Standings
1) Seeberg 44-18 (2-10 upset)
2) Draper 42-20 (5-7 upset)
3) Hoying 40-22 (1-11 upset)
4) Schweinfurth 39-23 (2-10 upset)
It's rivalry week at Let's Go Bucks! With Ohio State's playoff hopes on life support, we turn our focus toward our first showdown with Captain Crazy (and a few other schools that happen to be playing as well).
#13 Navy _idship_en @ #20 Houston Cougars
Draper: Led by the greatest coach ever who never erred by ignoring a RB, Houston finally tripped up vs. a so-so at best Uconn squad. Houston has had a pretty nice year, but they're still Houston. Navy is chugging along with the only hiccup vs. the Irish. I like Keenan Reynolds to keep the train a-rolling as the Cougs suffer a second straight defeat, this one at Chop-block-o-clock. Navy: 28--Houston: 24
Hoying: Take a good look, Buckeye Nation. Our previous offensive guru, your panacea for everything ailing the Ohio State O, just racked up all of 17 points in Houston's loss to the UConn Huskies. 17 points isn't going to get the job done against the NCAA's historic TD leader, Keenan Reynolds, and the devastating triple option. Navy has parlayed its first year in a conference into its best season since 1963 and it shows no signs of slowing down. Look for the streak to continue, setting up an AAC title showdown ahead of everyone's favorite rivalry. Navy: 31--Houston: 27
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts this week. Navy: 24--Houston: 35
Seeberg: Well, the Houston Hermans looked every bit like the Buckeyes last week, dropping an uninspired game to the UConn women's basketball team football Huskies by a field goal. My guess? A combination of lousy weather and looking ahead to their showdown with Navy. Navy has showed up big in conference play all season and it's likely Keenan Reynolds and Co. will do so again. However, the Cougars are likely to play some extra-inspired to make up for last week's dismal effort. Had Houston coasted into this one undefeated (see: Memphis) Navy likely would've anchored them down (see what I did there?), but off a loss the Cougars rise up and put up enough points to outscore the devastating triple option. Navy: 38--Houston: 42
#7 Baylor Bears @ #17 TCU Horned Frogs
Draper: Don't look now, but Baylor appears to be raising a little stink after that OU loss. Yeah, they're essentially too little too late (again), but they've essentially guaranteed playoff victory by tur:ning to a 3rd string QB. 100% of the squads in the playoffs led by a 3rd string QB have won the whole thing (it's science). TCU put it all on the table last week and fell just short. Nothing left in Fort Worth...and they're only on the second string...pfft. Briles keeps alive for a New Year's Six bowl. BU: 48--TCU: 35
Hoying: And here we have the 2014 Nearly Relevant Bowl. TCU's playoff hopes are officially dead after a furious rally against OU fell just short, while Baylor's are on life support after Gundy and the Pokes failed to score 40 against the Bears. We could possibly see a battle of the deep deep backup QB's, depending on how quickly Trevone Boykin recovers, but TCU's second-stringer has looked passable in his appearance last week, and Baylor churns out battle-ready QBs without losing a beat. Despite their effort last week, the Frogs are trending downward, while the Bears are unlikely to choke with a possible playoff berth in their sights. BU: 52--TCU: 45
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts lets week. Lots of points, though. BU: 52--TCU: 55
Seeberg: This is practically a war of attrition given the injuries on both sides of the ball. The Bears are officially down to their 3rd-string QB but keep cranking out points and had an impressive win at Oklahoma State last week. Tough to imagine TCU winning without both of their playmakers at full strength (Boykin may go but will be limited, and Doctson is probably still out). I'm shocked myself, but Baylor may finish the regular season with back-to-back one-loss squads. BU: 45--TCU: 34
Penn State Nittany Lions @ #4 _ichigan State Spartans
Draper: Who will start for the Spartans? Cook wasn't needed this week (the Bucks saw to that), but he could be needed this week. Saquon Barkley needs to show up in a big way, but in a cruel twist of fate, the Buckeye fate lies in the hands of Christian Hackenberg. He's had a few flashes of brilliance, but a lot of 'huh?' plays. This is the situation for Hackenberg to show the world why NFL scouts still (inexplicably) see the franchise QB of their future. The weather allows for a passing attack and Lions reset the Buckeye train. PSU: 24--Sparty: 21
Hoying: OK, Christian Hackenberg. You've sucked for a solid 3 years after showing a flash of talent as a first year. Do you have enough in the tank to pull off one consequential upset? The Lions have crapped the bed against the real live opponents they've seen so far this year (the Owls, the Buckeyes, the Wolverines), while the Spartans have petered along before scoring the knockout punch against our beloved Bucks. Cook is questionable once again, and the result of this tilt could depend on his availability, as well as Suckenberg's ability to find holes in a suspect Spartan secondary (sigh). Back in 2008, Buckeye Nation was rooting hard (in vain) for Penn State to fall flat on their face against Sparty in Happy Valley so that Ohio State could go to the Rose Bowl. Expect to be disappointed once again. PSU: 17--Sparty: 27
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts this week. I will pick this how I want it to end. PSU: 17--Sparty: 14
Seeberg: If ever there were a day when Hackenburg needed to fulfill all that potential, it's this Saturday for all of Buckeye Nation...but don't hold your breath Buckeye brethren. The Spartans had their garbage game of the season and it still took a blown call for Nebraska to squeak out a win. It's at home, and there's too much on the line for them not to be focused. If Cook can't go or struggles, this one will stay close, but too much Sparty sack party does the Nittany Lions in. PSU: 13--Sparty: 21
