1) Draper 37-14 (4-6 upset)
1) Seeberg 37-14 (1-9 upset)
3) Hoying 32-19 (1-9 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 32-19 (1-9 upset)
As Ramzy at Eleven Warriors so eloquently pointed out, The Grind is nearly at a close. Not just for Ohio State, but for the entire college football landscape. We've had a few clashes between heavyweights throughout the season, but next week is when the rubber really hits the road and the playoff field will really start to take shape. This week's slate should serve as a nice palate cleanser in the interim.
#6 Alabama Crimson Tide @ #22 Mississippi State Bulldogs
Draper: Welcome to Stark Vegas. Dak Prescott has been very good this year, but as the Bulldogs aren't undefeated, there has been very little discussion. Derrick Henry is the work horse that was fantastic last week vs. LSU. The question is: will they show up when the stage isn't nearly as big? As I said, MSU has been very good lately and is really clicking at the right time. The bad news is: so is Bama. Saban knows that the Tide cannot afford another hiccup (yes, even they can't survive another loss. Bama bell cow (Derrick Henry) > MSU cowbell. Bama: 27--MSU: 20
Hoying: OMG ALABAMA IS SO GOOD WHY ARE THEY NOT RANKED #1 YET???? Yes, Alabama had a great win last week But as Ole Miss showed a few weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, the Tide is mortal, and the Bulldogs catch the Tide at a dangerous time after a huge emotional win. MSU certainly can beat Alabama, but will they? The Tide have never been swept by the two Mississippi schools, and their combination of a solid power run game and stifling defense (that stuffed Leonard Fournette with 7 in the box). The Bulldogs will be motivated after their loss to the Tide last season, and Dak Prescott is still quite good, but it won't be enough. Don't be surprised if Alabama jumps off the top of the rankings completely next week. Bama: 24--MSU: 23
Schweinfurth: I am like a lot of people who said the Saban dynasty is over. I still believe this to be true on a national stage. However, the Crimson Tide still look to be the kings of the SEC. Lane Kiffin finally realized he has a beast and Derrick Henry. The Tide will ride that horse as far has he will carry them. Bama: 42--MSU: 13
Seeberg: OK, disclaimer time: I picked LSU last week over 'Bama on the (so-far correct by all accounts) assumption that Lane Kiffin would be too cutesy in his play-calling to just give the damn ball to Derrick Henry and get the heck out of the way. 38 carries and a 2-TD win later, I will not be picking against the Tide again until such time as Lane Kiffin forgets to just give the damn ball to Derrick Henry. It really is just that simple. Bama: 31--MSU: 20
#17 Memphis Tigers @ #17 Houston Cougars
Draper: Memphis finally hit the stumbling block at a terrible time (chop-block-o-clock). Teams have a tendency to collapse the week after facing an option offense. I could certainly see the same here, but I'm not sure about Tom Herman's boys. They're undefeated, yet completely untested. The schedule is simply poo. That, of course, is not the team and/or Herman's fault, but the best wins are vs. 5-4 Cincinnati and 5-4 Louisville (and both were 3 points games). Memphis's schedule isn't appreciably better, but Navy and Ole Miss are much better squads. I'm gonna roll with Justin Fuente to ensure the Group of Five is 'defeated'. Mem: 31--Hou: 24
Hoying: What could've been the biggest mid-major showdown since Boise State - TCU back in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl was ruined by Navy and their cut blocking voodoo. Houston's done their part, blowing out awful awful opponents before nearly succumbing to a decent Cincinnati team last week. Memphis will be the best team the Cougars have faced, but playing Navy takes a lot out of a team (ask a squad a little closer to home how the following week goes). Tom Herman continues to build his resume toward a big boy job. Mem: 31--Hou: 41
Schweinfurth: The Houston Cougars and Touchdown Tom Herman look almost like Ohio State South. Memphis was exposed a little bit against a run heavy offense last week against Navy. Between that and the Navy "body blow" theory, I'll take the Cougs at home. Mem: 27--Hou: 35
Seeberg: Navy's victory over Memphis last week certainly took some luster away from this game, but it's still a huge one in the Group of 5 Race for
#17 Oklahoma Sooners @ #5 Baylor Bears
