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) Seeberg 34-11 (0-9 upset)
2) Draper 33-12 (4-5 upset)
3) Hoying 30-15 (1-8 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 30-15 (1-8 upset)
We've made it through the wilderness and to the Promised Land: November. Unfortunately, our Moses won't be joining us for a week. While we breathlessly await his return, there are some pretty important struggles throughout outlying provinces.
Duke Blue Devils @ #25 North Carolina Tar Heels
Draper: The Battle for the Victory Bell...not as sexy as the basketball matchup. Duke is reeling after the crazy loss to the Canes after some missed calls and poor officiating and UNC is high after a nationally televised win over ranked Pitt. I think these are two teams moving in different directions. Duke \has something to prove...but I don't see the rebound this quickly from what they experienced. Heels win in Chapel Hill to avenge the Dukie national championship (although no one will care). Duke: 17--UNC: 27
Hoying: One of the nation's great rivalries is renewed at the Dean Smith Center...what? Football? Consequence?? Yes, boys and girls, Duke and UNC are about to lock horns to determine control of a Power 5 division! The Heels are riding high after a huge road win over a good Pitt team, while Duke saw a great comeback against Miami ruined by the most special special teams ever. Both teams feature great defense, although the Devils have been exposed a bit lately, and not against juggernaut offenses either (hello, Virginia Tech). Time for a loss that even Mike Greenberg and the BooHoo Devils agree shouldn't be reversed. Duke: 20--UNC: 27
Schweinfurth: This is two underrated teams. I really think that Duke is going to be inspired by that debacle last week. I expect this will be a low scoring game. Duke: 17--UNC:14
Seeberg: As odd as this may sound, this relevant football game is all riding on Duke. If they can put last week's debacle behind them, they have a very good shot to win this game. If not? Their season may collapse like the gingerbread houses most of us try to make in December. UNC might be riding high after their win over Pitt and their entrance into the rankings (including the prestigious Let's Go Bucks rankings, of course), but Duke's mindset is still more in question. Both teams avoid Clemson and FSU in crossover games and have a pretty legitimate shot to be at double-digit wins heading to the ACC title game. In the end, I think the Hurricane Hullabaloo (because Miami Miracle is catchy but I want to be original while still using alliteration) is too much for the Blue Devils to overcome. Duke: 17--UNC: 28
#17 Florida State Seminoles @ #2 Clemson Tigers
Draper: Can the Tigers handle the pressure? Can the Noles respond after a flukish bad game vs. the Jackets? Clemson is playing at a super high level right now...but that's exactly when it all comes crashing down. FSU has been pretty 'eh' all year, but the talent cannot be denied. If Dalvin Cook plays and is 100%, there's a chance, but this Nole team isn't as good as the last 5 years. The primary thing going for FSU is, as Thad Matta would say, 'Their ***holes are tight." Clemson always chugs along and hits that wall against the Noles--they just expect to lose. A 3:30 kick is great for the Noles because I've said in the past that Death Valley is the 3rd loudest stadium I've ever been to (behind the Swamp and the Shoe). However, the magic of the stupid rock and crazy Dabo rises up to take control of the ACC and the playoffs...until they poop it away vs. Syracuse or Wake. FSU: 27--Clem: 38
Hoying: I'm tempted to never pick Clemson in this game again. Last year, the Tigers had the Noles exactly where they wanted them: trailing, with a terrible QB behind center that engineered shorter drives than a 4 year old golfer. And then they Clemsoned all over themselves. You might be tempted to say that this isn't last year's Clemson team, but one can never be sure until they play Florida State. Yes, FSU pooped the bed against an awful Georgia Tech team, but they still feature a very efficient QB, possibly the nation's top RB, and a stifling defense. All the pressure is on Clemson in this one. I don't think they can handle it. Look for the Seminole defense to force some turnovers and turn the tide. No hurricane is going to stop the Clemsoning this time. FSU: 30--Clem: 28
Schweinfurth: It seems like every time Clemson gets highly ranked and I pick them they lose. What brings me back to Clemson is the absence of Everett Golson (I can't believe I just wrote that) and the possible absence of Dalvin Cook. Cook at full go, I think he piles up the yards. I just really don't think the 'Noles have the firepower to pull off the upset on the road. FSU: 28--Clem: 35
Seeberg: I'll be honest, I thought this pick was a no-brainer for Clemson until I saw what Florida State did without Everett Golson and Dalvin Cook last week. Yes Syracuse is mediocre at best, but 45 points without their two primary playmakers seemed unthinkable. Cook is probable for this game which means one of two things: He's 100% and ready to shred the Tiger D, or he's about 85% and has to give it a go for the Seminoles to have a reasonable chance of winning. The starting quarterback is TBD, but my gut tells me they should go with Maguire and see if a talented backup with which the opponent has very little film of can win a big game (sound familar, Cardale fans??). With all that said, however, I just don't fully trust the FSU defense. They have put up some nice numbers against...Georgia Tech? Miami? Boston we-forgot-to-field-an-offense College? The Tigers will test that defense and though Florida State might pass that test, it'll only be with a C- or a D+, and that's not enough for a win. FSU: 31--Clem: 38