#17 Florida State Se_inoles @ #11 Florida Gators
Draper: Florida has dodged bullet after bullet sent by suck opponents. Enter the Noles. FSU had the inexcusable loss loss to Tech and an 'yeah, expected it' loss to the Tigers. The Noles season expectations have changed for this year, but the focus on the Gators won't. Cook and the Noles will be happy to oblige the Gators in their desire to practice losing before the SEC title. Cook finally awakens those voters that forgot to be 'talkin bout the noles!'. FSU: 27--UF: 10
Hoying: One, two three four five six...those Gators just about lost to Florida Atlantic. Such a loss would have been nearly as bad as falling to terrible terrible Georgia Tech. Is Florida losing its focus looking ahead to a titanic clash with the INVINCIBLE TIDE? Or have they truly been focused this week's contest against their rival? Treon Harris is still horrible, but the Gator D is as tough as ever. If Dalvin Cook can have a big day, expect the Noles to win. Florida doesn't have a Deshaun Watson to follow Cook blow-for-blow. The Gators couldn't stop Fournette, and they won't stop Cook either. FSU: 24--UF: 14
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts this week. FSU: 28--UF: 13
Seeberg: All right ladies and gentlemen, it's time for another game of "Will Florida score in the first half against an in-state opponent?" Last week the answer was no...against 2-9 Florida Atlantic. My guess is, even with an oddly unsettled quarterback position, the Seminoles will be just a smidge better. Expect lots of Dalvin Cook to secure him an invite to NYC for the bronze stiff-arm, and another W for Jimbo and the 'Noles. FSU: 24--UF: 6
#6 Notre Da_e Fighting Irish @ #12 Stanford Cardinal
Draper: The contest has huge playoff consequences, but I just don't care. Stanford has been slogging through their schedule winning ugly and boring. ND on the other hand...has done no different. The difference is the huge injuries on the Irish side of the ball. David Shaw finds a way to line up 11 on the line as the Cardinal end the Irish hopes. Irish eyes will be crying in Palo Alto. ND: 17--Stan: 20
Hoying: Could this really be a year in which the Playoff features Sparty, the fighting Dabo Swinneys, AND the Irish??? Surely at least ONE of those has to choke before season's end. The Irish have been coasting on their road loss to #1 and a slew of AAC wins (over decent schools, to be fair), while the Cardinal have continuously been battle tested since week 1's loss at Northwestern. Stanford's star RB could be quietly working his way toward a few trophies at season's end, and a big effort in a win over a fellow Playoff contender will certainly help his case. ND: 24--Stan: 31
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts this week. ND: 28--Stan: 35
Seeberg: To be honest, I was leaning pretty strongly toward the Cardinal before the news that C.J. Prosise was out for this game. Now? Too much Stanford D that can feast on a one-dimensional Irish passing attack, and too much balance when the Tree takes the ball. McAffrey and Hogan slice and dice the Golden Domers and officially (thankfully) knock them out of playoff talks. ND: 17--Stan: 31
#5 Oklaho_a Sooners @ #8 Oklaho_a State Cowboys
Draper: The Pokes finally returned to Earth after rocking to a 10-0 record without anyone paying attention outside Stillwater. We can all appreciate the offensive fire thanks to Gundy, but that defense is trash. This contest is always good for an exciting couple of hours but the Sooners always tend to find a way to end on top. Stoops was close to being snake bitten last week, but I don't expect a letdown here. The OU defense isn't exactly spectacular, but they'll be enough with Baker leading the way. OU: 51--OSU: 42
Hoying: I was fooled. It looked like this would finally be the year the Cowboys finished a season, after crashing and burning in 2011 (and getting hosed by the voters). Now the Pokes need a big win over OU and a big loss by Baylor either this week or the next. OU's stud QB took a tough shot to the head in the win over the Horned Frogs, but he'll be back to lead what's turned into one of the nation's top offenses. I feel like I've seen the Sooners play out this story before, in which they need only reach out and grasp the opportunity at hand, but You-Know-What Bob chokes it away. I have that feeling again. OU: 38--OSU: 41
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts this week. OU: 35--OSU: 42
Seeberg: Man, this one seems WAY too easy on paper. The Sooners are playing well on both sides of the ball save for about a quarter defensively against TCU, and Oklahoma State crashed and burned (again) losing to Baylor's we-found-this-QB-in-poli-sci-101-last-month 37th-string signal caller. I'm fairly certain I could throw for 300 yards and 3 TDs per game in that system (remember, that's a below average day for their QBs). Still, Stoops and Gundy can't both lose this game simultaneously. It's a rivalry so anything can happen, but I just can't imagine the Sooners crapping away a playoff birth this late in the season...they already thought they'd accomplished that against the Longhorns. Boomer Sooner indeed. OU: 49--OSU: 35
#16 Ole _iss Rebels @ #23 _ississippi State Bulldogs
Draper: Woooo!! Egg Bowl!! Never know what's going down here. Both the Dogs and the Rebels have been SUPER flaky this year. The Dak Attack vs. the Landsharks should be quite fun. The Rebs and Bulldogs both arrive off big wins (LSU and Bert respectively), but I honestly don't know what to expect. It's in Stark Vegas, so gotta go with CLANGA in this one because those cowbells are so sweet...or annoying. Rebels: 27--Bulldogs: 31
