Week 11 Picks: Relax and Recover (these games are terrible)

Standings
1) Schweinfurth  34-7   (5-5 upset)
2) Hoying           29-12  (3-7 upset)
3) Draper            28-13  (3-7 upset)
4) Auer               23-14  (1-8 upset)

 Oregon State Beavers @ Stanford Cardinal
Draper: These two teams are tough to figure out. Both have nice records (and extremely similar), but little substance in the mediocre Pac12.  Stanford is tough at home, but the Beavs have been finding ways to win.  Common logic says give the home team the advantage in a tight matchup, but I'm bucking logic.  Oregon State gets their QB Cody Vaz back which I say tips the scales and earns a huge road win.  Oregon is running away and hiding in the Pac12-North, but this fight for second may be for a BCS bid.  OSU: 20--Stan: 17
Auer: Honest to God, no clue here. Both teams have been up and down, and there's not much "home field advantage" to speak of in the Pac-12. Stanford has faced a bit tougher competition this season, so I'll give them the edge. OSU: 28--Stan: 31
Hoying: Stanford kicks off its murderer's row to end the season with a visit from perhaps the surprise team of the year.  Whoever wins stays hot on Oregon's heels, and the Ducks face both teams down the stretch.  Oregon State is having a very nice season behind a decent defense and not much else.  Beaver QB Sean Mannion is ready to go, but he hasn't seen action in a month other than a disastrous performance against Washington.  Can the backup Cody Vaz pull off the big road win?  Perhaps, if this game were in Corvallis, I'd believe the Beaver Fever, but this is Stanford's time.  OSU: 17--Stan:24
Schweinfurth: Oregon State has been a really good story this year.  Wideout Brandin Cooks is fast and the defense has played very well this year.  Stanford has looked good in a few losses this year, but the Cardinal clearly miss both Luck and Harbaugh. Still, I like the Cardinal in a close one. OSU: 17--Stan: 20

Texas A&M Aggies @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Bama showed some flaws in the tough environment last week, and the Aggies have been nothing but explosive in recent memory.  That being said, the Tide return to home and, I say, get back on the dominating track.  Johnny Manziel is fantastic, but the Bama D is ready to step back into the spotlight.  I think the Aggie freshman is entering a whole new world of hurt.  Bama may be beaten up, but their defense has a new found chip on their shoulder.  Tide rolls. TAMU: 16--Bama: 30
Auer: For whatever reason, Alabama has struggled when put up against a mobile QB. In fact, the last two losses came at the hands of mobile QB's (Newton & Jefferson). A&M is coming off a big win at Mississippi State and will be playing their tenth straight game of the year. Even with the Tide's potential "hangover" after the big win at LSU, the Aggies do not have what it takes to beat a team of Alabama's caliber. Aggies lose this one, BIG. TAMU: 17--Bama: 41
Hoying: Let me get this straight: Alabama craps all over the field for 28 minutes in the second half, then LSU sends in the prevent defense and the Tide are suddenly invincible?  This team clearly showed they are not 2001 Miami or 1995 Nebraska.  They are beatable.  A&M has the offense to make Alabama sweat a little.  Remember, this team had LSU in a bad way before blowing it down the stretch.  However, this is the last game Nick Saban has to prepare for until the SEC Championship game (no, Auburn).  I can feel his anger.  It makes him strong, gives him focus.  Only his hatred can destroy the Aggies.  TAMU: 22--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: The Aggies have to be catching Bama at the best time.  The Tide are more than likely mentally and physically drained after the big win at LSU.  McCarron is showing that he can more than manage an offense.  I still don't trust the Aggies defense, but Manziel and the A&M offense can move the ball.  LSU showed the Alabama defense isn't bullet proof.  Alabama is the better team and the talent will overcome an early game letdown. TAMU: 19--Bama: 24


Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Mississippi State is taking a beating after back to back games @ Bama and vs. TAMU...now it's off to a very angry Death Valley.  Uh oh.  Zach Mettenberger played the game of his life against the Tide and I don't think he has another game like that in him...even though MSU is a hoax.  The LSU D will shut the dogs down and probably even get a score.  Shouldn't be close.  MSU: 10--LSU: 31
Auer: The Bulldogs have plummeted quickly after starting the season 7-0, and losing the last two by a combined score of 76-20... ouch. LSU is a very good squad and showed it last week against the nation's top team. This is one hangover upset I believe in. MSU finds their groove against a deflated LSU squad. MSU: 19--LSU: 17
Hoying: Ah, here we have LSU playing what is essentially Boise State.  2 games against real teams, 2 blowout losses.  Wait, I take that back.  Boise State doesn't get blown out when it loses to good teams.  I'm already bored writing this.  MSU: 0--LSU: 20
Schweinfurth: The Tigers seem to win in spite of Miles.  Last week proved this to be true. Miles just continues to make dumb decisions at the absolutely wrong times.  With that said, the Bulldogs are ranked solely on an easy, early season schedule.  MSU: 13--LSU: 31


