Hlastradamus: Back on target and taking Hawkeyes, Cyclones

The Hlastradamus you know, love, and fear with every fiber of your being returned last week.

The prophet was very prophetic, going 4-1 against the Nevada oddsmakers. (We'll not discuss his 9-10-1 season record.) Two of the underdogs he picked, Iowa and Rutgers, won outright. This is why you should be sending him gifts for his gifts to you. But do you ever do that? No.

Hlastradamus does and does and he does for you kids, and this is the thanks he gets!

Anyway, here are this week's winners.

Iowa -9.5 at Purdue: The line opened at 13.5 at Wynn Las Vegas, which has yet to give Hlastradamus comps for all the mentions here over the years. He does and does and does for Wynn Las Vegas, and this is the thanks he gets!

Iowa State +21

vs. Baylor: OK, Baylor has the nation's No. 1 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring defense. That adds up to the leanest, meanest fighting machine in college football history. If, that is, the opponents aren't SMU, Northwestern State and Buffalo. The Cyclones have spent their first few weeks playing actual football teams.

Illinois +19

at Nebraska: The Illini haven't won in Lincoln since 1924, which seems odd, since Illinois bills itself as the Land of Lincoln. Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt has passed for 1,237 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games. The Illini lost by 20 at Lincoln last year. With Lunt, they have to be two points better than that, don't they?

Cincinnati +15

at Ohio State: The public is slower to catch on than the prophet. Cincinnati is 31-10 since the start of 2011 season, and this game is as deeply meaningful to the Bearcats as any they'll ever play. The Buckeyes will be pretty good by the time Thanksgiving weekend has arrived, but does this look like Thanksgiving weekend to you? There's no cranberry sauce in sight.

Maryland +4

at Indiana: It's Maryland's Big Ten-opener, and who better for it to play than someone it hasn't faced since 1935 in an atmosphere that is one of the league's least-intimidating? Fear the Turtle, at least until it plays Ohio State next week.