Last year was the first time that the Big Ten Championship Game was played in Detroit, and it featured the Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers. That being said, October 27th is going to be the first time that these two teams end up sharing the field together, and it might be a game with the same level of importance. Depending upon how the rest of the Big Ten schedule goes, this third meeting between these squads in the last 12 months might be the first of two meetings this year. The two could very reasonably meet again in the Big Ten Championship Game, but it is going to take a lot of work for both squads. This is a great matchup for our NCAA football picks, and it is deservingly the No. 16 game on our countdown on the Top 25 games in 2012.

Michigan State Spartans @ Wisconsin Badgers Picks & Info
Michigan State Spartans @ Wisconsin Badgers Date: Saturday, October 27th
Michigan State Spartans @ Wisconsin Badgers Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
Michigan State Spartans @ Wisconsin Badgers Spread: Wisconsin Badgers -5

This is going to be the biggest test in the Big Ten season for QB Andrew Maxwell. We have already spoken about Maxwell as the new thing in East Lansing, and he and a very new crop of receivers will now have a bunch of games under their belts before having to go to Camp Randall. Maxwell knows that he is going to have to use his arms and his legs to be able to beat the Badgers, who always have one of the best and most ferocious defenses in the Big Ten, and in the country as a whole. Sparty is going to be counting on its defense as well, knowing that this unit returns so many big time starters like DE William Gholston, who might be one of the best pass rushers in the land. Against what could be a very raw Wisconsin passing attack, Gholston might really be able to be the difference maker.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Wisconsin Badgers Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: Wisconsin 42 – Michigan State 39 (Big Ten Championship Game)
2011: Michigan State 37 – Wisconsin 31
2010: Michigan State 34 – Wisconsin 24
2009: Wisconsin 38 – Michigan State 30
2008: Michigan State 25 – Wisconsin 24
2007: Wisconsin 37 – Michigan State 34
2004: Michigan State 49 – Wisconsin 14
2003: Wisconsin 56 – Michigan State 21
2002: Wisconsin 42 – Michigan State 24
2001: Michigan State 42 – Wisconsin 28
2000: Wisconsin 17 – Michigan State 10
1999: Wisconsin 40 – Michigan State 10
1996: Michigan State 30 – Wisconsin 13
1995: Wisconsin 45 – Michigan State 14

Wisconsin won the first Big Ten Championship Game last year, and it is making a habit out of making it to the Rose Bowl. Two straight appearances in the Rose Bowl is something that the Badgers have gotten used to, but they are going to be aspiring for even more this year. RB Montee Ball was a Heisman Trophy finalist last year, and he is going to be a huge back once again with three of his five offensive linemen returning. The difference is the passing game. QB Russell Wilson was a godsend last year for the program, but now, it is up to QB Joe Brennan to get the job done. Brennan might struggle early in the year, but the schedule is relatively easy to start. Hopefully that gives him the confidence that he is going to need to be able to hang in the pocket against the Michigan State pass rush.

Michigan State @ Wisconsin Free Picks^^: Last year, we saw Michigan State figure out how to win on the final play of the game against Wisconsin. The Badgers were the better team in that first game, and we think that they proved it the second time around in the Big Ten title game as well. Now could be the time that Wisconsin really shows that it is the better of these two teams once and for all. We just don’t see how the Spartans are going to be able to go on the road and win this one. The point spread should be at least seven in our eyes, so we are taking the Badgers.

^^Disclaimer: Our college football picks by our sports blog writers are independent of those from our Expert NCAA Football Handicappers. All NCAA football odds and lines in our Top 25 are from the month of August, and those lines could and likely will change by the time the game kicks off.

You won’t want to miss our Michigan State @ Wisconsin picks when our expert college football handicappers have them posted on the week of 10/27/12.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish haven’t had all the luck in the world of late against the state of Michigan, losing three games in absolutely heartbreaking fashion on the road against these two main teams in the state. That being said, they are going to have another shot of beating the college football betting odds early in the season against the Michigan Wolverines, one of teams that has the potential to be in the Top 10 in the land. This should be a great battle between two top notch offenses, and we look forward to making our college football picks for this duel in South Bend.

Michigan Wolverines @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Picks & Info
Michigan Wolverines @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Date: Saturday, September 22nd
Michigan Wolverines @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Michigan Wolverines @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Spread: Notre Dame Fighting Irish -2.5

The Wolverines know that this might be the make or break point of their season, and that’s definitely something that cannot be underestimated. One would like to figure that they are going to be 0-1 after taking on Alabama in the first week of the season, and this could be the difference between being 3-1 and ranked in the Top 10 or Top 15 in the land and being 2-2 and having zero chance of doing anything more than going to the Rose Bowl this season. QB Denard Robinson has had some simply awesome games against the Fighting Irish over the course of the last two years, including leading that tremendous comeback that won the first ever night game played in the Big House a season ago. He’s got a lot of his offensive weapons back, namely WR Roy Roundtree and RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. Roundtree only had one catch against Notre Dame last year, but it went for 16 yards and the game-winning touchdown with just two seconds left to play.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: Michigan35 – Notre Dame 31
2010: Michigan 28 – Notre Dame 24
2009: Michigan 38 – Notre Dame 34
2008: Notre Dame 35 – Michigan 17
2007: Michigan 38 – Notre Dame 0
2006: Michigan 47 – Notre Dame 21
2005: Notre Dame 17 – Michigan 10
2004: Notre Dame 28 – Michigan 20
2003: Michigan 38 – Notre Dame 0
2002: Notre Dame 25 – Michigan 23
1999: Michigan 26 – Notre Dame 22
1998: Notre Dame 36 – Michigan 20
1996: Michigan 21 – Notre Dame 14

This is the type of game that Notre Dame really badly has to win this year. There have just been too many losses like this over the course of the last few years, and the possibility is there that this could be a brutal start to the season. Remember that a game in Dublin against Navy isn’t all that easy, and a home game seven days later against Purdue could be dangerous. Then add in a game in East Lansing… Could the Irish really drop to 0-4 with this one? It’s not likely, but even dropping to 2-2 could be brutal with games still to play on the road against Oklahoma and Southern Cal. But still, the offense has the potential to be dangerous against a Michigan defense that really likely overachieved last year. TE Tyler Eifert should have a heck of a season, and this might be his showcase game. QB Tommy Rees and QB Andrew Hendrix might both end up coming into play this game, but whichever one is under center could play and have the chance to play well.

Michigan @ Notre Dame Free Picks^^: Still, we are really wondering why the Golden Domers are favored in this game. Notre Dame has lost three in a row in this series, and yes, we know that that is a motivating factor to come out even stronger. That being said, we think that Michigan has the potential to be a Top 15 team in the land this year. The Fighting Irish just don’t in our eyes. Take any points that you can get on your side now, knowing that the opinion of Michigan can really only improve if its plays well against Alabama, while Notre Dame’s can only get worse if it loses a game that no one thinks that it should lose against Navy or Purdue.

^^Note: These college football picks are independent of the picks of our Expert NCAA Football Handicappers. These NCAA football picks are made as of 8/12/12, though we will keep the college football matchup page updated for this clash on the week of the game.

When the Michigan @ Notre Dame odds are on the board on the week of 9/22, we will have our college football picks that you won’t want to miss!