Back when this site was in its infancy, AlmaOtter was doing the Lord's work, constructing what is an absolute haven for us miscreants while still allowing me to – and I'm being frank – get paid a pittance that didn't remotely cover my monthly student loan payment while keeping the lights "on" at OTE.
He asked me to write here if and when I wanted, which was very gracious of him.
As I would never dare be in breach of contract with SBNation – particularly after OTR published information about their completely botched handling of the rollout of some dumbfucking SBN "feature" and my old manager then spend about two weeks emailing me incessantly because what was important was not actually the health of a clearly-failing website, it was finding out who had mildly embarrassed a low-middle manager of a small wing of an absolutely-failing sports media company AND how much we knew about a free, independent, non-journalistic blog that now suddenly and apparently represented an existential threat to a site (Off Tackle Empire) that SBNation had spent 16 years actively ignoring at best, tuning-in-only-to-reprimand-for-some-minor-perceived-infraction-related-to-the-fiction-that-we-were-journalists at worst.
Hey, Beth: everything.
Anyway, some totally groovy guy and/or gal named PerpetuallyAggrievedWildcat kept my seat warm while I was tending my other garden; I assume they're off to Wahalla – by which I mean Walhalla Township, Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota, where I certainly have never been but who is to say if PAW has.
Rest easy, big cat.
Anyway, the point of this was nothing related to that rambling mess, the thesis of which was "Everything about the deline of SBNation is even fucking dumber than you can imagine," and more "I was allegedly able to log into a site that only really existed in the worlds of AlmaOtter and the couple other OTE writers who'd made their way here. But I did have a login.
The problem was remembering it.
As I am an idiot, I never bookmarked it. I just kind of rely on things showing up in my Google history and going "Oh yeah, that."
Well, I didn't remember that our editing platform is called "Ghost" and typing in "off tackle republic" didn't do shit for me because it's clearly hyphenated in the URL. So my "just Google wildly" method didn't work.
Finally, one day, like the PhD-holding genius that I am, I remembered I'd gotten an activation email AND, for a while, update emails on when a new member would join. Those came from "Ghost". I clicked one sure user registration page, and it brought me to an admin login page! I was behind the wall! GREAT!
It was for longtime reader/user Bobby Fischer's page. (Thanks for reading, Bobby.)
Well, friends, now that I did that once, whenever I want to go to my admin login page, I type "Ghost", and what comes up is that URL.
I don't know the last time I've seen the OTR dashboard – and, frankly, what do I care? it's AlmaOtter's circus, and he's a helluva lot more capable of running it than I am.
But I can tell you, friends, down to the second that Bobby's been here or logged in.
And it's just nice to know people still read this trash.
Like you, the fool who just read 600 words on absolutely goddamn nothing.
TO THE GAMES!
About Last Week
Thoughts
- We were collectively over .500 again! (barely) glassjawed's stellar 8-1 week and misdreavus's almost-as-good 7-2 did the work.
- 14 pickers in week 9. 12 of them went 6-3 straight up. That has to be a consistency record. glassjawed only went 5-4, despite his gaudy ATS result, which is supposed to be harder. Thumpasaurus didn't understand the email.
- RUready4Brazil takes the lead in the straight-up standings at .766, knocking AlmaOtter down to second at .761. He does this by strategically not showing up. Hats off, RUready.
Picks
Friday, November 6
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Illinois Fighting Illini
7pm | FOX | Nebraska -4.5 | O/U: 49.5
ATS: Illinois 12-3 | Straight Up: Illinois 11-4
BRT: There is just no reason to pick cursed Nebraska right now.
IUinVA: I can see Bert feasting on the opportunity when Nebraska, inevitably, Nebraskas.
Thumpasaurus: This game will go one of two ways. Nebraska will either blow Illinois out or lose narrowly. -4.5 is a deeply silly line for this reason. I’m very torn on this one but I’m leaning towards Illinois not getting blown out, which means that Nebraska will find a way to lose. Illinois has been fighting through some bad starts and doing damage in the second half.