Hoying: Nothing says "Second-Tier Rivalry" like the Egg Bowl. This year's version retains a little significance, in the unlikely event that the Tide totally collapses against Auburn and the Rebels take their place in Atlanta, but it will probably only affect which school goes to the TaxSlayer Bowl and which one goes to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Bulldogs are likely frauds, with their best wins being over their state's top directional school and Louisiana Tech. Ooooohhhh. On the other sideline is a squad that, legend has it, was able to topple the Tide this very season (nobody told the Playoff selection overlords about it, though). Good Bo/Bad Bo has been replaced by Chad Kelly, but the Landsharks are still out in force. In honor of The Force Awakens opening in a few weeks, here's to a Rebel victory. Rebels: 31--Bulldogs: 24
Schweinfurth: There is only one contest that counts this week. Rebels: 31--Bulldogs: 17
Seeberg: I have given up on predicting all things Ole Miss related since I somehow nailed their upset win of Bama. The Bulldogs put up a billion yards against the Razorbacks last week (I'm too lazy to look up the actual number, but I know for a fact they had more yards in the first QUARTER than the Bucks did all game last week, so I'm guessing a billion is close) so Dak is back up and running after getting thumped by the Tide. Given the nature of this nearly relevant rivalry both teams are likely to be up for this one, but that tends to lead to some errors from the mercurial Chad Kelly. Prescott and Co. take advantage and take the egg bowl...presumably to make me an omelet later. Rebels: 24--Bulldogs: 28
#9 THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ #10 That School Up North
Draper: There's only one thing that would be surprising...a close contest. Will the Bucks rally under adversity to squelch the hated rival? Will the go quietly into that good night? I expect either a flat defeated Buckeye squad waiting to get out and head to the NFL or a disrespected angry group ready to avenge the loss and take it out on the hated Wolverines. Could a squad with the prodigious talent of the Buckeyes lay two eggs? I lean to no. The line plays with renewed vigor, Zeke busts a few, JT actually throws a few passes for big gains, and the defense shuts down the crazy one on the other side. Get the lights on Harbaugh, Saturday will lead to a nice breakdown or two. It ain't worth winning if you can't win big. OSU: 42--TTUN: 17
Hoying: I can recall a day when the Buckeyes were the consensus #1 squad but their bitter rivals were the nation's hottest, fresh off 3 straight shutouts. How the Spartans do shatter expectations in this conference. After a baffling total offensive failure, do the Buckeyes still have the will to give 100% in the biggest showdown of the season? Urban's boys always shine the brightest under the brightest lights (last week notwithstanding), especially when the Bucks are underdogs. And lookie, lookie, Ohio State is sitting at +1.5 going into this weekend. These are still two very good squads, but look for the OSU D-Line to get after Rudock and the Wolverine rushing attack after a subpar effort against Sparty. And it's possible that Zeke could actually get a few carries this week and run with a bit of purpose when given the chance. A win over Harbaugh caps a good season regardless of what happens in East Lansing, though not exactly a successful one. OSU: 28--TTUN: 20
Schweinfurth: This is the contest that counts this week. There are two ways these Buckeyes can go, galvanize together and win, or devide and get crushed. I have gone back and forth on which Buckeye offense will show up and I have settled on the one we expected to see. Urban is going to get involved this week and that usually signals a turnaround. After Zeke's little spat last week, he will run possessed. There is nothing quite like a butt whooping to cleanse the soul. The soul has been cleansed. The Bullets are still there and Jack Rudock is just a guy. The Bullets get two picks and the Bucks in another close one up north. OSU: 21--TTUN: 17
Seeberg: Let's be honest, Buckeye Nation, we all knew that the Khaki Eclipse was going to bring ttun back to at least national respectability, but nobody expected them to be this good this fast. How I LONG for Brady Hoke again. If you had told me BOTH teams would be in the top ten for the 2015 version of The Game I would've laughed you out of town. On paper it should be a 2-TD coast for the Bucks, but we haven't performed up to our paper status all year, and after the outbursts following the Sparty debacle, there's less reason to think we'll start now. Plus, I'll let you in on a little secret: I picked against the Bucks four times last year, and we went 4-0. In all honesty? I thought we would win two of them, but I didn't wanna ruin the mojo. Time to recover last year's magic and inspire our Buckeyes by picking the stinkpile in Ann Arbor. OSU: 17--TTUN: 20
Upset Special
Draper: South Carolina over Cle_son (screw it, go big or go ho_e)
Hoying: Illinois over Northwestern
Schweinfurth: Auburn over The Tide (I want to see the college football world burn)
Seeberg: Auburn over Alaba_a...KIDDING. Let's go Georgia Tech over Georgia
Standings
1) Seeberg 41-14 (1-10 upset)
2) Draper 40-15 (5-6 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 36-19 (2-9 upset)
3) Hoying 36-19 (1-10 upset)
We're ten games into the season, and the mission for the B1G East's elite remains the same as it was in August: win out and you're going to Indianapolis to (probably) play Iowa.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 season has finally arrived in earnest. Get ready for a sprint to the finish as Oklahoma State desperately tries to carry the BXII flag into the playoff for the first time.
