Hey, you made it! Welcome to the final week of the regular season.
It’s been a fun ride hasn’t it? We’ve seen titans fall and rise again, new contenders enter the ring and the Huskies stumble time and time again in their final season in the Mid-American Conference. Yet somehow, we still don’t know where Lane Kiffin will coach next season.
However, we *do* know that our relatively qualified sports writers (somewhat) banded together to pick the victors for five notable matchups on the Week 14 slate. So maybe check them out, yeah?
Kent State @ NIU
11 a.m. CT | Friday, Nov. 28 | CBS Sports Network
Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor (37-28): NIU — In order to leave the MAC with any ounce of dignity left, the Golden Flashes have to be defeated.
Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter (44-21): Kent State — This is the epitome of a win-win scenario for me. Either I get another correct pick or NIU pulls out a victory for my last game on the beat.
Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter (44-21): NIU — Kent State is a horrible, sorry excuse for a football program. They may be good at almost every other sport, but football is the one sport they are horrible at.
Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter (33-32): Kent State — Are we done doing this yet?
Eric Avila, Sports Reporter (40-25): NIU — It’s my last game as an undergraduate here at NIU, so I want to go out with a win.
Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter (39-26): NIU — Terrible team vs terrible team, perfect formula for a Huskie win.
Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter (29-23): NIU — Kent State’s strength of schedule has been respectable going up against No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 8 Oklahoma but with no real fight. NIU did put Ball State away comfortably 21-7 while Kent State lost to them so I’ll go with that.
No. 1 Ohio State @ No. 18 Michigan
11 a.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 29 | FOX
Schaefer: Ohio State — I don’t like Ohio State, but I really, really despise Michigan. I will never root for the Wolverines to win anything, ever.
Kisellus: Ohio State — There’s simply no way Michigan wins “The Game” five years in a row, especially against such an overpowered Buckeyes team.
Segreti: Ohio State — I hate Michigan. You could pay me billions of dollars to pick them to win this game and I still wouldn’t.
Valenti: Michigan — I realize that Ohio State will likely win, but I still strongly dislike the state of Ohio. Michigan is a superior midwestern state.
Avila: Ohio — The Ohio State University.
Whittington: Michigan — Despite being the de facto underdogs, I have the Wolverines winning this one. Their run game is the reasoning behind every upset they’ve had and I expect no different in this game.
Naranjo: Ohio State — Michigan usually matches up versus OSU on the ground but this Buckeyes’ defense is just as good as their offense. If Ohio State can dominate early, they should finally be able to beat their kryptonite.
Western Kentucky @ Jacksonville State
1 p.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 29 | ESPN+
Schaefer: Jacksonville State — Jacksonville State appears to have the greatest offense, so I’m going against my mascot rule here. Sorry Hilltoppers, I’m rolling with the Gamecocks.
Kisellus: Western Kentucky — I’ll be honest, neither of these teams’ résumés are all that impressive. A tie here would be hilarious, but the rules dictate someone has to win. That said, I’ll ride with Big Red.
Segreti: Jacksonville State — I don’t have much of a reason to pick Jacksonville State other than the fact that Skyler picked against them.
Valenti: Jacksonville State — Jacksonville is having a Hall of Fame Weekend thing at this game, I guess, and losing would probably embarrass the… inductees? Hall of Famers?
Avila: Jacksonville State — My high school principal was named Ms. Jackson so that’s my reason for this pick.
Whittington: Jacksonville State — Jacksonville has a really good offense so I expect them to advance to the conference championship.
Naranjo: Jacksonville State — The Gamecocks have won 5 of their last 6 and their offense has been consistently scoring over 30 points, gimme Jax State.
Troy @ Southern Miss
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 29 | ESPN+
Schaefer: Southern Miss — I really have nothing here, but I lowkey forgot Troy was a school so we’ll go with Southern Miss.
Kisellus: Southern Miss — Welcome, one and all, to the “Who Gets to Lose to James Madison Next Week” game! In one corner, we have the school that beat NIU’s mighty(?) women’s basketball team. In the other, the team I regularly forget about when playing Sporcle quizzes about FBS teams.
Segreti: Southern Miss — The Golden Eagles are at home, have a better turnover margin, and a better redzone offense, according to my dad, Charles Segreti so clearly Southern Miss is going to win.
Valenti: Southern Miss — Both of these teams are 7-4, but I think the Golden Eagles have a better offense. Strong emphasis on I think.
Avila: Southern Miss — Everyone else has picked them so I’m taking them as well.
Whittington: Southern Miss — I don’t really have a reason to pick either team here so I’m picking Southern Miss because Eric picked them.
Naranjo: Troy — Everyone else picked Southern Miss so I just want to look smart if Troy wins.
Northwestern @ No. 21 Illinois
6:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Nov. 29 | FOX
Schaefer: Illinois — I don’t think there’s a word that means “child of an alum”, but if there was one, that’s what I am to Illinois. And a proud one at that. The Illini should have a chip on their shoulder after getting absolutely embarrassed by Wisconsin last week, so I fear Northwestern is going down.
Kisellus: Illinois — Ethan Hampton’s mere presence in the stadium will propel the mighty Fighting Illini to a resounding win over their in-state Big Ten rival.
Segreti: Illinois — Illinois lost to an extremely inferior Wisconsin team last week but Northwestern should be a much easier game for the Illini this weekend.
Valenti: Illinois — Listen, purple is my favorite color, but I’m pretty sure that Northwestern did something mean to Tulane earlier this season. I don’t like rude football teams, so Illinois it is.
Avila: Illinois — I live in Illinois, so I’m picking Illinois.
Whittington: Illinois — As Skyler previously stated, Ethan Hampton will guide this team to the promised land.
Naranjo: Illinois — Northwestern is in decent form, they put up a decent fight against No. 18 Michigan two weeks ago and just sneaked out a win against Minnesota so Illinois should take this seriously. Considering the Fighting Illini just got embarrassed by Wisconsin, I think they will get the job done.