Transient Buckeye: If Nebraska couldn’t pull it out at home against Washington at home last week, I have difficulty seeing how they’re going to go on the road and get the “W” against Illinois. Illini win and cover.
misdreavus79: If the game were at home, maybe. But on the road, I don’t see how Nebraska wins. Illinois 20, Nebraska 17
RockyMtnBlue: I’ve been picking Nebraska and it hasn’t been working out. So I offer the following as a service to BRT and DeadRead. Illinois 24-21
MNW: I will not go against BRT's advice ever again. Illini, 26-23. How? Who gives a shit, you math nerds. Leave it alone.
Saturday, November 7
(5) UCLA Bruins @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
11am | FOX | UCLA -5.5 | O/U: 39.5
ATS: UCLA 9-6 | Straight Up: UCLA 10-5
BRT: UCLA should win, but maybe it will be really cold?
IUinVA: UCLA may be due for a close one, but I’ll ride the hot hand and stay on the Chesney express.
Thumpasaurus: We now think UCLA is the best team in the B1G. That’s a death sentence for that team. Minnesota wins this one. There are no good teams in this conference.
Transient Buckeye: I, for one, welcome our new West Coast overlords! Bruins win and cover.
misdreavus79: Minnesota continues its win-lose-win-lose system, takes out another ranked team at home.
RockyMtnBlue: It’s weirdly and confusingly dangerous to pick against Minnesota this year, especially at home. Yet here I am. UCLA 20-13
MNW: Chesney's great, apparently. No disrespect there.
It's just that I've figured out what's all happening this year: The Big Ten is just a dogshit conference.
That's no one's fault, per se (and caring about the conference's health is fucking stupid anyway, I will die on my myopic hill that (1) Northwestern's results and (2) your team losing are all that matters to me). It's bad luck, though, if you care about the conference's results, that arguably two of its three biggest stars (Dante Moore and Julian Sayin) are hurt. That's meant Oregon is mediocre and Ohio State is learning how other schools being able to pay their backups to come there might be disadvantageous to them.
Add to that that Indiana is a fraud (Hoover sucks and play someone, you chuds) and UCLA is a West Coast school not named "USC in the 2000s", and there is no one in this conference that should be Top 10. It's an "Iowa loses inexplicably* to Michigan State in the B1GCCG" kind of year.
* Until you remember that Iowa team was a complete fucking fraud, too, and before you remember the absolute hilarity that was Sparty in the CFP.
All this is to say: the Bruins are losing at some point, and I hope it's to a Big Ten West cockroach like PJ Fleck. Gophers, 15-12, as Drake Lindsey goes 8/19 for 47 yards and 2 INTs and Darius Taylor runs...for the locker room with a pulled hamstring after racking up 8 yards on 7 carries.
Maryland Terrapins @ Purdue Boilermakers
11:30am | BTN | Purdue -6.5 | O/U: 57.5
ATS: Purdue 12-3 | Straight Up: All Purdue
glass: A convergence of shitty terrible football teams that often leads to can’t miss TV. All the makings of a vintage black label disaster that could end 58-54 or 10-6. Also Purdue’s last chance at winning another game in 2026.
BRT: A true sicko game. But I think Purdue had their heads on a bit straighter.
IUinVA: I’ll just say Purdue, but I have no idea.
Thumpasaurus: Without the echoing canyons of Maryland’s empty stadium to distract them, Purdue covers this spread. The Dead Coach Bounce game already happened and the UMD defense was better, but not good enough.
Transient Buckeye: Is it possible for both teams to lose? I don’t think it is. That means I have to pick someone to win? Ugh. Fine. Boilermakers win and cover. But I don’t like this pick one little bit.
misdreavus79: The dead cat bounced, but just a little. Purdue 33, Maryland 20
RockyMtnBlue: Looking forward to watching this one. Both of these teams are more fun than good. Purdue is better, but I think Maryland will continue to benefit from the coaching change. Purdue 28-24
MNW: Absolutely no one cares except our inexplicably 15 Purdue writers. Boilers, 28-21.