#11 Michigan Wolverines @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Draper: Michigan survives another nail biter against a mediocre to bad team. Everyone talks about Michigan as being super unlucky after the UM/MSU ridiculousness, but look at the last few games in which they COMPLETELY fell backwards into wins. Here's the secret, Michigan's defense can handle a good running game. Leidner played well, but Jordan Howard completely destroyed the myth of a stout UM defense. Enter Saquan Barkley who is really really good. PSU has the Hackenburg suckiness, but if Franklin hands the ball off 30 times, PSU wins a big one. The Lion defense shouldn't have too much of a problem with Jake Rudock (you know, because they don't suck like IU). Lions knock the Wolverines out of the BEast race backing them into a corner for the The Game. UM: 20--PSU: 27
Hoying: Did any of you actually think that Indiana would be able to hold a 4th quarter lead against a team with a pulse? OK, so last week taught us nothing new about the Hoosiers, but the last two weeks have revealed a disturbing trend regarding what was once the nation's hottest team: Harbaugh's defense has suddenly disappeared. Granted, Jordan Howard is very good and Mitch Leidner was very lucky, but 3 consecutive shutouts feels like an eternity ago. And here comes Saquan I-ran-for-194-yards-against-an-actual-elite-defense Barkley. Fortunately for that school up north, Jake Rudock seems to have become what Hackenberg was at his peak, and UM will need him against a stout Penn State D. This is a terrible trap game for the Corn and Blue, and they drop a big one at the most inopportune time. We'll find out how stern their stuff is next week. UM: 23--PSU: 24
Schweinfurth: Penn St. gets Michigan at a good time, right before playing the Buckeyes and in a good place, Happy Valley. After watching Jordan Howard run crazy and tenderize the scUM front seven, Saquan Barkley is set up for a BIG day. I expect lots of running and not so much passing. UM: 13--PSU: 17
Seeberg: Unfortunately, scUM avoided a collapse against Indiana last week, and in the process won a borderline shootout- something the Wolverines didn't appear capable of doing. This game is likely to feature a helluva lot fewer points, which is right in their wheelhouse. With Sackenburg sitting in the pocket like one of those targets at the county fair that just moves back and forth every time you hit it with the pop gun, the Nittany Lions are likely to be in a lot of 3rd and longs which means the maize and blue defense will tee off on the immobile QB. Crowd keeps them in it for a half or so, but (We Are) Penn State wears down late. UM: 24--PSU: 13
#15 Louisiana State Tigers @ #21 Ole Miss Rebels
Draper: I don't know what to make of these teams. LSU looked beastly until Bama destroyed them, then even Bert could take em down. Ole Miss has been up and down all year but Nkemdiche is questionable and the best player on the field wear's purple and gold. Are Miles and the Tigers going to go quietly into that goodnight? I don't think so. Leonard Fournette restates his Heisman hopes (albeit a little too late). The Grove will be rocking but the Taigahs will geaux. LSU: 27--Miss: 20
Hoying: LSU loses to Arkansas in another installment of the world's wackiest rivalry and the fans instantly complain that the wheels are falling off in Baton Rouge. I'm glad our fans are more patient and never freak out over a loss...But however bad it's been, it's about to get worse. Alabama drafted the blueprint for stopping Fournette, and the Landsharks aren't going to be to be any easier of a puzzle for the Tigers to solve. Maybe LSU can win by throwing over the top. Heh. Heheheheh. HeeheeeheeheeheehahahahaHAHAHAHAHAH! LSU: 17--Miss: 20
Schweinfurth: There is no way LSU loses three in a row right? Yes, Alabama gave the blueprint to stop Fournette (and really all you had to do was load the box because the Tigers don't have a QB). With that said, I just don't think Ole' Miss has the horses on defense, mostly becuase it's Ole' Miss. Fournette does just enough to win this for the Tigers. LSU: 20--Miss: 14
Seeberg: Seriously, Tiger fans? Les Miles is coaching for his job? If there is even a shred of truth in that Miles should just bolt out the back door and never return. In any event, LSU will likely be okay either way. Bama put 37 on the Landsharks with an offense that has serious trouble throwing the ball. Sound familiar? I wouldn't expect any explosion quite like that, but the Tigers will Rag on that Ole Miss O (see what I did there??) and make just enough plays on offense to get back on track. LSU: 24--Miss: 20
#17 Northwestern Wildcats @ #21 Wisconsin Badgers
Draper: Another toughie. Wisconsin has floated around the periphery after dropping the only two games of consequence. Bama destroyed them and Iowa killed football with their 10-6 crapfest win (see Bengals on MNF). Northwestern has the win over Stanford and....yeah. I think the Badgers may be able to finally squeeze some life out of Camp Randall for a 'bigger than anyone will give them credit for' win. The game should be competitive...but that doesn't mean good. NW: 14--Wisc: 17
Hoying: How good is Wisconsin? The Badgers played 2 elite teams, lost to them both, and played NOBODY else. Northwestern's rebounded a bit from their midseason skid, claiming a nice victory over Penn State, but moving the ball against the nation's top scoring defense (!) might bring out the old Northwestern we know and love. However, even if Northwestern can't move the ball, Wisconsin has offensive struggles of their own, completely losing their identity without a viable running threat. Ehhh...I'm feeling the battle-tested NW defense to outshine a Badger D that's been feasting on cupcake row. NW: 13--UW: 10
