#9 Iowa @ #24 Arizona 10:30 PM ESPN
Iowa will travel west to take on Arizona in a game that both teams want to use to springboard themselves into the national spotlight. Iowa got the better of Zona last year 27-17 in Iowa City. This year the Hawkeyes look to break a tough streak going out west where they have lost six in a row. The Hawkeyes are a senior laden team that relies on the running game and a punishing defense to win close games. At QB is Rickey Stanzi a steady senior that is 18-4 as a starter for the Hawkeyes. As usual Iowa has been impressive on the ground averaging 227 yards per game so far this season. The defense has been nearly perfect only allowing 14 points thru two games. DE Adrian Clayborn is a future first round draft pick that anchors a deep and stingy defense. The Hawkeyes will be missing their defensive coordinator Norm Park for the second consecutive week.
Arizona enters the game coming off of two runaway victories over Toledo and FCS The Citadel. The Wildcats will put on display their junior QB Nick Foles who has been nothing short of spectacular for two games. He has completed an outstanding 83% of his passes. Foles will get his first true test of the season against the Hawkeyes who he has experience against nearly leading the Wildcats back against the Hawkeyes in the fourth quarter last season. Once again Foles will look for WR Nic Grigsby the combination has combined for 5 TDs on the young season.
My Prediction: The Hawkeyes are a senior driven team that will not be affected by the large crowd in Tucson. The Hawkeyes will rely heavily on their physical running and timely throwing of Rickey Stanzi to control the ball. Nick Foles will be swarmed and stymied by the Hawkeyes defense: Hawkeyes win a tight one 20-17.
Notre Dame @ Michigan State 8:00 PM ABC or ESPN2
Michigan State is certainly looking for redemption after a tough defeat at the hand of Notre Dame last season. MSU committed a turnover in the red zone and lost to the Irish 33-30. The Spartans enter Saturdays contest after cruising to two easy victories over Western Michigan and Florida Atlantic. Kirk Cousins once again leads the MSU offense but has been less than impressive only producing two touchdowns in two weeks. The Spartans have relied heavily on a 1-2 punch at running back with Sophomore Edwin Baker and true freshman Le’Veon Bell. That name should sound familiar to Central Ohio high school football fans as Bell was a force at Groveport-Madison High School last year.
Notre Dame enters the game coming off its first defeat of the season, losing at home to Michigan. The Irish will be hoping that QB Dayne Crist will be able to exploit a very weak MSU secondary. The back half has been a concern for Spartans all off season and through the first two weeks of the season. I highly expect the Irish to find openings for WR Michael Floyd and highly touted TE Kyle Rudolph. On defense I fully expect the Irish to load up defenders in the box and stop the running game of the Spartans. The Irish come into Saturday defeating the Spartans two of the last three times in East Lansing.
My Prediction: I have not been impressed with the ND defense the first two weeks and I fully expect the Spartans to flex their muscles in the running game. I like the Spartans 21-17.
#8 Nebraska @ Washington 3:30 PM ABC
Nebraska entered the season with a new QB Taylor Martinez who has been productive through his first two home games against much weaker opponents. Saturday will mark the first time Martinez starts a game on the road in Washington. The biggest key for the Cornhuskers will be controlling the noise level inside Husky Stadium which only holds 72,000 fans but has produced 130 decibels on a noise machine. The major part of the Cornhuskers is their defense. Head Coach Bo Pelini allowed the team to bring back the black shirts late last season and that effort has carried over into this season. The Cornhuskers produced five turnovers last week against Idaho.
The Huskies enter the game with maybe the No. 1 NFL Draft pick in QB Jake Locker. In fact the Huskies chances in big game will be based around what Locker is capable of doing. So far Locker has the team off to a (1-1) start; he has thrown for 555 yards and 5 TDs and no interceptions. Locker will have to use both his arm and feet to elude an extremely well versified Cornhusker defense. The Huskies need to get off to a decent start and keep the crowd involved to give them a chance.
My Prediction: The Huskies will keep them game close in the first half but the Cornhuskers will produce the first turnovers by Locker this season. The defense wins this one for the Huskers 24-10.
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