Draper: This game is very very interesting. Last week, we saw the chink in the Bear armor as the freshman QB was simply not at the level of Sean Russell. KSU was annihilated by Oklahoma in Manhattan but the Cats almost pulled of the upset vs. Briles' squad. Baylor (like Houston) has feasted on the Little Sisters of the Poor. OU has played a decent amount of crap as well, but the win at Tennessee was a nice gut check win. I know the Sooners can rise up on the road, but can Baylor rally? Baylor presses on the big stage. BOOMER!!.... OU: 52--Baylor: 40
Hoying: Has Baylor been exposed? KSU used all its wizard magic blowing a giant lead against TCU, and Baylor still struggled to put them away. The passing game is still working with true freshman Jarrett Stidham, but they're not the juggernaut they were with Russell slinging the ball. A true freshman hasn't led a team to a national title since Jamelle Holieway did it for...Oklahoma, back in 1985. On the other sideline, Oklahoma seems to be peaking at the right time, though this will be by far their biggest test. The Sooners are equal to the task, and Oklahoma State leaves the weekend as the Big 12's One True Playoff Hope. OU: 42--Bay: 38
Schweinfurth: Baylor has play no one this year and has yet to really be tested. Kansas State showed the blueprint on how to slow down the Bear offense. The difference between Oklahoma and K-State is talent. Oklahoma also has the guns to put up points with Baylor. OU: 52--Bay: 35
Seeberg: Only two things you need to know about this game: Baylor squeaked by Kansas State in Manhattan last week 31-24 with their shiny new backup QB. Oklahoma dismantled KSU so badly (55-0, also in Manhattan) that head coach Bill Snyder wrote a letter of apology to the Wildcats' fan base. Oklahoma is finally running the ball more, primarily with Samaje Perine, and quite frankly I might've picked the Sooners even with a healthy Seth Russell at QB for Baylor. At least we won't have to hear Art Briles whining any more about how lowly his team is ranked due to playing glorified high school teams in their out-of-conference slate. Boomer Sooner rolls out of Texas 9-1 and squarely in the CFP hunt. OU: 48--Bay: 38
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Illinois Fighting Illini
Draper: The Bucks are finishing with the appetizer and preparing for the meat. Last week allowed the team to fight through a little adversity with Mr. Barrett not in the wings looking to save them. Now it's time to get everything firing on all cylinders. Let's start the pain train a week early. The Illini put it on Purdue last week...but OSU is no Purdue. There is the questions of the 'wind tunnel' in Champaign, but does it matter? I think this is a game to refine the ground game, improve the blocking, and get back into the read option game. Zeke and JT each rush for 150+ and JT also throws for 150+. The nice thing is that whenever JT returns, he seems to have never missed a beat. Another get in, work on a few things, win, and go home. OSU: 48--Ill:10
Hoying: As odd as it seems, losing JT for the Minnesota game might have helped the Buckeyes a bit. There's not much danger of a letdown coming from behind center; it seems like every time JT steps onto the field, he's completely rust-proof. And the excitement of him returning to the starting job might be the spark this team needs to avert what could be the trap game of trap games. Make no mistake, this is a good Illinois football team that can run the ball nearly as well as the Bucks when their star RB Josh Ferguson is on the field. Ohio State is still much, much better, though, and as long as they stay focused, they should bring The Grind to a satisfying conclusion and put themselves in prime position to begin The Chase anew. OSU: 49--Ill: 13
Seeberg: J.T. is back...again. Last time these two met in Champaign it was an unbelievably entertaining game I was fortunate enough to take in in person. A huge 47-14 Buckeye lead suddenly became 47-35...until the offense came back from hiatus and the final was 60-35. I wouldn't expect quite so many points this week (particularly from Illinois- although they did light up Purdue last week), but a similarly comfortable win, hopefully without the 4th-quarter mini-scare. Hyde destroyed the Illini two years ago, look for a big day from Zeke to get him creeping up in the Heisman talk. OSU: 49--Ill: 17
Upset Special
Draper: Washington State over UCLA
Hoying: Indiana over Michigan
Schweinfurth: Arkansas over LSU
Seeberg: NC State over Florida State