#5 TCU Horned Frogs @ #10 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: The first real game in the Big 12 on display here. While we've seen defense is a dirty word in the conference, TCU has the slightly less sucky squad. Trevone Boykin is the best athlete on the field with a bevy of good receivers, but the Pokes are nothing to sneeze at. Mike Gundy has the Cowboys contending, but they've played a LOT of scrubs. TCU is slightly more battle tested so I lean on the Frogs here. TCU: 52--OSU: 45
Hoying: Give these teams credit. Both found themselves in deep holes early in games (TCU vs. KSU, OKSt vs. TTech) and clawed their way to victory. Don't count on seeing a great comeback this week, though. Whoever starts fast will just keep blasting away until the final gun. It's not like one of these teams would just stop playing up 21 in the 4th quarter and suffer a loss that eliminates them from national title contention. You could say TCU is on a mission after getting left out of last year's playoff, but the Cowboys were jobbed even harder in 2011 and turned that rage into an 8-5 campaign the next year. TCU has started to play a bit of defense since the first half at Kansas State, so look for them to stay within the ranks of the undefeated for at least another week. TCU: 49--OSU: 45
Schweinfurth: Welcome to your Big 12 shootout game of the week. TCU is going to have a chip on their shoulder after getting buried outside of the top 5 in the CFP rankings. Even without that motivation, I just think that TCU is better. I expect Trevone Boykin to continue to put up numbers (especially with the state of Big 12 defenses). I'm still not sold on TCU as a championship contender, but they are still one of the best teams in the Big 12. TCU: 52--OSU: 42
Seeberg: Start the obligatory scoreboard-breaking clichés. Texas Tech has lost 2 games this year in which they scored at least 50 points...55-52 to TCU and 70-53 to Oklahoma State. (Incidentally the last team to lose two games in a season scoring 50+ was Baylor in 2012, which probably surprises nobody). I don't know when this game is on but I hope it doesn't conflict with the Buckeyes' 8 PM kick (ok, 8:12 or whatever it is) so that I can watch this hilarity in its entirety. I still can't decide if Big 12 coaches simply stop recruiting defensive players after about 8th grade or if they self-select and go to the SEC or Big 10 where they have a chance to be relevant. In any event, expect some video-game numbers in this one, particularly from Trevone Boykin, and a Horned Frog defense that's getting a little bit healthier and a little bit better to make enough plays to win another old west shootout. TCU: 56--OSU: 45
Navy Midshipmen @ #7 Memphis Tigers
Draper: Memphis joins Iowa at the 'royally screwed by the playoff committee' table. That being said, you want respect Tigers? Prove it. Keenan Reynolds is about to take sole possession of the career TD rushing record in NCAA history from Montee Ball (sorry, Joe Tessitore) but the Tigers have the primo victory over Ole Miss (is it reeeeeeally that good, though?). That option attack is a bear to prepare for, but Memphis knows the stakes. Justin Fuente's Tigers keep rolling in a close hard fought win. Navy: 24--Mem: 30
Hoying: Upset about a premiere at #13 in the playoff rankings, Memphis? Here comes a nice stretch run to improve that resume. The Tigers' next 3 opponents have a combined record of 24-2, kicking off with the Midshipmen. Memphis actually has a pretty good rush defense, surrendering only 3.2 yards per carry, but preparing for Navy and the triple option is a whole different animal (ask Florida State about faceplanting against such an offense). Considering that Memphis played Tulane last, week, they probably had a bit of extra time to think about getting ready to face Navy. Y'all is Tiger boat. Navy: 20--Mem: 30
Schweinfurth: Navy is always a good quality opponent, but I would not want to face that offense in the middle of the season. With that said, I expect Navy to score, but Memphis will make the necessary adjustments. Navy: 21--Mem: 35
Seeberg: Navy will definitely score some points in this matchup. Memphis, however, is likely to score even more. The Tigers' primary concern has got to be keeping their defensive line healthy against the endless cut blocking of the triple option Midshipmen attack. Memphis has a darn good shot to go 12-0 and despite a first-half tussle with the only currently relevant service academy, the Tigers stay unbeaten. NAVY: 24--MEM: 42
#1 Louisiana State Tigers @ #9 Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: This one should be fun....maybe. Let's be honest, Bama loses this one they're done, right? RIGHT?!?! Does a second 'quality loss' move them up? Leonard Fournette is the best athlete in college football right now but Bama has the best combination on the field. Coker isn't spectacular, but he complements Derrick Henry really well and the Tide defense is quite good. Bama was in no way deserving of the 4 spot in the CFP rankings...yet, but if they win out, they'll have a great argument. This game is by far the toughest game of the year for them and they get em in Tuscaloosa. I have a lot of respect for the Tigers, but the Tide is a bit too much. Please don't suck as much as the 9-6 crap fest 3 years ago... LSU: 17--Bama: 24
