Week 12 Showdown: Will Huskers Use Their Bye Week to Turn the Tide?

The countdown is on—just a couple of weeks remain in this whirlwind football season, and if you blink, you might just miss the drama unfolding on and off the field . I swear, it feels like the calendar’s been racing ahead while we’re busy stewing about politics and skipping out on the endless parade of SEC showdowns on ESPN. But hey, the Huskers have thrown a curveball by sealing a bowl berth early, sparking debates about who’ll snag the warmer destinations—Vegas or Nashville, Phoenix or Charlotte? Meanwhile, the bye weeks are giving fans and families alike a much-needed breather (and, in some cases, more time dodging messy diapers). From the battle at Wrigley Field to the Land Grant Trophy clash and beyond, each game comes with its own flavor of anticipation, disappointment, and just a touch of chaos. Buckle up, folks—it’s all unfolding fast and furious. LEARN MORE

Mike: Just two more weeks in the football season.

Jon: It always goes so fast. It even goes faster when you’re not watching ESPN because you’re pissed off at Disney and you don’t watch all those SEC games every weekend.

Jill: There’s more than two weeks left – the Huskers decided to lock down a bowl game ‘early’ this year!

Andy: Fun bye week thought – sounds like the Huskers have pretty much locked up a warmer bowl game with the 7th win – Vegas, Nashville, Phoenix, Charlotte sound like contenders with a Florida game still in play. What does that have to do with the picks? Nothing. Just no more winter in NYC, please.

Jarek: I could use the bye week, even fans need a breather. Plus that means I can spend more time getting pooped on by my kids.

Michigan (-11.5) vs. Northwestern at Wrigley Field

Mike: I’d kind of like to see Nebraska get to play football at Wrigley. I know they are trying to plan an outdoor volleyball game at Wrigley next summer/fall, but I can’t imagine NW wants to divert events away from their shiny new stadium once it opens. NU does travel to the Windy City to play NW in 2027. As for this one… meh. Weasels 27, Wildcats 13

Jon: I’d like to see Northwestern rock fight their way into a win here. It’s not going to happen. But it could. If it did, it would make this day much more interesting, and I could laugh at Michigan. And who doesn’t want to do that? Northwestern 21, Michigan 20

Jill: Sigh. Michigan is good-ish. Northwestern is not. Michigan 28 Northwestern 13

Andy: Justice Haynes sounds doubtful and Michigan hasn’t exactly been piling up points. Northwestern’s offense is sort of like if other slightly better offenses had injury problems. Michigan should win this battle of Cheaters vs. Perverts but they won’t run away with it. Weasels 20 GrabAss 16

Jarek: Northwestern can play a decent team tough enough, our game against them should serve as exhibit A. I think this one is a little closer than we think. Michigan 27 Northwestern 24

_{^{Land Grant Trophy}}Penn State (-7.5) at Michigan State

Mike: Two teams stuck in neutral, so why the heck did CBS pick THIS game for the prime timeslot? If Penn State wins, and next week’s Husker game at State Penn probably gets a prime pick: Fox’s Big 11 AM, CBS late afternoon or an NBC primetime white-out. A PSU loss eliminates the preseason playoff darling from any bowl. Go figure; I think Sparty has more to look forward here; I think the way they lost last week might lead to a hangover. Sparty 24, Nitts 20

Jon: Penn State’s loss last week to Indiana had to suck whatever life they had out of them. It will be worth watching part of this game at least to discover whether or not that’s true. I can’t believe a team with a defense as talented as Penn State is will allow themselves to lose another game this season. Penn State 24, Michigan State 21

Jill: I hate everything about this game. Spartans 4 Nittany Lions 2

Andy: Here’s something to care about in this game – one of these teams will emerge with a conference win, a quest in which their combined efforts thus far are 0-12. There is nothing else.

Jarek: The selfish person in me definitely wants Penn State to win so we can crush their bowl hopes next week. Sparty has seemingly lost its identity. I think I get the front half of my wish. Penn State 31 Michigan State 20

Maryland (+14.5) at Illinois

Mike: The Terps six game losing streak goes to seven. Illinois 30, Turtles 13

Jon: Do you remember when Chris Ash was the coach at Rutgers, and every time you saw him on the sidelines, he looked like the saddest human being on earth? Mike Locksley at Maryland has that same look on his face now every week. I wonder if he’s going to have to coach there for the rest of his life. Kind of like being stuck on Tubi in those commercials. Illinois 38, Terps 10

Jill: November Maryland is only getting started. Illini 40 Terps 16

Andy: Jim Brockmire once noticed some recently acquired overweight members of the Morristown Frackers batting in order and remarked, “Fat guys have been a part of this game from the beginning. Babe Ruth himself, the very greatest of the greats, was also a big, fat piece of shit, so a wonderful bit of history we are looking at here.” I dunno, this match-up made me think of that.

Jarek: Maryland acts like a first half team…of the season that is. If you read that again in Foghorn Leghorn’s voice, I thank you. Bert loves to eat turtle… probably. Illinois 37 Maryland 24

Iowa (+6.5) at Southern Cal

Mike: Iowa’s offense actually isn’t nearly as bad as it looked in September. But they can’t compete with the Trojans. Trojans 38, Squawkeyes 28

Jon: This game interests me. Iowa has to travel to California, a place where they’ve historically been terrible. Did you know that Iowa has won the Rose Bowl twice, in 1957 and then in 1959? I tried to ask AI how many losses Iowa has had all time in California, and it would not give me a straight answer. But they have beaten USC twice decades ago. It will be fun to watch the Hawkeyes rock fight against the Trojans on their own field. I think USC just has more offense. USC 31, Iowegians 21

Jill: Iowa will make this one interesting because they seem to have figured out where the end zone is. They will always play competent defense and special teams. USC will be able to hold their own. Trojans 27 Hawkeyes 19

Andy: I’ve enjoyed watching Iowa fans this week reacting predictably to being dragged by USC as the west coasters have figured out how hyper-sensitive Hawkeye followers are to…well…everything. It would be fun to observe their visiting fans navigating LA by repeatedly crossing streets when confronted with a city population made up approximately by 72% minorities. The game? Their offense is still shit. USC 27 Bitter Pale Folk 19

Jarek: Do Iowans even know where California is on a map? On second thought, do they know what a map is? Iowa beat USC in the 50’s…so Kirk’s second year as coach. USC wins… barely. USC 27 Iowa 24

Purdue (+16.5) at Washington

Mike: The downside of conference expansion is games like… this. Huskies 35, Boilers 14

Jon: It’s basketball season. Nobody will be watching this game, not even people from Purdue. Washington 42, Purdue 14

Jill: This game is happening? Huskies 44 Boilers 24

Andy: Sweet blabbering Jeebus, I’m so glad we’re not part of this Stripes-level train-wreck masquerading as the Week 12 Big 10 slate.

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Jarek: Remember when I said Washington was good and then they promptly lost to Wisconsin? Yeah thanks you ass hats. I will say it again, Washington is not that bad of a football team. Washington 37 Purdue 17