Schweinfurth: If this game was in the "mighty" SEC it would be touted as a clash of two great defenses. There will be almost no points scored in this one. Northwestern's offense does just enough to win and Wisconsin is a shell of what they have been the past few years. First team to score a TD wins. NW: 10--UW: 9
Seeberg: Another B1G clash with points at a premium. Sadly for Iowa, the loser is likely out of the top 25, hurting their quality win status. Iowa's hideous 10-6 win over the Badgers earlier in the year was against an extremely shorthanded Wisconsin squad. The Badgers are marginally healthier now, and I expect them to completely shut down NW. Will they score enough points to win? Not in most cases- but this is the exception. NW: 6--UW: 10
#16 Baylor Bears @ #4 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: Shootouts continue in the Big 12. Baylor faltered under the lights this week, but they get an immediate shot at redemption. The Pokes came back from another late deficit, but keep winning. While Baylor shrunk on the big stage, OSU tends to rise up. Stillwater is always rocking so lean on the Cowboys. Baylor had their hopes and dreams crushed last week, and I don't think this team has the intestinal fortitude to come back from disappointment. Baylor: 49--OSU: 59
Hoying; Good news for the Big 12: the Pac 12 isn't churning out a champion with fewer than 2 losses, all but eliminating them from the playoff picture. Bad news for the Big 12: Notre Dame is still sitting at the 4 spot and only Oklahoma State has a chance to escape the conference unblemished. Considering Baylor's craptastic schedule, Bob Bowlsby's dreamcatcher is probably chock full of trogglehumpers of Baylor recovering from last week's loss to run the table. Fortunately for him, the Cowboys are a legitimate title contender who fight until the final pistol. The Force is with young Jarrett Stidham, but he's not a Big 12 contender yet. Baylor: 45--OSU: 56
Schweinfurth: That vaunted Baylor offense sure looked great last week...or not. Baylor just doesn't have it when they play top competition. Oklahoma State on the other hand has looked good lately and is climbing up the standings. Take the Pokes at home. Baylor: 42--OSU: 63
Seeberg: I'll be honest, it'd be nice to see Baylor lose again so we can finally stop hearing from Art it's-un-American-to-leave-us-out-of-the-playoff Briles. Fortunately, that's likely to come to fruition. On the road with a backup QB whose only games thus far are a narrow win at KSU and a loss at home against the Sooners. They'll score points as always, but that steel-sieve defense will be their undoing again. Bay: 35--OSU: 45
UCLA Bruins @ #18 Utah Utes
Draper: Both of these teams are...I have no clue. Utah had it all in front of them, and crapped themselves vs. Arizona. UCLA has been a Jekyll and Hyde team all year. Rosen, Wilson, who will emerge. No clue. I do know that Salt Lake is a pretty intense environment. Utah has crashed after flying too close to the sun, but UCLA has been middling all year. With the Utes fight back for a chance and the title or will good UCLA grab control of their Pac 12 South destiny. No clue. The loss of Booker for the year tips the scales slightly to the visitors. UCLA: 27--Utah: 24
Hoying: Oh yeah, the Pac-12 is still playing football. I forgot how boring a conference race becomes when it's not likely to end with a playoff berth. Remember how many conferences suffered this fate back in the BCS era, when only 2 teams got to move on to the championship? They dragged me kicking and screaming into the brave new world of playoffs, but I think I've been proven dead wrong. I genuinely care about all the other games on this list because of the playoff implications they carry. In contrast, I can't come up with anything to say about this one. Really. Got nothing. UCLA: 27--Utah: 20
Schweinfurth: I really have no clue here. I did see that Booker may be questionable for Utah. That will be a huge difference in this one. UCLA: 24--Utah: 17
Seeberg: I have been whiffing on PAC-12 games left and right all year and this one is no easier to prognosticate. Both teams are coming off bad losses, UCLA is having an expected mercurial season with a true frosh QB, and Utah is just good enough to get your hopes up before falling flat. I expect Rosen to play an inspired game after a lackluster performance last week, so I'll take the Bruins in an I-wouldn't-be-at-all-surprised-if-it-went-the-other-way contest. UCLA: 31--Utah: 23
#12 Texas Christian Horned Frogs @ #8 Oklahoma Sooners
Draper: OU is flying up everyone's charts, but their one win may not be that impressive if Baylor takes a dive. That being said, no one has fallen quicker than TCU. After losing to the Pokes, the near miss vs. one of the worst teams in the country is a major worry. TCU is falling fast and OU is rising quickly. While I'm not completely on the Sooner Schooner, I like what I'm seeing out of Norman. The game's also in Norman? BOOMER!! TCU: 17--OU: 38
Hoying: Remember the 2010 national championship? Texas finally made it back to the big show after being controversially left out the previous year in favor of Oklahoma, a team they beat (although any Big 12 selection for the title game that year would've been controversial). They came out firing on their first drive...and lost Colt McCoy for the game to a shoulder injury. The Alabama-Texas clash of the titans never came to be and the Tide cruised to victory. I feel like we were robbed of a possible matchup of that level here. No Boykin, no Doctson, no chance for TCU to stop what's become the nation's most frightening juggernaut since That School Up North in early October. Bedlam next week will have never been Bedlammier. TCU: 27--OU: 42
Schweinfurth: Boykin and Doctson may be out for this one and that is most definitely not a good thing for TCU. Add the porous TCU defense this year and you have the perfect storm for a Sooner win. TCU: 21--OU: 38