Hoying: Welcome to your GAME OF THE YEAR, if you don't count about 5 games coming up in the Big 12, or Ohio State/Michigan State. LSU hasn't been playing particularly well on the road, struggling against Mississippi State and Syracuse, while Alabama has sucked at home, losing to Ole Miss and nearly screwing the Smokey against Tennessee. Despite these efforts, the Playoff Committee is ready to crown Alabama for another year, but why? Because they blew out a mediocre Georgia team? Because they whupped a Wisconsin team that no one seems to care that Iowa beat? They do have that QUALITY LOSS (TM), I suppose. LSU still can't throw the ball, but it doesn't matter. The Tigers are sick of losing to the Tide and they have the power running game and the defense to deliver a victory in Tuscaloosa. Phyllis won't be happy after this one. LSU: 21--Bama: 20
Schweinfurth: Alabama is inexplicably ranked 4th. I don't get it, but it won't matter after this week. Fournette will be the difference in this game. Don't expect too much offense in this one, not because the defenses are good, but because both QBs are bad. LSU: 13--Bama: 10
Seeberg: I...I just don't know about this one. Eerily similar teams with dominant running backs, excellent defenses and questions at the QB position. Make no mistake, our beloved Zeke might be the best all around RB in college football (rout running, pass blocking, etc.), but Leonard Fournette and Derrick Henry are the two best backs in the game with the ball in their hands. I think this game is a low-scoring version of the Bama-Ole Miss game. In the end, I just don't trust Kiffin to give the ball to Henry enough, and LSU squeaks out a huge win. Enjoy that fescue, Les. LSU: 20--Bama: 16
Minnesota Golden Gophers @ #3 THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: The Buckeyes suffered a punch to the gut last week as JT went full Simple Jack, but it doesn't compare to the pile driver Tracy Claeys performed on the Gophers. I've never seen the end of a game coached worse than I saw last week. 19 seconds from the 1 yard line and a timeout and you run...2 plays...2!!!! I would have fired him on the sideline. Jerry Kill (clear B1G COY) could have coached that better from his house. Claeys stole from those kids a huge opportunity thaey won't get back. I don't see any way their heads are on straight this week. Cardale will be fine (not as good as JT), but there won't be a huge issue. Meyer will play this as a 'get the ball to Zeke, put em away early, and go home' type game. It won't feature explosive plays, but a workmanlike yeoman performance will get it done. Minn: 10--OSU: 38
Hoying: OK, JT did a dumb thing. And it'll hurt the Buckeyes to be without him this week. Fortunately, the opponent we face is far dumber, gagging away a sure win against our hated rivals by demonstrating clock management that would knock the blade of grass out of Les Miles's mouth and play-calling that begs for a Malcolm Butler interception. Don't fear the Gophers, Buckeye Nation. Minnesota QB Leidner inexplicably got away with chucking up prayers against a pretty good Wolverine secondary and Michigan still found a way to win behind the arm of a guy who wasn't even good enough to beat out Jake freaking Rudock for a starting gig. Cardale will be good, not great, just like always, and the Silver Bullets will step up in a big way to get the Bucks to 9-0. Minn: 13--OSU: 34 (sorry, Seeberg)
Schweinfurth:Well, I did not expect to see Cardale thrust back into the starting roll. While he hasn't been totally awful, he hasn't been great either. For some reason, this reeks of trap game for me. All the distractions with JT and the bye week just feels wrong. It's a good thing that Urban is the coach. I expect this team rally around the issues. Somehow I think Zeke has a crazy game and jumps back into the Heisman race. Minn: 17--OSU: 42
Seeberg: This is without a doubt the oddest quarterback carousel I can recall. Starting all the way back in the summer of 2014, allow me to refresh your memory: J.T. passes Cardale on depth chart as backup, Braxton goes down a week and a half later and J.T. is starter, J.T. injured against scUM and Cardale wins the golden lipstick, Braxton goes to H-back, Cardale wins starting job, Cardale yields to J.T. in red zone, J.T. takes starting job, J.T. suspended a week later and Cardale is starting again. Absolutely insane. Thankfully, Cardale has a full week to prepare with the starters and Minnesota is likely to be crushed mentally after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in a valiant effort against TTUN last week. The Silver Bullets have a week to study the schematic changes the Gophers made to basically rip apart the Wolverine D in the first half (254 yards) and coast to a comfy win in the friendly confines of the 'Shoe. Minn: 13--OSU: 34
Upset Special
Draper: Indiana over Iowa
Hoying: Cincinnati over Houston
Schweinfurth: Washington over Utah
Seeberg: Northern Illinois over Toledo (had it up Monday night- Hoying saw it!)
Standings
1) Seeberg 24-7 (0-6 upset)
2) Draper 22-9 (4-2 upset)
3) Hoying 21-10 (1-5 upset)
4) Schweinfurth 20-11 (1-5 upset)
As we approach the season's halfway point, 16 undefeated teams are still in the playoff chase, with another 14 Power 5 teams floating around with just one loss. This week's action should go a long way toward determining who we'll see in Miami and Dallas on New Year's Eve, particularly from our own beloved B1G.
