Michigan State might be on a bye this week, but data and Vegas never sleep. In the interim, I consider it my mission to provide analysis and some potentially dubious betting suggestions.

This is some lighter fare this week. I personally am very interested in the Oregon/Ohio State game, of course, but the Penn State/USC game has almost equal importance in the Big Ten race.

As for betting, my big pick this week was FIU to cover over Liberty. I did not realize that the game was Tuesday night until I was literally writing the draft of this article last night. I got the pick correct, though!

In any event, grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy a little Bad Batting Advice.

As we celebrate Tom Izzo's homecoming to Northern Michigan, let's remember we have
his buddy Steve Mariucci to thank for ending Izzo's football career and setting him on
an eventual path to MSU.

I first posted this story a couple years ago on my website.

Double-duty Izzo and the day Mariucci nixed his college football career - Tom Shanahan Report


Follow me on Twitter @shanny4055

Michigan State will open its season at reigning Big Ten and National Champion Penn State on Friday, Jan. 10.

Maryland comes to East Lansing on Sunday, Jan. 12

Indiana on Friday Jan. 24 and Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 26 are next up, both at home.

February opens with a road trip to Northwestern on Friday, Feb. 7 and then at Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 9.

A road match at Rutgers comes on Valentine's Day, Friday, Feb. 14, before a home match against Michigan awaits on Sunday, Feb. 16.

The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will take place over two days with the first-round, quarterfinal, semifinal, and wrestleback matches taking place during Sessions I and II, consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches during Session III, and the first-, third-, and fifth-place matches highlighting Session IV.

Times and television designations will be announced at a later date.