Seeberg: TCU's defense has gotten moderately healthier in the last few weeks; however, their offense has gotten much more ill. Both Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson are questionable for the game with nagging injuries, meaning if both can give it a go they won't be at full strength. Meanwhile, the Sooners are riding high after dethroning the Briles Bears last week. TCU is too good for the Sooners to look past like they did against Texas for their annual Bob Stoops Inexplicable Loss of the Year Award (TM). Onto Bedlam as a potential playoff play-in game. TCU: 28--OU: 42
#8 Michigan State Spartans @ #2 THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Is MSU good? They have the fluky win over the Wolverines and a lot of near misses against subpar to bad competition. The Bucks finally get their first test, but I'm not totally sure if this is the test that we thought it would be in August. Cook is hurt (no matter what the Spartans say) which pretty much removes the offense. LJ Scott is a nice back and the receivers are alright, but without the signal caller, there's not much there. Oh yeah, the Buckeye defense has been fantastic of late. The Bucks, on the other side of the ball, need to emerge from the cocoon as they did in the MSU game last year. JT needs to take control and rebound after last weeks' 'eh' performance. More importantly, the O-line needs to slow Shilique Calhoun. I think they will and the Bucks make a statement before facing the fighting Harbaughs. MSU: 17--OSU: 42
Hoying: Did you know that Penn State can still win the B1G East? All they need is to win their final two games and hope that the Buckeyes lose out. I hate Penn State more than any other team (except one), so it's very important that our boys slam the door on any Rose Bowl hopes for the Lions with a big win over Sparty. Back in September, these teams were #1 and #2 for a brief period before Michigan State went all 2002 Ohio State and started struggling against poor opponents. This is not the same Sparty that terrorized the B1G for a couple years with a dominating defense, but that might make Buckeye fans more nervous. No one scores consequential upsets over Ohio State like That Other School Up North. From wins over Archie and the gang back in the early 70's to ending the Bucks' title hopes in the BCS's opening and closing seasons, there are plenty of reasons not to take this team lightly. The good news is that Urban has had this game marked on his calendar since last season ended, so Buckeye fans should expect to see the best performance from the Silver Bullets and a fully armed and operational JT Barrett-led offense (don't expect any field goals, though). A Penn State win over Meatchicken (see above) and the Buckeyes clinch a spot in the B1G championship a week ahead of THE GAME. MSU: 17--OSU: 35
Schweinfurth: Sparty is mad about last year. Ya know, that one game they played Ohio State and couldn't stop the QB power when everyone knew it was coming. The Buckeye offense since the Virginia Tech game has looked very vanilla and has still put up decent numbers. With JT shaking the rust off last week, I expect the playbook to be wide open this week. The Spartan secondary has been very suspect lately, but they can get a pass rush. Urban and Warriner have been working to shore the pass blocking up the past few weeks and we should see dividends Saturday afternoon. With Connor Cook possibly injured, this game could get ugly, but emotion keeps Sparty in through the first half. MSU: 17--OSU: 42
Seeberg: Anybody see/believe the betting line on this? We are a 2-touchdown favorite. That terrifies the heck out of me. As we know the offense has been sputtering for much of the year, but a pleasant surprise, at least to me, has been the Silver Bullet D. They seemed to embrace The Grind a bit more than the O, and are already playing at CFP-level form. I do believe the offense will begin to round into shape, but not fully against a tough Sparty D. Regardless, bettors should take Sparty, but the Bucks take the game. MSU: 17--OSU: 28
Upset Special
Draper: Virginia Tech over North Carolina
Hoying: Tulsa over Navy
Schweinfurth: Boston College over Notre Dame
Seeberg: Indiana over Maryland (seriously, MD is a 2-point favorite)
Standings
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 New Years' Day More Money (TM). Unfortunately for the Cougars, they can't really take much away from Navy's triple option attack that worked virtually all night, scoring 45 points. More fortuitously, however, is that Navy's defense also did well against the Tigers, and Houston is likely to study that game film in-depth and employ some similar tactics to keep Memphis's offense as one-dimensional as possible. Go Houston Hermans! Mem: 31--Hou: 38
#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
Schweinfurth: So it's time to get back to the basic JT offense this week. The offense just moves so much better with JT. Despite the "wind factor" in this game, I think we see a concerted effort to force the ball down field and challenge the Illini secondary. Zeke is due for a big game and he breaks out for 150+. I also expect the Silver Bullets to keep turning up the heat and I expect at least 2 turnovers by the Bullets. Bucks win big. OSU: 45--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
Standings
1) Seeberg 19-7 (0-5 upset)
2) Draper 17-9 (3-2 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 16-10 (1-4 upset)
3) Hoying 16-10 (1-4 upset)
A few loyal fans in Buckeye Nation may have been a bit worried at times on Saturday, but Ohio State is coming home after another tough road test, still undefeated and #1 in both polls (ay, oh, way to go, Ohio). The ranks of the undefeateds also feature a few surprise teams that find themselves in put-up-or-shut-up games this week. When the dust settles, we'll have a better idea of who are the contenders, and who are the pretenders.