UCLA Bruins @ Stanford Cardinal
Draper: After the anomaly in Evanston, Stanford has really come together and started to look like a real football team. UCLA on the other hand, started super hot and now has come crashing back to earth. Stanford has much more experience at QB but Josh Rosen is the flavor of the month. The loss of Myles Jack is huge, but I'm expecting a rebound from the Bruins. Stanford tries to muck it up, but UCLA gets enough flash to escape Palo Alto with a win. UCLA: 31 -- Stan: 28
Hoying: With all the turmoil that's engulfed the Pac-12 over the last couple of weeks, it's odd that these teams aren't getting more hype as potential playoff contenders. Each is sitting on only one loss and has looked pretty good the rest of the time. Age meets beauty behind center as Stanford senior QB Kevin Hogan and UCLA freshman QB Josh Rosen continue to have excellent seasons slinging the ball. But in big games, experience counts, and Stanford has been the hot team after losing their opener to better-than-expected Northwestern. Cardinal get the win in front of all 50 of their fans at home. UCLA: 20--Stan: 24
Schweinfurth: I can honestly say I really don't know much about these two teams (thanks to after 10 PM PAC-12 games and the whole east coast bias thing). What I do know is that both teams have good QBs. Unfortunately, UCLA is without Miles Jack and Stanford have a senior QB. Advantage Cardinal. UCLA: 28--Stan: 31
Seeberg: Stanford is averaging 35 ppg on offense. That may come as a shock to some of you who only remember their 16-6 opening week debacle at Northwestern. Meanwhile in SoCal, UCLA was the toast of the Pac-12 for about 47 minutes and then lost badly to Arizona State at home last week. Both teams run it well and have talented QBs, though Kevin Hogan has far more experience. I think UCLA will be poised for this game, knowing a second conference loss all but ruins their plans for the year, but Stanford is playing just a little too well at the moment. Dance hideous tree, dance. UCLA: 24--STAN: 31
Iowa Hawkeyes @ Northwestern Wildcats
Draper: Is Iowa for real? Is Northwestern decent or will they fold after their first adversity of the year. Michigan took the wind out of the Wildcats sails, but we need to see if Northwestern folds after the first bad game like they have so often in the recent past. Iowa is undefeated but they haven't played anyone of note (before you give me Wisconsin...you obviously didn't watch that poor excuse of a 'game' in Madison). I think Northwestern rebounds at home in a tight low scoring affair. Iowa: 10 -- NW: 13
Hoying: Michigan ruins everything. What could've been a showdown between two undefeated B1G West heavyweights is...still actually really important. Sure, Northwestern got blasted, but they still control their destiny and a win over the Hawkeyes would put them in the driver's seat. But do the 'Cats have anything left in the tank? In 2013, Ohio State broke undefeated and ranked Northwestern and it took them 2 years to recover. The loss to Michigan wasn't quite as heartbreaking (NW was probably at peace with it by about the 4th quarter) but they'll need to be at full power to handle an Iowa team that continues to have success on the ground and on defense. Northwestern is the better team, but don't underestimate the hangover effect. Iowa: 16--NW: 13
Schweinfurth: You have to think that Northwestern is reeling after the beating they took last week. This seems to happen every year. Northwestern gets off to a great start and then puts all their energy into one game, get their hearts ripped out, and then crash the rest of the year. It looks like it might happen again this year. Iowa is just bullying teams with their defense and physical run game. The Wildcat defense was totally shut down last week and I don't see much changing this week. The Northwestern crash begins. Iowa: 20--NW: 3
Seeberg: Let's be honest here, both teams are already playing with house money at 6-0 (Iowa), 5-1 (NW) and in the top 20. However, NW basically collapsed after their last nationally relevant game ended in defeat against the Buckeyes in Evanston two years ago. The 38-0 scoreline against TTUN was a touch misleading as 14 points came off of returns (kick and INT), but Northwestern still got exposed and they haven't scored more than 27 against an FBS opponent this season. This is the biggest test for Iowa to date, but after winning ugly against an albeit down Wisconsin team at their hellhole of a stadium, I don't expect the Cubbie-crazy Chicago suburb to be too into this game after the loss at UM. Hawkeyes ugly their way to 7-0. IOWA: 17--NW: 10
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: Bama seemed to have rebounded with a monster of a game vs. UGA but the Arkansas game was clearly a little scary for 3 quarters for those in Tuscaloosa. A&M is another of those teams just hanging around. Are they good? I have no idea, but I think Bama, when at their peak, is solid. I fear for my life too much to pick against Saban, even at Kyle Field. Bama: 31--TAMU: 21
Hoying: It's possible that the SEC's best team is playing in this game, and that they'll be wearing the home maroons. After thrashing Arizona State in the season opener, the Aggies have quietly strung together 4 more wins behind the excellent play of QB Kyle Allen. Meanwhile, Alabama struggled to do anything for 3 quarters against Bert before pulling away. Stopping the Arkansas offense is one thing; can Saban shut down Texas A&M? Ole Miss needed every trick in the book and every favorable bounce to bounce Alabama, and I don't think lightning is going to strike twice until Bama's opponent has a bit more thunder in the tank. Bama: 38--TAMU: 28