Oregon Ducks @ (11) Ohio State Buckeyes
2:30pm | CBS | Ohio State -7 | O/U: 46.5
ATS: Ohio State 9-6 | Straight Up: Ohio State 14-1
BRT: OSU is mad, and still talented enough for that to matter a bit.
IUinVA: Ohio Stadium is a miserable place. Buckeyes win comfortably.
Thumpasaurus: Is Collin Dixon better than Jeremiah Smith? Which one can Oregon contain better? Find out on Saturday!
Transient Buckeye: No. This has been today’s edition of “Simple Answers to Silly Questions.” Whether OSU will be able to get Smith the ball is a better question. I think they will enough to get the win, but the Ducks will come away with the cover.
misdreavus79: I’m going to assume Ohio State’s bottom isn’t going to completely fall out, and I need Oregon to keep stacking losses to complete the 2025 Penn State transformation. Ohio State 17, Oregon 7
RockyMtnBlue: Ok, I know OSU isn’t looking quite like the Death Star of old without Sayin, but it’s still Ohio State. It’s still in the shoe. And Oregon isn’t very good. 7pt spread seems silly. Ohio State 31-17
MNW: Dylan Raiola stinks, whoever Ohio State trots out stinks, this turns into shitty "defensive" football in the way that Iowa-Minnesota football was "defensive" football – because none of these shits-for-brains actually know how to play "offense". OSU, 18-15.
Penn State Nittany Lions @ Washington Huskies
2:30pm | FS1 | Washington -2.5 | O/U: 44.5
ATS: Washington 12-3 | Straight Up: Samesies
BRT: Think PSU will grab this one. Washington isn't good in spite of winning last week, they just played a hexed team. (I also realize PSU isn't good. None of our teams are good this year.)
IUinVA: Washington at home.
Thumpasaurus: This one just screams “home team.” No compelling evidence has been produced that Penn State is any good, so I’ll go Home Washington here.
Transient Buckeye: Penn State got their first win of the Big Ten season last weekend. So that means they’re on the verge of turning their season around, right? No. Huskies win and cover.
misdreavus79: If the running game was more than just “it was Purdue”, I can see it happening. Penn State 23, Washington 21
RockyMtnBlue: This one is confusing, as both of these teams were terribad earlier, and both are showing the signs of improvement I was hoping from my team. Still. Seattle has never been an easy place to win as a visitor. Washington 21-17
MNW: I genuinely don't remember a single thing about Penn State, save that Northwestern allegedly ran for 5,000 yards on the Nittany Lions. That has possibly colored my picks of their games this year.
Weirdly, I don't think Washington runs it especially well, so that's a dumb choice, but whatever, we're rolling. Hard to win out west. Huskies, 20-17.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Wisconsin Badgers
3:15pm | BTN | Wisconsin -17.5 | O/U: 46.5
ATS: Wisconsin 8-7 | Straight Up: All Wisconsin
BRT: Rutgers comes close again, but fails.
IUinVA: This is the type of game where Wisconsin puts up a number that fools people into thinking that they’re good.
Thumpasaurus: Greustr hung in there without Duff or Lonergan, which surprised the hell out of me. Feels like a one time thing though.
Transient Buckeye: I think the Badgers will win. They are at home. But I’m supposed to believe that a team that scored less than I did last weekend is going to cover 17.5, even against Rutgers’ shitty defense? Not buying it. Wisconsin wins, Rutgers covers.
misdreavus79: If they can beat USC at home, they can beat Rutgers at home. Wisconsin 28, Rutgers 10
RockyMtnBlue: I see Duff is doubtful this week. Still. 17.5 seems too much. Wisconsin 34-17.
MNW: Duff's doubtful and Rutgers's quarterbacks are so. fucking. terrible. badgers, 27-7.
