Black Friday game against Nebraska.

Nebraska (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) at Iowa (7-4, 5-3)

6:30 p.m. Friday (NBC)

Line: Iowa -4.5

Mike Hlas (2-1, 26-13) — A passing of the torch here might not be totally unwelcome given the temperature during the game. Nebraska 21, Iowa 20

John Steppe (3-0, 29-10) — During this Thanksgiving season, I’m thankful for heated press boxes. Iowa 21, Nebraska 20

Jeff Johnson (2-1, 28-11) — Looks like it’s gonna be a low of 10 degrees Friday night for this one. I’ll be on my couch watching it in my living room, where the temperature will be 68. Iowa 21, Nebraska 20

Rob Gray (3-0, 29-10) — The Cornhuskers already are guaranteed to go bowling for the first time since 2016 and the program that used to routinely fire coaches for leading the team to mere nine-win seasons is giddy about the prospect. The Hawkeyes, of course, don’t care, but injuries and opt outs will make this game interesting. Iowa 28, Nebraska 27

Beth Malicki (3-0, 29-10) — This Thanksgiving weekend is especially lovely because my husband’s brother’s family brought their dog, Daisy. I am living my dream of being a dog owner and letting her jump on all the furniture and sleep in our bed, because it’s temporary. Iowa 28, Nebraska 24

Todd Brommelkamp (3-0, 28-11) — I can’t think of a more fitting end to an uninspiring season than a loss to Nebraska in the season finale, but I can’t bring myself to pull the trigger. Iowa 17, Nebraska 14

No. 24 Kansas State (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) at No. 18 Iowa State (9-2, 6-2)

6:30 p.m. Saturday (FOX)

Line: Iowa State -2.5

Hlas — The only thing that can persuade me to spend three hours at night this weekend sitting outside in Iowa is you. (And you can’t.) Kansas State 24, Iowa State 21

Steppe — Apparently there are nine different Big 12 teams with a chance to make it to the conference championship game. That’s also roughly how many helpings I’ll have of my aunt’s really good Thanksgiving appetizer. Iowa State 30, Kansas State 27

Johnson — Sorry, Cyclones fans. Kansas State 28, Iowa State 27

Gray — Last season, a snowstorm engulfed Manhattan and Abu Sama dashed through it, leading the Cyclones to victory. Saturday night, it will simply be cold as heck — and who knows what will happen. Iowa State 38, Kansas State 35

Malicki — Yes, I did scrub a KCRG bathroom floor and the next day someone fell and broke her kneecap. These two things are not related. Correlation is not causation! Iowa State 21, Kansas State 17

Brommelkamp — The stakes have never been higher for one of the Big 12’s best rivalry games. Of course, I’m talking about Central Florida and Utah. Iowa State 28, Kansas State 27

Minnesota (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5)

11 a.m. Friday (CBS)

Line: Wisconsin -2

Hlas — The winner of this game receives Paul Bunyan’s Axe. Coincidentally, the winner of Friday’s Mumbai-Delhi game will claim Gandhi’s Chainsaw. Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 27

Steppe — Fun fact: Wisconsin hunters registered almost 50,000 turkeys this spring. Well, not such a fun fact for the turkeys. Wisconsin 17, Minnesota 14

Johnson — Wonder what Paul Chryst is up to these days. Just curious. Minnesota 20, Wisconsin 10

Gray — Paul Bunyan’s axe goes to the victor, but it will provide little solace to either team, given how their seasons have gone. The Badgers could miss a bowl game for the first time since the Barry Alvarez era. I refuse to entertain that possibility. Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 24

Malicki — I feel like I’m one of the few people who decorates for Thanksgiving and that decor doesn’t contain anything Christmas-like. It’s like I love to be stressed and lug stuff from the basement for the exercise. Wisconsin 24, Minnesota 20

Brommelkamp — Luke Fickell could have been the King of the Queen City had he remained at Cincinnati. Two years in, it doesn’t look like things are working for him in Madison. Minnesota 23, Wisconsin 21