Schweinfurth: One gets the feeling that Alabama has been escaping more games this year than in the past. This isn't the Alabama of the last few years. Saban still hasn't figured out how to stop a good spread offense and relies on guys who are on the large, slower side. It does seem that Lane Kiffin has pulled his head out of his backside (Saban's edict?) and has begun to rely on that strong running game lead by Derrick Henry. The Aggies always give the Tide fits and this is another close one. Henry and the Tide run game are the difference. Bama: 42--TAMU: 38
Seeberg: Bama is 5-1 this season despite not really looking much like Bama for long stretches with the exception of their thrashing of Georgia. They were down 7-3 in the 3rd quarter against we-lost-to-Toledo Arkansas before waking up to win 27-14. In a slightly darker shade of Crimson, the Aggies haven't really faced any adversity whatsoever in their 5-0 start except against- that's right- we-also-lost-to-Texas-Tech Arkansas. The Aggies needed OT to escape the Razorbacks. The difference? The Aggies could not run the ball at all and needed Kyle Allen heroics (358 pass yds) to win. Bama has an improving Jay Coker and Derrick Henry to hand the ball to. That balance will, combined with Bama's D shutting down the run like Arkansas did, give the Crimson Tide a close win. BAMA: 27--TAMU: 20
Michigan State Spartans @ Michigan Wolverines
Draper: This game all of a sudden got realllllll interesting. Michigan is arguably the hottest team in football with 3 straight shutouts. MSU has been limping along all season similar to OSU. The question is: Is MSU (and OSU) bored, or do they have chinks in the armor? I imagine it's a little of both. In my opinion, Michigan is playing at their maximum level and we have yet to see the best of MSU. Being in the Big House, the Wolverine faithful will be strutting their stuff up until kickoff. Something tells me, this is the week in which MSU puts it together. Cook, and Scott steadily wear down the vaulted Wolverine defense and the Spartan defense exposes Jake Rudock as the worthless QB he is. Close game, but the Blue go home crying after another beat at the hands of 'little brother'. MSU: 20 -- UM: 13
Hoying: Remember when the hot talk was whether Ohio State and Michigan State could both make the playoff after blowing through their easy conference slates? Suddenly, the hot takes aren't talking about either team representing the B1G. Three straight shutouts will do wonders for a team's reputation, even when that team has done this to us before in recent memory, starting 4-0 in 2009 (finished 5-7), 5-0 in 2010 (finished 7-6), and 5-0 in 2013 (finished 7-6). What's the mark of Michigan being back for real? Knocking off Little Brother. The Maize and Blue owned the Green and White before Lloyd left, but it's been incredibly rough sailing since. Part of it is the constant coaching changes, especially since a first-year Wolverine coach hasn't beaten their #2 rivals since Bennie Oosterbaan in 1948. This year, the evil empire has the better defense and maybe even the better running game. This one will come down to how well the Spartan front can rattle Rudock and force him to make mistakes. Sparty's struggled to put away worse teams, and after seeing Utah pick off Cal QB Jared Goff 5 times, it looks like maybe Jake's not the turnover machine Buckeye Nation thought they could ridicule all year. Be glad we have another 6 weeks to prepare, because the Harbaugh victory train keeps right on rolling. MSU: 20--UM: 24
Schweinfurth: I really don't know what to make of these two teams. TUN defense actually looks legit, but I have serious questions about Jake Rudock as a decent QB. I feel like he just hasn't done much and the Wolverines rely way too much on the run game. On the other side, the Spartans have been playing uninspired football the last few weeks and barely escaped Piscataway with a win last week. We know Dantonio can coach up that defense and I think the Spartans have been looking forward to this game all year to this point. We finally see the Spartan team that rolled Oregon in week two and L.J. Scott has a big day chewing up clock. All hail Little Brother. MSU: 17--UM: 14
Seeberg: If anyone tells you they had the Wolverines favored by a full touchdown in this game at the start of the season, then they have taken a quantum leap in the field of compulsive lying. Yet somehow, that's where we find ourselves. I think the Spartans are probably the better team assuming both squads are at even strength, but a laundry list of injuries has Sparty looking quite pedestrian. Meanwhile, Jake Rudock has looked positively competent since his disastrous 3 INT performance against Utah, although I do think the 38 points put up against NW last week is a bit misleading (kick return TD and a pick-6 account for 14 of those points). Nonetheless, the hideous maize and blue are the better team right now. The shutout streak ends, but L.J. Scott is really all MSU has on offense, and it won't be enough. Sorry Sparty. MSU: 13--UM: 20
Florida Gators @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: A sexy matchup in the Bayou...before Will Grier was suspended for the year. The Gators were a pleasant surprise through the first half of the year (even with the close call vs. UK) but this is the straw that broke the Gator's back...and oh yeah, there's a guy named Leonard Fournette on the other sideline. With Grier, the Gators had a chance (still not a great one), without him, I don't see this being close. Death Valley is really tough to win in at night, even for full teams. This could be over by half. UF: 10--LSU: 27
