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
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