Navy Midshipmen @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Navy finally got over the hurdle vs. the Irish but for this contest, we return to South Bend and an angry Irish squad. I'll be honest, I was surprised with the fight that ND showed at Death Valley. The option attack puts up some points, but not enough as the Midshipman falls short under the shadow of touchdown Jesus. Navy: 24--ND: 31
Hoying: It's October and Navy is still undefeated! Sure, they have 4 wins vs. crap, but that was Notre Dame's entire resume until they Clemsoned against Clemson last week. The Irish are blowing through QBs as fast as a certain other team near and dear to our hearts, yet still getting pretty consistent play (except on 2-point conversions, but I don't think Malik Zaire is calling the plays). Navy doesn't really have to worry about their passing game, focusing instead on how many ligaments their O-line can snap in opposing defenses' knees as they cut block all over the field. The United States Armed Forces offense enjoys a tactical advantage but their officers-in-training aren't quite as home on the football field as on the battlefield. Navy: 21--ND: 31
Schweinfurth: Even with the injuries, Notre Dame is still the better team here. The Navy option game is like playing a shell game. The Irish see it every year and usually handle Navy pretty well. Navy's offense will keep them in this game but Notre Dame is just too much. Navy: 21--ND: 28
Seeberg: Navy spoiled my upset pick last week as they are very at-home in the water... I mean that both as a terrible joke and also literally in football terms with their triple-option rushing attack. As a result they are the undefeated team in this matchup- a matchup Navy has kept very close the last couple years, scoring 34 and 39 points respectively in narrow defeats. I see a similar game playing out here, though slightly lower scoring. Navy will get some traction in the triple-option, but Zaire has proven a more than capable backup and he will keep ND up enough on the scoreboard that Navy will be forced to throw late, spelling their doom. NAVY: 27--ND: 35
Northwestern Wildcats @ Michigan Wolverines
Draper: Northwestern is just chugging along like a machine right now. Everything is set up for the Wildcats to have success (aka no OSU on the schedule). Just 2 years ago, Evanston was rocking after a 6-0 start that the Buckeyes squelched (and backdoor covered). Has NW turned the corner, or is it time for TSUN to believe again? Michigan has shellacked an overrated (albeit still good) BYU team and a pathetic Maryland squad. Are they that good? I don't think so. Can they beat the Wildcats at home? Sure why not. Adds more fuel to the Sun and Blue fire. Sorry Greeny. NW: 16--UM: 20
Hoying: As soon as Harbaugh was hired, I predicted the immediate resurrection of That Demon Up North. QB Jake Rudock wasn't ready for prime time against a better-than-expected Utah team, but the Maize and Blue have looked the part since, pitching back-to-back shutouts against...2 bad offenses. And look! Another bad offense is coming to town! The B1G enjoyed last week's Iowa-Wisconsin game so much that they scheduled a sequel. Northwestern runs the ball as well as anyone, but they can't throw (are we picking the Navy game again?). Kind of sounds like...Michigan. This would be a great opportunity for Northwestern's coming out party, but they're facing their slight superiors in every phase of the game...on the road. Big picture: it's better this game isn't in Evanston, or the Wildcats would be broken for another 2 years after another devastating loss. NW: 9--Mich: 13
Schweinfurth: Raise your hand if you saw one loss between these two teams at this point in the season. Anyone? I didn't think so. TUN has looked good against some "decent" competition (if you count a BYU team that won two games on Hail Mary's decent). Northwestern's defense has looked good this year and shut down a pretty good Stanford team. The Cardinal have a better QB than Jake Rudock and Northwestern just confused him. The Wolverines run a very similar offense to Stanford but worse. I'll take the Wildcats in an upset. Can't wait to see the look on Khaki Man's face. NW: 17--UM: 14
Seeberg: Pains me to admit it, but these may be the two most consistent, competent teams in the B1G thus far. Both feature very stingy defenses and offenses that, with Jake Rudock beginning to understand which jerseys to throw to, limit mistakes and don't stop themselves too often (imagine if the Bucks did that??). TTUN actually opened as 10-point favorites which I find shocking because it's reasonably plausible that neither team even scores 10 points. It's not likely to be pretty, but the maize and blue are about to make some noise in the B1G again. Heaven help us. NW: 13--MICH: 20
California Bears @ Utah Utes
Draper: Cal is undefeated after feasting on terrible defenses...but note those teams also feasted on their defense. Goff and the Bears are fun to watch, but no one is really taking them seriously...yet. Utah is the current flavor of the month after obliterating Oregon in Eugene, but how good is Oregon, really? That being said, I want the team that has at least a small semblance of a defense. Cal is fun, but Utah is better. Salt Lake City will be rockin as usual. Cal: 34--Utah: 45
Hoying: Stop me if you've heard this one before. Cal has a skinny little twig at QB putting up ridiculous numbers as the Bear offense rolls along...and actually stops their opponents on a drive or two?!? That's right, Cal has shut down the HIGH-POWERED Texas, Washington, and Washington State attacks on their way to a 5-0 start. The Utes, led by somewhat disappointing RB Devontae Booker and dual-threat QB Travis Wilson, will pose a bit of a tougher challenge to the Cal defense, but it's not like Cal QB Jared Moss...er...Goff is going anywhere. Utah may have held Oregon to 20 points, but Cal's attack is undoubtedly better. It won't be enough, especially with 2 weeks for the Utes to prepare, but Cal's rise continues with a hard-fought close loss. Cal: 27--Utah: 34
Schweinfurth: I've watched a little of Utah and none of Cal. Utah has been pretty impressive and it will be interesting once they play some better teams in the PAC-12. Until then, the Utes win. Cal: 28--Utah: 42