Hoying: A league of terrible quarterbacks just got terribler. Florida's Will Grier, a virtual lock for all-SEC QB, peed in the wrong cup and now he'll have to watch Treon Harris bumble and stumble his way against a fearsome Tiger D in Death Valley. That is, if Harris himself doesn't get suspended again before Saturday. It's not like LSU is going to be any better through the air, but when you have Leonard Fournette, you don't really need a two-dimensional offense. It's like having a 16 oz prime rib and complaining that your salad doesn't have enough croutons on it. Florida, like a crouton, is toast, and not even the Ol' Ball Coach could save them. It's not possible to lose your superstar QB for the season and compete for the national title. Fla: 17--LSU: 31
Schweinfurth: What happens when you don't check the label on your over-the-counter supplements? You get suspended for using a PED (oops). So now both teams have huge question marks at the QB position. It's also put up or shut-up time for Fournette. I think he will provide all the offense LSU needs in this game, but doesn't rip off the big one he has had the last few weeks. Fla: 13--LSU: 14
Seeberg: Can LSU throw the ball? I honestly have no idea. What's scarier is that LSU has no idea either, averaging a paltry 122 yards per game. If Fournette runs all over the Gators he is a likely shoe-in for the Heisman but I don't see that happening. He'll certainly get near/over 100 yards, but it will probably take 20-25 carries. Florida's offense isn't exactly a juggernaut either, but they did put up 38 on Ole Miss which is more than I would expect LSU to score against the Rebels. Oddly, Florida doesn't run the ball particularly well, so both offenses are one-dimensional. In short, the squad I trust most on the field is the Florida D, having faced better competition than LSU and giving up 8 fewer ppg. Fournette might make enough plays to win it, but if he doesn't do it by himself, the Gators will rule the day. STOP THE PRESSES: Will Grier was just suspended for the season for testing positive for PEDs. I had Florida before that news, but that just might be the break LSU needs to pull out a low-scoring win. FLA: 10--LSU: 17
Penn State Nittany Lions @ THE University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Draper: Penn State was to be the second biggest threat to the Buckeyes after the Spartans. Now, I'm not really concerned at all. Christian Hackenberg was once the NFL darling, but he folds under pressure...uh oh. The front seven will be giving him fits all day (I'm saying 5 sacks). I haven't seen a single thing out of Happy Valley that should worry the Buckeyes. This is a rebound game for the defense after a subpar performance vs. craptastic Maryland. Offensively, there were some good things that need to continue. This whole redzone QB thing bothers me (if JT is the best making decisions in the red zone, he's the best option period) but we should have plenty of time to work out the kinks. Game goals: , no turnovers for the offense, utilize the short passing game effectively but take a few shots deep, and the usual 100+ for Zeke. Defensively, at least 3 sacks, zero big plays, and run defense. Another tune-up game that SHOULD be done by half. PSU: 10 -- OSU: 38
Hoying: FINALLY. That's the #1 Buckeye team we've been waiting to see since Labor Day. No turnovers? Check. Perfect in the red zone? Check. Contain the QB? ......well, it's a good thing we don't have to worry about facing another mobile QB for a while (bring it on, Cook & Rudock). Last year, this was the game that I thought would solidify OSU's resurrection from their awful loss to VT, but it instead showed that they could handle adversity and come together when it mattered most. This season, I'm not really worried. Hackenberg continues to struggle when put under pressure (dear Lord...) and the two-headed monster should shred an overrated Nittany Lion D. Make no mistake, Penn State is a complete mirage, and if the Bucks keep their current trajectory, they might steal a few first place votes back on Sunday morning. PSU: 13--OSU: 35
Schweinfurth: Ahh yes, Pick Six University is rolling into town this week to face off the Men of the Black and...What are our school colors again? The two headed monster of Cardale and J.T. looked good and the coaching staff did a very good job of playing to both QBs' strengths. I expect this to continue with some J.T. sprinkled in to other areas of the field as well (probably some short yardage packages). This is going to be a pass first game as the Nittany Lions are going to load up to stop Zeke. Is this the week we see Braxton throw a pass? Maybe if it is the jet sweep tap pass. Otherwise, he stays on the outside. I expect Braxton and Thomas to have huge games (100+ yards each). We also get to see Christian Sackenberg and boy will he take a beating. Yes, the Lion offensive line has looked better since that Temple game, but they haven't faced a D-Line like this since last year's OSU game and they gave up 4 sack. Lewis, Washington, Bosa, and Lee all get at least one sack in this game. PSU lives up to expectations this year and Powell gets the pick six. PSU: 10--OSU: 45
Seeberg: SO many games this week that seem as if they will be closely contested, this is the only one I can pick with a good amount of confidence. The offense seemed to take a step forward last week. Still too many penalties but no turnovers is definitely a plus. J.T. in the red zone was unexpected but highly effective. We just have to hope that one week of tape isn't enough for teams to put a package together to thwart our sudden red-zone efficiency. Our previously highly touted defense apparently refuses to use a spy on a running quarterback, but thankfully good ole' Sackenburg is a relatively stagnant target in the pocket. I'm still concerned about the receiving corps- only Michael Thomas appears to be getting separation with any consistency. I also think Samuel needs more touches to compliment Zeke and Braxton in the backfield. Still, in the 'Shoe and not the confines of Drunkard Happy Valley for a night game, the Bucks should win going away. PSU: 17--OSU: 38
Upset Special
Draper: Kansas State over Oklahoma
