#1 Ohio State @ #18 Wisconsin
Ohio State enters the game coming off of a career day by QB Terrelle Pryor last week versus Indiana throwing for 334 yards. The Buckeyes also come into Camp Randall winners 19 of their last 20 road games in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes will obviously rely heavily on the arm and legs of Pryor to carry them once again. I think we all can establish that the Buckeyes run game is contingent on Pryor. The Buckeyes defense who ranks 6th in the country in points allowed will have its biggest challenge to date. As Wisconsin brings in a potent rushing attack that ranks 11th in the country at nearly 241 yards per game. John Clay is the brusing back that works downhill to gain his yards. While James White is more of a shifty back that can elude tacklers .
Prediction: Let's not forget that the game is in Wisconsin and most of us Buckeye fans have bad memories of undefeated teams heading into Camp Randall (i.e. 2003). The Buckeyes must get up early to keep the crowd some what subdued. The Buckeyes will need another strong performance by Pryor and hopefully they can get something out of Boom Herron. Defensively I think this game plays right into the hands of OSU, an opponent that wants to run, run and run. I like the Buckeyes to pull one out late 31-24.
#12 Arkansas @ #8 Auburn
This will be a game of vastly different offensive styles, as Arkansas prefers the pass with Ryan Mallett whilt Auburn prefers the rushing attack of Cameron Newton. The Razorbacks ranked 3rd nationally in passing averaing 368 yards per game. The Tigers rank 8th in the country averaging 276 yards a game. The Auburn defense has struggled mightly against the pass throughout the season. While Arkansas has not scored any points in the fourth quarter of game since mid September.
Prediction: No one has been able to stop Cameron Newton so far this season can the Razorbacks do it? I'm not buying it! I love Ryan Mallett's arm and his ability to put up big yards but I think the Tigers will play ball control and keep Mallett off the field. We saw in the Bama game that Mallett can be rattled and disrupted and even though I am not sold on the Tiger defense I am sold on Newton. Cameron Newton can do it all he can run or throw and when there is such a dynamic player on the field and the game is at home, how do I resist? I like Auburn 38-28.
Texas @ #5 Nebraska
Wow! I do not care that Texas is struggling this will be a game that you can not miss as a fan. The dislike between these schools goes all the way back to when the Big 12 was formed and this will be the last time they meet under the Big 12 logo. Texas has now abandoned their attempt to run the ball and will go back to Spread Attack we have seen over the past 7 or 8 years. There is one problem no Vince Young and no Colt McCoy these were real dual threat QBs that could cause the defense a problem. In fact the dual threat QB will be on the home side in Taylor Martinez he rushed for over 300 yards last week versus Kansas State. The Cornhuskers are relying on an old formula great defense and running the football. Nebraska is averaging 338 yards per game ranking 2nd in the country.
Prediction: I believe that the Cornhuskers are under ranked at this point in the season and may be one of the top 3 teams in the country. The Huskers will not only prove a point to the Longhorns but to the rest of the country with a dominant performance 41-24.
Upset Special: I have no idea what I am thinking on this one. I am putting my faith into Ron Zook and Ilinois what a scary thought. Michigan State has been through a couple of emotional weeks with wins over Wisconsin and Michigan, not to mention the health scare of head coach Mark Dantonio. These are 18-21 year kids and its tough to get up week after week after week in college football. This could be an emotional letdown with an early start time. Illinois comes into the game with a dominant defeat of Penn State in Happy Valley and that is off the heels of a very close game with the Buckeyes in Champaign. I think a lot of people are under estimating how good the Illinois defense is against the run. We know the Spartans use a two back system with Baker and Bell primarily. I like the Illini to pull the upset on the road 21-17.
No comments:
Post a Comment