Standings:
1.) Hoying 15-5 (1-4 upset)
2.) Seeberg 14-6 (1-4 upset)
2.) Draper 14-6 (1-4 upset)
4.) Schweinfurth 13-7 (1-4 upset)
As the saying goes, they can't all be bangers. After a September chock full of top-level matchups, this week provides a bit of a palate cleanser before a sick two-week run of season-defining showdowns. But any time the Bucks take the field, and TCUN have a better-than-average shot at taking another L, we're here for it.
Missouri Tigers @ Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: While we enter the week of 'meh', there are a couple of interesting games (even if not great ones). The intrigue here is finding some data on the questions 'Is Missouri ready for the next step?' and 'Will TAMU ever be for-real good?' The Aggies have been nothing but predictable in their faceplants (see every game over the past 10 years when they were expected to make the leap), but Mizzou has really struggled this year. Kyle Field may have goofy cheerleaders but it's an intimidating place to play. I'm not buying that the Tigers are here to stay. Gimme the home team. Mizzou: 20--TAMU: 24
Hoying: Top ten (?) Missouri visits ranked (??) Texas A&M. In the future, we won't need the AP top 25 anymore; we'll just take the top 13 SEC teams and shuffle them into the top 12 of the B1G and call it a day. Credit the Tigers for making it out of September unscathed but skating by Boston College and SEC Rutgers (go Dores) in back-to-back games isn't going to move the needle for me. On the home side, it hasn't been too long since Florida vs. A&M was billed as the battle for the SEC basement, and all the Aggies have done since winning that pillow fight is squeeze by Bowling Green and skate by Arkansas on a 4th quarter go-ahead TD. All of Jed Clampett's Texas Tea NIL couldn't buy A&M a serviceable QB this year, and the defense has only been OK. This is another game in which both teams are just begging to get tagged after lackluster play, and this time I think the reversion bug catches up to...A&M. That pedestrian offense just isn't going to get it done again the Tigers (don't ask me how I know). Mizzou: 20--TAMU: 16
Schweinfurth: I don't know what to think about TAMU. They were ranked pretty high coming in, but I can't shake the thought that they were way overrated. This Mizzou team isn't the same one that beat up on a helpless Ohio State team last year, but I still think they are decent. In reality, this feels like two overrated SEC teams battling it out. I'll go with my gut and say Mizzou here. Mizzou: 21--TAMU: 10
Seeberg: Mediocre slate this week but boy is next week a doozy. Oddly, Missouri is probably a slightly better Notre Dame. We all know how that went for the Aggies. I wouldn't expect them to muster too many points in this one either, certainly not enough to win. Mizzou: 24--TAMU: 13
Hoying: Top ten (?) Missouri visits ranked (??) Texas A&M. In the future, we won't need the AP top 25 anymore; we'll just take the top 13 SEC teams and shuffle them into the top 12 of the B1G and call it a day. Credit the Tigers for making it out of September unscathed but skating by Boston College and SEC Rutgers (go Dores) in back-to-back games isn't going to move the needle for me. On the home side, it hasn't been too long since Florida vs. A&M was billed as the battle for the SEC basement, and all the Aggies have done since winning that pillow fight is squeeze by Bowling Green and skate by Arkansas on a 4th quarter go-ahead TD. All of Jed Clampett's Texas Tea NIL couldn't buy A&M a serviceable QB this year, and the defense has only been OK. This is another game in which both teams are just begging to get tagged after lackluster play, and this time I think the reversion bug catches up to...A&M. That pedestrian offense just isn't going to get it done again the Tigers (don't ask me how I know). Mizzou: 20--TAMU: 16
Schweinfurth: I don't know what to think about TAMU. They were ranked pretty high coming in, but I can't shake the thought that they were way overrated. This Mizzou team isn't the same one that beat up on a helpless Ohio State team last year, but I still think they are decent. In reality, this feels like two overrated SEC teams battling it out. I'll go with my gut and say Mizzou here. Mizzou: 21--TAMU: 10
Seeberg: Mediocre slate this week but boy is next week a doozy. Oddly, Missouri is probably a slightly better Notre Dame. We all know how that went for the Aggies. I wouldn't expect them to muster too many points in this one either, certainly not enough to win. Mizzou: 24--TAMU: 13
Michigan Wolverines @ Washington Huskies
Draper: I don't know....I just have no idea what to make of TTUN. Washington is a complete shell of the 2023 version, but UM is essentially the same....without a QB or WR... The ineptitude on offense is painful on the maize and blue sideline, but they keep finding a way for Kalel to transform into superman a few times a game. The Wolverines are inefficient, bland, boring, and predictable on offense....but the defense can hold it down. I'm honestly shocked that the Huskies are favored in this game despite the failures on the offensive side for TTUN, but I just don't know how they're going to score points. The Seattle crowd needs to be a factor to bring the revenge tour out of the Huskies, but I don't think they can do it. It's going to be gross, low scoring, and boring, but one big play makes the difference.....they can't keep getting away with this... UM: 13--UW: 10