Hoying: Arizona State over Utah
Schweinfurth: West Virginia over Baylor
Seeberg: Louisville over Florida State
Standings
1) Draper 8-1 (1-1 upset)
1) Seeberg 8-1 (0-2 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 7-2 (1-1 upset)
4) Hoying 5-4 (1-1 upset)
Hope you enjoyed those easy victories over Virginia Tech and Hawai'i, Buckeye Nation, because the cupcake train is over. Coming up, the Bucks have not one, but TWO games against teams from the MAC, the first conference this season to crack the ALMIGHTY SEC WEST. There are a few ranked matchups scattered across the college football landscape, but the real action this Saturday will be down by the banks of the Olentangy.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Malik Zaire is gone and that is simply devastating to the Irish hopes of greatness. They eked out the win last week, but GT is just steamrolling people now. Paul Johnson is showing what can happen with the option offense and really good athletes. It's nearly impossible to get ready to face a pure option offense that runs this well. The best chance to win is to outscore the option team...and ND lost their QB. Jacketstime! GT: 41 -- ND: 24
Hoying: Old and busted...new hotness. The Irish are losing weapons fast, with RB Tarean Folston going down at the hands of the 'Horns and QB Malik Zaire getting destroyed by the 'Hoos. The injuries haven't hurt the Irish yet, because they played...Texas and Virginia (and apparently college DBs still don't know what "defense" is), but a powerful Georgia Tech offense is going to put a lot of pressure on the Notre Dame offense to keep up. Good thing they still have Everett Gols...whoops. The Ramblin' Wreck crashes into the playoff discussion with a big road victory. GT: 34--ND: 24
Schweinfurth: Notre Dame had a game last week, eh? Losing Zaire plus several other playmakers are going to make, what looked like a top 10 team, a team that will probably make a meh bowl game. Georgia Tech can just grind teams down and that is exactly what the Yellow Jackets do. GT: 35--ND:20
Seeberg: At the start of the season I had Georgia Tech as the surprise ACC winner. Notre Dame might have been a decent test as they can likely score with the Ramblin' Wreck (they're a heckuva engineer), but without Zaire at QB I can't picture them conjuring up enough points. Georgia Tech's triple option is tough enough to prep for as it is, and ND's subpar defense will be exposed. GT: 38--ND: 21
Ole Miss Rebels @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Ole Miss seems to continually get credit simply for playing in the SEC West. They pulled the upset last year...then collapsed. They've overrun the 'competition' this year, but those quotation marks tell a story. Revenge is always a factor and Nick Saban doesn't forget. Revenge game in Tuscaloosa? Sorry Rebs. Miss: 17 -- Bama: 31
Hoying: Poor Ole Miss. Last year they pulled off the monster upset in Oxford, catapulting them into the national title discussion, and it didn't matter at all. Alabama still ran the table and ended up #1 in the final playoff committee rankings. After last week's SEC West near-implosion, it looks like the Tide are poised to do it again, regardless of the outcome of this game. And that's a shame, because Ole Miss has blown the doors off their first two opponents and look like they could really put a scare into another super-tough Tide defensive squad. But if there's anything my last two weeks of craptastic picks have taught me, it's that 2015 does not appear to be the year of the upset. Pick the favorite and move on. Miss: 24--Bama: 31
Schweinfurth: Ole Miss' offense has looked really good this year, albeit against very inferior competition. However, Alabama's offense isn't exactly lighting teams up. As much as Saban likes to play defense and a adequate offense, the Tide are going to have to score a lot of points. I think Ole Miss pulls this one out...and Bama will drop 1 spot in the poles. Miss: 42--Bama:35
Seeberg: The Ole Miss football team is averaging 74.8 points over its first two games. Allow that to sink in for a minute. For perspective, only 29 men's BASKETBALL teams averaged more last season. That average is likely to drop significantly against a staunch Crimson Tide D...but not as much as you might think. The Bama offense has been very mediocre thus far, managing just 36 ppg, including a sleepwalking 37-point performance against Middle Tennessee State. To put it bluntly, I don't trust Lane Kiffin to keep the ball away from Ole Miss long enough. He'll probably give the ball to Derrick Henry more often than he did in the Sugar Bowl (I've said it before and I'll say it again- if he had 25 touches in that game the Buckeyes would have lost), but I don't think it will be enough. The Rebels do the unthinkable and pull back-to-back upsets of the King of the SEC. Miss: 38--Bama: 33
BYU Cougars @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: Everyone continues to hype the Bruins, but how good are they really? BYU has been the master of the Hail Mary, but will that last? Something's gotta give. BYU is an ok team...but I don't see a real contender (especially without Taysom Hill). Rosen isn't the second coming, but he's pretty darn good. The game in the Rose Bowl solidifies the choice. Bruins win comfortably (and make sure the game is not within a TD on the last possession). BYU: 20 -- UCLA: 38
Hoying: How good is UCLA's prevent defense? We know how good Nebraska's and Boise State's are (bad, m'kay.) 2-0 is 2-0, and against 2 good teams at that, but the Cougs are 2 Hail Joseph Smiths away from being another mid-major also-ran with a busted QB. Meanwhile every trendy voice in the college football world is falling all over himself to crown freshman QB Josh Rosen as the next Jameis Manziel. With no Taysom Hill taking the field for BYU, we won't learn as much about UCLA as we might've from this game, unless they lose. Make sure you keep a 2 possession lead until the end, Bruins. BYU: 20--UCLA: 31