Seeberg: Hey Cal is 5-0, who knew? They even have 3 wins over power 5 opponents. Unfortunately, those wins are a by a combined 13 points over Texas, Washington and Washington State. Those three teams have a COMBINED 1 win over power 5 schools, WSU's 3-point win over powerhouse *cough not so much cough* Rutgers. Had Cal seen Utah the week after blasting Oregon, they might have gotten the Utes squad on a letdown week and kept it close enough to pull off the upset. Not with two weeks to prepare for the Utes though. I don't know how "for real" either team is, but my money is on Utah. CAL: 21--UTAH: 38
Baylor Bears @ Kansas Jayhawks
Draper: This....is gonna be gross. I expect Art Briles to pour it on as much as he can before being arrested for beating the stepson. The important question is: Will Kansas score? The shutout is a tall order, considering the Baylor drives should last about 2 plays on average. The Baylor defense will be super tired, but I think they'll go for it. BU: 70--KU: 0
Hoying: Oh, those crafty Bears. While Ohio State, TCU, Alabama, Michigan State, Auburn, Oregon, USC, Georgia, Florida State, Notre Dame, Clemson, UCLA, LSU, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Stanford, Arizona, Boise State, Missouri, and Tennessee have each found themselves in tight spots in this young season, Baylor hasn't been close to being touched, thanks to their masterful scheduling. And the hits keep right on rolling as the Bears visit the winless Jayhawks, the only 1-A team to lose to Rutgers this season. In 2007, Kansas went 12-1 and beat Baylor 58-10 in Lawrence. The Jayhawk faithful would do well to stay home and watch that one again. Then cry. BU: 63--KU: 7
Schweinfurth: Are we picking this against the spread? Even if we did, Baylor would win. Kansas is SOOOOOOOO bad. Baylor may try to break the scoreboard. BU: 70--KU: 7
Seeberg: Not 100% sure why we're picking this one. 4-0 Baylor, 0-4 Kansas. Oh, and Kansas is starting its true freshman 3rd-string QB due to injuries to the top two signal-callers. Will Baylor score 100? It's conceivable. This is a pad-your-stats game for the crew of Let's Go Bucks. Baylor rolls and rolls and rolls some more. BU: 77--KU: 13
Maryland Terrapins @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Maryland is bad....I mean, really, REALLY bad. The program has all but confirmed that Edsall will be out as soon as our game ends. IU may not be great, but they're having a nice season and improving. Maryland is moving in the other direction. Once again, this is the perfect medicine for a struggling Buckeye offense. Cardale still can't diagnose a defense and has lost the trust of the coaches. Zeke will continue carrying the load, but the rest of the weapons need to step up. Marshall needs to hold on to the ball, JT needs to run the option (what? he's not the QB yet? Why?), Michael Thomas needs to see more balls his way, etc. The defense had too many lapses that led to big plays last week. Firm it up and we're back on track. MD: 9--OSU: 48
Hoying: Remember the Michigan State game in 1998? The Purdue game in 2009? Almost every great team seems to have that one game against an inferior opponent on which nothing seems to go right. This season, every game feels like that, except that the Buckeyes keep winning. Imagine what would happen if the Buckeyes played well, or averagely. For the next 5 games, it would probably mean a 30-40 point blowout. But for that to happen, Ohio State needs to overcome penalties, turnovers, and third down and red zone futility. There seems to be an easy answer (*cough JT Barrett cough*) but we'll have to wait for Cardale to come around and achieve the Craig Krenzel-level athletic greatness we know he can reach. Best news: Maryland is BAD, like worse than any of our other incredibly crappy opponents bad, so we can afford to do whatever the hell we think will help work out the kinks, without worrying about actually putting points on the board. Still, it would be nice to see us dominate just once before the tough games start, for the benefit of the collective cardiac health of the Let's Go Bucks! crew. I'm not 16 anymore like I was in 2002. MD: 6--OSU: 35
Schweinfurth: Maryland is the team Ohio State needs to play right now. Everyone says the Buckeye offense is worse this year, but the stats say otherwise. The big difference this year is the turnovers. Urban has had the team working hard at protecting the ball better (should have been done in camp). Urban has also emphasized getting Samuel and Miller more involved in the offense. Is this the week we finally see some short screens to Braxton and get him in space? I'm gonna call for Marshall to catch a deep ball and Miller shows some flashes. If Zeke gets his 20 carries, he gets at least 200 yards. I'm really not too worried about the Terps offense versus the Buckeye defense. I see 2 or 3 picks from the Silver Bullets and hopefully some Bosa shrugging in the backfield. This one gets ugly and we see JT in the 4th quarter. MD: 3--OSU: 42
Seeberg: As- crap, what's the politically correct phrase- severely lacking in talent and execution (read: bad) as Maryland is, I'm intrigued for this game. Granted the weather was lousy, but TTUN went to Maryland and pitched their second straight shut out. If our defense is as elite as we'd like to think it is (I personally think it's solid, but not elite yet), we better come close to pitching a shutout as well. I'm also curious if we'll throw a slant, or a crossing route, or an in route, or ANY route within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage that isn't a swing pass or a pop pass. Aside from Michael Thomas I don't know if our receivers are getting consistent separation, which might be the reason for the odd playcalling, but all the more reason to keep routes short so Cardale doesn't have to hang in the pocket too long before looking to run or for a safety valve. In any case, a healthy dose of N-S Zeke (that would be North-South Zeke, fyi), some better play-calling (one hopes), and a solid defensive effort should make this one a lot less harrowing than IU. MD: 10--OSU: 45
Upset Special
Draper: Texas over Oklahoma (because football makes no sense)
Hoying: West Virginia over Oklahoma State
Schweinfurth: Illinois over Iowa
Seeberg: Missouri over Florida