Hoying: You can ask me how far a team can go without a functional offense. I can tell you that I came of age during the early Tressel years (which included 2 BCS bowl wins and a National Championship) and have watched with fascination and slight intestinal discomfort as Iowa has racked up 10-win seasons under Ferentz again and again and again. Sometimes, when you're an elite program, you can just rely on a great player to make a great play, whether it's on offense (Kalel Mullings against USC), defense (Will Johnson against...USC), or special teams (props to whoever baited that Minnesota gunner to pretend to be offsides on the onside kick). Of course, none of this would matter if the home team had maintained any kind of continuity from last year's title run, but losing a star QB, top WR, and practically the entire O-line hasn't worked out any better for Washington than their erstwhile national championship opponent. Amazingly, the Huskies appear to be the better team on paper, with the advanced stats and the bookies giving the home team a slight edge. But I've seen this movie too many times already. Michigan will get out to an early lead as its opponent somehow fails to gameplan for the total of 5 plays the Wolverine ground game is capable of executing, then the Wolverine D will start to break down in the second half before the maize and blue white knuckle out another unsatisfying victory. UM: 17--UW: 16
Schweinfurth: What kind of Houdini act did the Wolverinies pull last week? Get up to a lead and thenpay off the refs get lucky on an offside call. Orji cannot throw the ball downfield. That part of TUN's game does not exist this year. At. All. Washington can and will load up the box, I'm just no sure it will matter. The blue team figured out that Donovan Edwards isn't a lead back (hurray NCAA25 cover athlete!). This will be an ugly rock fight. UM: 7--UW: 6
Seeberg: The fact that unranked Washington is favored over (stifles a giggle) top 10 Michigan tells you all you need to know about how good the Wolverines actually are. Nonetheless, the Huskies are an even further cry from last year's playoff team than the maize and blue. This one won't be pretty, both stylistically and for the fact that UM will bleh to another win. Ugh. UM: 16--UW: 10
Hoying: You can ask me how far a team can go without a functional offense. I can tell you that I came of age during the early Tressel years (which included 2 BCS bowl wins and a National Championship) and have watched with fascination and slight intestinal discomfort as Iowa has racked up 10-win seasons under Ferentz again and again and again. Sometimes, when you're an elite program, you can just rely on a great player to make a great play, whether it's on offense (Kalel Mullings against USC), defense (Will Johnson against...USC), or special teams (props to whoever baited that Minnesota gunner to pretend to be offsides on the onside kick). Of course, none of this would matter if the home team had maintained any kind of continuity from last year's title run, but losing a star QB, top WR, and practically the entire O-line hasn't worked out any better for Washington than their erstwhile national championship opponent. Amazingly, the Huskies appear to be the better team on paper, with the advanced stats and the bookies giving the home team a slight edge. But I've seen this movie too many times already. Michigan will get out to an early lead as its opponent somehow fails to gameplan for the total of 5 plays the Wolverine ground game is capable of executing, then the Wolverine D will start to break down in the second half before the maize and blue white knuckle out another unsatisfying victory. UM: 17--UW: 16
Schweinfurth: What kind of Houdini act did the Wolverinies pull last week? Get up to a lead and then
Seeberg: The fact that unranked Washington is favored over (stifles a giggle) top 10 Michigan tells you all you need to know about how good the Wolverines actually are. Nonetheless, the Huskies are an even further cry from last year's playoff team than the maize and blue. This one won't be pretty, both stylistically and for the fact that UM will bleh to another win. Ugh. UM: 16--UW: 10
Iowa Hawkeyes @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Honestly, the line here surprised me as well. I don't really see the Hawkeyes staying close here. It's similar to the MSU game in that the defense is a step up from the first 3 weeks, but (outside of a horrendous pick by Howard), the Bucks went through the Spartans like *** through a goose. MAYBE Iowa's defense is better than MSU, but this isn't the stout Hawkeye defense that won games 6-4. Also, Cade McNamara inspires absolutely no fear in the Bullets. I expect a similar game to last week, but the Shoe will prevent the yips in the Scarlet and Gray. I can't see the Bullets giving up more than 14 nor can I see the offense being held in check for 60 minutes. 3 solid quarters by the 1s to put the game to bed then clean up the rest. Stay healthy. Iowa: 9--OSU: 38
Hoying: Finally, a trap game with some teeth. During Ryan Day's tenure, most of Ohio State's overmatched opponents haven't had a prayer of knocking off the scarlet and gray, because there was no advantage to exploit. This year's Hawkeyes, in contrast, have the running game to at least make the Silver Bullets sit up and pay attention. Ohio native RB Kaleb Johnson has been about as good as any running back not named Ashton Jeanty this season, which is good news for Iowa as their passing game still hasn't made it out of the Brian Ferentz era. There's a familiar face behind center for the Hawkeyes, and it's not the Spencer Petras who threw for 49 yards the last time Iowa came to Columbus. No, you know him, you hate him, it's Cade McNamara, the man who brought Ohio State's glorious streak in The Game to a close, and the unlikeliest QB to spur a program's return to greatness since Craig Krenzel. Cade wasn't lights-out in that 2021 