Schweinfurth: Let's see, I know enough about these teams to pick a score. :) BYU: 17--UCLA: 28
Seeberg: UCLA has looked remarkably steady under freshman QB Josh Rosen early. BYU has looked exactly how you'd expect a team to look under a reasonably talented backup thrown into duty: bipolar. Still, both squads are 2-0 making this a surprisingly intriguing early-season game. I can't decide if Rosen will break out and drop 50 on anyone this year. I don't think it will happen just yet, but a sound bend-but-don't-break defense (*cough Tressel cough*) will keep the freshman confident and he appears to play well as a front runner. The Cougars run out of Mormon Magic in the Rose Bowl. BYU: 13--UCLA: 34
Auburn Tigers @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Auburn has those stirring wins vs. 0-2 Louisville and in OT vs. Jacksonville State...woof. LSU has an impressive win vs. CLANGA on the docket, and returns to the Bayou...uh oh. I think this one should be a sizable win for the Tigah's, but Les Miles tries to 'dumb it up' and makes it closer. Leonard Fournette is still a stud and will finally show that Malzahn is back to earth. Aub: 17 -- LSU: 31
Hoying: Y'all is still Tiger bait. One team can't throw the ball well, the other doesn't even try to. I suppose that gives the advantage to the team that can run the ball. LSU has Leonard Fournette, who gashed the Bulldogs for 159 yards and 3TDs. Auburn has Peyton Barber: good, not great. Then again, this game might come down to the team that doesn't collapse during the 4th quarter, a feat neither of these teams has yet accomplished (though it hasn't cost either one...yet). LSU should have the lead at that point, so...advantage Auburn? Hahahaha no. Aub: 17--LSU: 24
Schweinfurth: Auburn almost lost to Jacksonville St. While I don't think LSU is a world beater, Auburn should have lost to Jacksonville St. Because Auburn should have lost to Jacksonville St, I'll take LSU. Aub: 10--LSU: 17
Seeberg: Auburn looked very good for a half against Louisville...and very horrendous in the three halves (plus OT) they have played since. I really thought that the Tigers' (Auburn Tigers, that is) run game would give Jeremy Johnson enough time to adjust and surprise a few people. I thought wrong. He has a mediocre QBR and less than 190 passing yards per game against Louisville and a 1-AA opponent (albeit one on the top 5). LSU is just too suffocating on D and Fournette will keep the ball away from Auburn, limiting their opportunities to score. This one goes to the Tigers (can't go wrong there!) Aub: 13--LSU: 27
Northern Illinois Huskies @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This is simply another round of: Will Urban call a game suited to the strengths of this team? If he stretches the field with Cardale and/or runs the read option with JT, this team won't be stopped. Otherwise, I'm confident the Bucks win comfortably, but I want a pasting. The defense was great last week. If they keep it going, we'll be in great shape. I'm more concerned with the offense. There are no more excuses. Time to stomp these teams mercilessly. 38-0 is great, but we were not good on offense. What happens if we do play well on offense? It may be rated NSFW. That's what we need here. Take no prisoners and be the monsters of college football that you should be. NIU: 10 -- OSU: 56
Hoying: Whither the Buckeye O? Cardale didn't look too sharp on Saturday, and the defenders were getting outside before Zeke was, but the Bucks did have an impressive red zone performance, going 5-for-5 with 4 TDs. With a full week to prepare for a mediocre MAC-style defense, Buckeye Nation should expect a few more fireworks this week. Of course, you always win when the other team doesn't score, and the Silver Bullets look even better than they did during last year's championship run. They'll be tested by QB Drew Hare and the impressive Husky passing attack, but Eli Apple, Gareon Conley, and Vonn Bell should be able to make some big plays and preserve a big margin for our beloved Bucks. MORE JT! NIU: 13--OSU: 52
Schweinfurth: The offense was a hot mess last week. The execution was messy and I think the Slobs looked tired. I am in the camp that a short week after a VERY physical game will do that to a team. Yes, Northern Illinois is a good MAC team. The Huskies just aren't on the same level as the Buckeyes. I do think the Huskies will score and keep it close for a quarter or two, but Ohio State just has way too much talent to lose. I expect the Silver Bullets to stay loaded and force a few turnovers. The offense will respond and we should see the typical Cardale led offense that we grew accustom to in the postseason last year. Zeke gets his yards, Braxton goes X-Brax again, and Cardale shows of the 12 gauge. On a side note, Ohio State made the best decision in bringing back the grey sleeve stripes. NIU: 17--OSU: 49
Seeberg: Let's be honest, even if this were the Northern Illinois team circa 2012 that was ripping the MAC apart, they would still be no contest for the Buckeyes. Sadly for the Huskies, they are a couple notches worse than those NIU teams and they are entering the 'Shoe to face a team looking to prove last week (a 38-0 win, mind you) was nowhere near their best game. The playcalling offensively has been head-scratching at times, likely a combination of new play-callers not knowing how to best use the vast array of weaponry available to them. No shutout this week, but an equally convincing win. NIU: 10--OSU: 48
Upset Special
Draper: Stanford over SC (saw Duke was favored)
Hoying: Boston College over Florida State
Schweinfurth: Air Force over Michigan St (why not)
Seeberg: Western Kentucky over Indiana
