Normally it would be hard to stir up any excitement for a middle of November college football Saturday when national title contenders Auburn, Oregon, and TCU are all on bye weeks, but by scheduling the mediocre Illinois/Northwestern and Notre Dame/Army games at Wrigley Field and Yankee stadium respectively Saturday has some added intrigue. Scheduling a "who cares about" Big 10 game at the best venue to watch any sport in the country and taking a classic rivalry back to a place, in name only, that has held some of the most iconic sporting events is a great move for both the schools and the college game and has to be mentioned with other great sport tweaks like the running ticker in the upper right hand corner for NCAA tourney games, the winter and heritage classics, 24/7, the red zone channel, and NBA TV. The fact that Mark May is against this idea makes me like it even more and is all the convincing I need. All we need is a channel is to run classic slam dunk contests and 3 point shootouts from past NBA All-Star games and a Paulie D-Vinny Jersey Shore spin off show and we will really be on to something. Enough dreaming; now back to this week's games as we pick at least one game in every major football conference and with the start of college hoops we can forget the Big East even plays football until one of their teams is a no chance 20+ point dog in the Orange Bowl.
Ohio State (-3) @ Iowa: Ohio State has tied for or won the Big 10 conference outright in 5 consecutive years which is a truly remarkable stat and shows the consistency of Jim Tressel's teams, but also shows the relative lack of national power in the conference recently. OSU will need improved road play from this year's team to get a win on Senior Day in Iowa and extend that streak to 6 years. This will be OSU's fourth road game this season where they are 2-1 overall and 1-2 vs. the number. Both Illinois and Wiscy were able to run the ball straight at the OSU defense while Terrelle Pryor and the offense have been unable to make the same amount of big plays away from Columbus. Iowa responded well after two previous losses this year and I think they will do the same Saturday after their loss last weekend to Northwestern. Iowa should have success on the ground with Adam Robinson which should open things up for QB Ricky Stanzi to have a big game on Senior Day. I expect a close game in the fourth making the home dog with the experienced QB the play outright and with the points.
Wisconsin (-4) @ Michigan: Wiscy hasn't had much luck at the Big House having lost their last five trips with two of those losses derailing Wisconsin from Pasadena, but if there was ever a year to break that streak this is it. Michigan has given up an average of 34.1 points/game at home and Wiscy already ended a previously poor streak by defeating #1 OSU earlier this year. Michigan's offense has been the catalyst of this year's team, but must improve on the 10 turnovers committed during the past two games to keep this game close. Wiscy will be without injured RB John Clay this week, but has the depth at RB to survive that loss and RB's Matee Ball and James White should find plenty of running lanes behind a massive and one of the best O-lines in the country. I like Wiscy laying the points to end their streak of futility at Michigan and to leave Michigan still searching for their first win over a quality opponent this year.
Stanford (-7) @ California: The "Big Game" is the first of the rivalry games this season and one of the best games of the weekend. I stand by my claim last week that Stanford is the best one loss team in the country and this week they will be tested again on the road. Cal is undefeated at home vs. the number and was a late missed FG away from what would have been a stunning upset of Oregon last Saturday night. Cal QB Brock Mansion will make his third start of the season vs. Stanford and has been very mediocre at best with a completion percentage under 50% and 1 TD pass. The Bears defense has been very un-PAC-10 like while carrying the team with Mansion under center and held Oregon to only 15 points and a season low 317 yards. Stanford has been just as successful on offense as Oregon while running a complete opposite pro style and Cal will need another big defensive effort to stay close. Home dogs are always a smart play in rivalry games and with Stanford on the second of back to back road games, Cal and the points are the play.
Oklahoma (-7.5) @ Baylor: Oklahoma has been dreadful all season on the road with their inability to run the ball or stop the run away from Norman. Coach Bob Stoops has called it one of the most frustrating issues of his coaching career as he has tried to mirror the home routine and he has even asked the Big 12 to wear their home uniforms. The numbers show that OK is 0-3 vs. the number and 1-2 overall with only a 2 point win over Big East member Cincy keeping the Sooners from being winless on the road. Baylor has been more than game this season especially on the ground with super athlete Robert Griffin behind center and RB Jay Finley. A win on Saturday would give Baylor their first ever win over the Sooners and give them 8 wins for the season, two being OK and Texas, and an invitation to a very respectable bowl. Seven and a hook are too many for a team with OK's record on the road to be laying making Baylor the play.
Arkansas (-3.5) @ Miss. St: Arkansas has won 4 straight games behind a steady offense and an improved defense giving up only 20 points/game during that span. The Razorback's are also a surprising 2-1 on the road this season, only falling to Auburn where they collapsed and gave up 28 points in the fourth quarter. Miss. St. has been a surprise this season with their ability to chew up time and yards on the ground and stop running quarterbacks. Miss. State's strengths are not good matchups vs. Ark making the road favorites the play.
Virginia @ Boston College (-6.5): BC has won three straight and has only given up 1 offensive TD during that span behind star LB and Nagurski finalist Luke Kuechly. UVA hasn't won a game all season on the road and I don't think that changes Saturday as BC plays for bowl eligibility.
V Tech (-2.5) @ Miami: While the ACC Atlantic division is still up for grabs VTech has turned the Coastal division into a battle for second place. VTech has won 8 in a row after opening the year with losses to Boise and James Madison, Miami is the third of a tough three game stretch preceded by GTech and UNC. This game means more to Miami who needs a quality win this season and I think that will show Saturday. The Canes can run on the VTech defense and no one will be cheering for a successful Miami run game more than Michael Irvin as Leonard Hankerson is one TD away from breaking his TD reception record.
Last week (3-3) Not counting the Aub/UGA over, which was free money
Season (45-36-1)
No comments:
Post a Comment