(21) Iowa Hawkeyes @ Northwestern Wildcats
6:30pm | FOX | Northwestern -2.5 | O/U: 45.5
ATS: Iowa 8-7 | Straight Up: Ditto
BRT: Grossly intrigued by this. Give me the Cats, but I'm not shocked either way.
IUinVA: Hmm, the unranked team is favored against the #19 ranked team. I’ll go with the favorite.
Thumpasaurus: Savvy move by Nern knowing this game was a big one to back out of the spotlight with a loss to Oregon. This will take some pressure off and allow them to win. Iowa’s just got too many wins with too few games left in the season.
Transient Buckeye: Here we have this week’s classic Big Ten West rock fight. When in doubt, go with the home team. ‘Cats win and cover, though I am sorely tempted to middle this.
misdreavus79: I don’t know. Northwestern 10, Iowa 3
RockyMtnBlue: This game could be fun. I’d enjoy watching it if I weren’t planning to avoid TVs in this timeslot with all my might. Northwestern 27-24
MNW: This isn't going to be particularly close.
[Note: I do at least feel Thump's sentiment: most year's I'd be – at least privately – tapping my nose and saying "A very flawed ranked Iowa, at Northwestern," and laughed at how those dumb pricks love to pat themselves on the back for filling Ryan Field then bitch about getting marketing emails for having bought tickets to...well, Ryan Field. If you cornlards hadn't gotten your shit mostly together at the ballot box I'd have told you how I really feel, you cob-sniffing, pig-fucking rubes.]
Iowa can play physical football. Northwestern, I believe, cannot do that for 60 minutes as presently constituted. This injury report – both ways, admittedly – is an absolute fucking trainwreck:
The Chiles bit was a particular shock for 'Cats fans: no one appears to know what's going on, save for "He took some hard hits against Oregon," and if his mobility is limited against Iowa's defense...uh...
Regardless: Northwestern has not had a bye since Week 2 and was just out in Eugene, where they could not get off the field on defense late in the game. (Same goes, for what it's worth, for their loss to Indiana.) The wear and tear of a season is gonna catch up to an already-thin 'Cats defense, and Iowa is the kind of team – as shown just last week – that will take immense pleasure in leaning on you over and over and over (then bitching that you weren't sufficiently pliant in allowing them to do so with absolutely no consequence to themselves). Hawkeyes, 27-7.
Michigan State Spartans @ Michigan Wolverines
6:30pm | Peacock | Michigan -13.5 | O/U: 39.5
ATS: Sparty 7-6 | Straight Up: Michigan 13-2
BRT: Picked Michigan out of habit, but totally here for it if MSU decides to unleash some hilarity.
IUinVA: Michigan returns from last week’s offensive explosion to a disgusting rock fight, where they’re more comfortable. I would advise against watching this game. Michigan 16, Michigan State 12.
Thumpasaurus: Here in southwest Michigan, nobody is even talking about this game. It’s gonna be ugly. The best unit on the field is the Michigan defense so I think they’ll win the kind of deeply stupid game MSU has made into an art form here in 2026.
Transient Buckeye: Here we have this week’s classic Big Ten West rock fight. When in doubt, go with the home team. Michigan wins, but the Spartans get the cover.
misdreavus79: I’ll believe Michigan covers as a favorite when I see it. Michigan 17, Michigan State 14
RockyMtnBlue: Both of these programs are terrible right now. One of them understands it’s a rivalry. Michigan State 16-11
MNW: No thanks. Fightin' AESes, 20-6.
Too Cowardly To Play
Indiana
USC
IUinVA: Thank god.
MNW: Yeah, finally a week where Indiana doesn't have to play a real team. We never see that Weeks 1-3.
glass: If USC wins in Bloomington next week, there is an absolutely incredible set of (plausible!) circumstances still in play where the Big10 season ends in a 7 way tie for first. It would only be fitting that the participants in the last CCG ever be decided in the dumbest way possible. Cast the die, Trojans!
misdreavus79: 7-way tie it is then!
RockyMtnBlue: Cowards!