abomination but he did drop a dime or two right over Denzel Burke's head, and I'm sure the 4-year veterans on this very experienced Buckeye defense haven't forgotten what the Cheat Weasels took from us on that day. He doesn't have the weapons around him that UM had back then, and I don't think Johnson is quite as good as Haskins or Corum, or even perhaps Tre or Quinshon. I think the Hawkeye D is a bit overrated this season, but even if they're just as good as the vaunted Buckeye defense, Iowa will be in bad shape. You can't cover Egbuka, and Smith, and Tate, and Judkins, and Henderson forever, which means that Iowa's only prayer is to fluster Howard as badly as they got to JT back in 2017 and then lead hard on Johnson to close it out. I don't see it happening. After allowing zero sacks against a bloodthirsty Spartan defense last week, the Buckeyes will be patient, let the offensive line set the tone, allow opportunities to develop, and then mercilessly exploit them for massive damage as the Buckeyes pull away in the second half. Iowa: 3--OSU: 31
Schweinfurth: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this one is closer than you think and then the Buckeye offense explodes. It just has that feel about it. Iowa has a very good defense, but they haven't played an offense as multiple and talented as this. I think they hold the Bucks to under 5 yards a carry, but the explosive plays make a difference. Defensively, I think Knowles turns up the heat. Iowa is TUN light with a good running game and a meh passing game. Really, this should go similar to last week. Iowa: 10--OSU: 38
Seeberg: This game has the feel of a "the natives are restless at halftime" tilt. The 'Shoe can get nervy if games are close through two quarters. The Hawkeyes can legitimately run it and legitimately stop the run. Jim Knowles' D has started slow in every game except Western Michigan, and time-consuming drives from Cade and Kaleb and Co. will shorten the game. Over four quarters, however, the Buckeyes have too much talent- only the Buckeyes can beat the Buckeyes in this one. Keep the ball, keep the penalties down, and the gray-clad home team should pull away to around the 18.5-point spread, setting the stage for a massive conference(?) contest next week: Ducks vs. Bucks. Iowa: 13--OSU: 31
Hoying: Finally, a trap game with some teeth. During Ryan Day's tenure, most of Ohio State's overmatched opponents haven't had a prayer of knocking off the scarlet and gray, because there was no advantage to exploit. This year's Hawkeyes, in contrast, have the running game to at least make the Silver Bullets sit up and pay attention. Ohio native RB Kaleb Johnson has been about as good as any running back not named Ashton Jeanty this season, which is good news for Iowa as their passing game still hasn't made it out of the Brian Ferentz era. There's a familiar face behind center for the Hawkeyes, and it's not the Spencer Petras who threw for 49 yards the last time Iowa came to Columbus. No, you know him, you hate him, it's Cade McNamara, the man who brought Ohio State's glorious streak in The Game to a close, and the unlikeliest QB to spur a program's return to greatness since Craig Krenzel. Cade wasn't lights-out in that 2021 abomination but he did drop a dime or two right over Denzel Burke's head, and I'm sure the 4-year veterans on this very experienced Buckeye defense haven't forgotten what the Cheat Weasels took from us on that day. He doesn't have the weapons around him that UM had back then, and I don't think Johnson is quite as good as Haskins or Corum, or even perhaps Tre or Quinshon. I think the Hawkeye D is a bit overrated this season, but even if they're just as good as the vaunted Buckeye defense, Iowa will be in bad shape. You can't cover Egbuka, and Smith, and Tate, and Judkins, and Henderson forever, which means that Iowa's only prayer is to fluster Howard as badly as they got to JT back in 2017 and then lead hard on Johnson to close it out. I don't see it happening. After allowing zero sacks against a bloodthirsty Spartan defense last week, the Buckeyes will be patient, let the offensive line set the tone, allow opportunities to develop, and then mercilessly exploit them for massive damage as the Buckeyes pull away in the second half. Iowa: 3--OSU: 31
Schweinfurth: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this one is closer than you think and then the Buckeye offense explodes. It just has that feel about it. Iowa has a very good defense, but they haven't played an offense as multiple and talented as this. I think they hold the Bucks to under 5 yards a carry, but the explosive plays make a difference. Defensively, I think Knowles turns up the heat. Iowa is TUN light with a good running game and a meh passing game. Really, this should go similar to last week. Iowa: 10--OSU: 38
Seeberg: This game has the feel of a "the natives are restless at halftime" tilt. The 'Shoe can get nervy if games are close through two quarters. The Hawkeyes can legitimately run it and legitimately stop the run. Jim Knowles' D has started slow in every game except Western Michigan, and time-consuming drives from Cade and Kaleb and Co. will shorten the game. Over four quarters, however, the Buckeyes have too much talent- only the Buckeyes can beat the Buckeyes in this one. Keep the ball, keep the penalties down, and the gray-clad home team should pull away to around the 18.5-point spread, setting the stage for a massive conference(?) contest next week: Ducks vs. Bucks. Iowa: 13--OSU: 31
Draper: FSU over Clemson
Hoying: Arkansas over Tennessee
Schweinfurth: Baylor over Iowa State
Seeberg: South Carolina over Ole Miss
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