Northwestern Wildcats @ Michigan Wolverines
Draper: Poor Michigan...that whole 'we don't need Denard Robinson because our defense and other stars can step up' thing may work against Minnesota, but Pat Fitzgerald is licking his chops to go after this busted up team.  Northwestern is looking for that signature win so they can claim they are one of the big boys (always seems to happen when they don't play OSU).  Kain Colter will 'Denard' Michigan in the Big House to remind the world that the Wolverines aren't 'back'. NW: 38--UM: 34
Auer: Michigan sucks. The Wildcats are chomping at the bit to make another statement... but what statement is that? We can beat bad teams that were overrated to start the season? Either way, maybe they can hurt a few more guys and help out the Buckeyes in a couple weeks. NW: 41--UM: 28
Hoying:  Remember when Ohio State didn't have a quarterback?  Michigan is in danger of sucking that bad without Denard.  Yeah, Gardner carved up Minnesota, but we could do that with Draper at QB, Auer and Schweinfurth at WR, and me as the entire OL.  Meanwhile, Northwestern decided not to suck this year, just a couple of 4th quarter breakdowns away from being undefeated.  Michigan still probably has the better team overall, but I don't think they're yet equipped to handle their disastrous QB situation (and probably won't be for the rest of the season).  A big 'Cat win (along with a Husker win over Penn State) virtually seals the Legers (Leadends?) division for Nebraska.  NW: 27--UM: 21
Schweinfuth: This is a tricky one.  First off, who would have thought that Northwestern would be the ranked team here?  Also, how is Denard's throwing arm?  Denard is the more exciting runner but Gardner can actually pass.  Either way, this game should be a shootout as both defenses are a bit watered down.  This game is big for both teams in case Nebraska falters.  I'm smelling some points on the board with this game. NU: 35--Mich: 42


Upset Special
Draper: Iowa State over Texas
Auer: California over Oregon
Hoying: Arizona State over USC
Schweinfurth: TCU over K-State

Rankings and Heisman Ballots (Post Week 10)

Heisman Ballots
Draper
1) Collin Klein (QB--Kansas State)
2) Kenjon Barner (RB--Oregon)
3) Braxton Miller (QB--Ohio State)
I have dropped Manti Te'o after carefully examining his statistics.  He has not particularly stood out from other LBs upon closer inspection.  He's an exceptional player, but the hype is largely due to the Domer faithful and the 'best player on a contending team' argument.

Hoying
1) Collin Klein (QB--Kansas State)
2) Kenjon Barner (RB--Oregon)
3) Braxton Miller (QB--Ohio State)
Draper said it all before I could.

Schweinfurth
1) Collin Klein (QB--Kansas State)
2) Kenjon Barner (RB--Oregon)
3) Braxton Miller (QB--Ohio State)


Top 25 Rankings
Draper
1. Bama
2. Kansas State
3. Oregon
4. Notre Dame
5. Ohio State
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. LSU
9. Florida
10. Louisville
11. Oregon State
12. Clemson
13. South Carolina
14. Texas A&M
15. Oklahoma
16. Nebraska
17. Stanford
18. UCLA
19. LA Tech
20. Toledo
21. Texas
22. Northwestern
23. Kent State
24. Rutgers
 25. Texas Tech

Hoying

1. Alabama
2. Kansas State
3. Notre Dame
4. Oregon
5. Ohio State
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Florida State
9. Louisville
10. Oregon State
11. LSU
12. South Carolina
13. Clemson
14. Texas A&M
15. Oklahoma
16. Stanford
17. UCLA
18. Nebraska
19. Louisiana Tech
20. Toledo
21. Kent State
22. Rutgers
23. Texas
24. Ohio
25. Northwestern

Schweinfurth

1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Kansas State
4. Notre Dame
5. Ohio State
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Florida
9. Clemson
10. Louisville
11. LSU
12. Oregon State
13. South Carolina
14. Oregon State
15. Texas A&M
16. Oklahoma
17. Stanford
18. UCLA
19. Nebraska
20. Texas
21. Rutgers
22. Northwestern
23. Louisiana Tech
24. Toledo
25. Mississippi State


  

Grading the Bucks: Illinois

Short post this week.  Summary: Illinois sucks and the Buckeyes did what they were supposed to.

Offense: A
Not much to nitpick here.  Braxton is improving, Hyde has been a bulldozer, and we finally did what we should have to an inferior opponent.  I'm loving the running game.  Passing looked better, but the opponent sucks.  Braxton gives plays that show you the amazing potential...and then the converse 'duh' moments.  Not many 'duh' moments this weekend.  Let's hope he keeps it up.  The receivers really need to step up.  Stoneburner has been a real disappointment this year.  Outside of 1 deep TD vs. PSU, I haven't been impressed.  Smith has shown moments of brilliance followed by killer drops.  Passing game needs work, but 52 points in a rout makes me happy.

Defense: B+
The only reason I'm avoiding the A is the number of points surrendered.  That being said, I really liked what I saw.  Shazier is playing like a man possessed, Roby is shutting the opposition down, and Boren is stepping it up.  Christian Bryant is regressing back into the 'blow em up' tackling and missing which is very concerning.  Undisciplined play is a concern with the penalties, but most of those penalties were ridiculous.  I love the attack mentality we're starting to see with the defense.  Again, let's hope it continues against a real opponent.

Special Teams: C
The downgrade here is purely with respect to the kickoff coverage.  Maybe it's brought to the forefront when we score more points because we kickoff more, but we're giving up good starting field position on kickoff returns.  I'm starting to wonder why Basil doesn't bury the kickoffs in the endzone.  The piranhas are starting to get out of their lanes and miss tackles.  Kicking was nice, but I really get nervous on punt and kick coverage now.

Coaching: B
Eh...nothing special, but no problem.  No beefs, but nothing to 'wow' me.

Overall: B+/A-
Nice to win in a rout (1st time since Nebraska or Miami).  Room for improvement, but definite strides forward after the last month of questionable play.