Hopefully you've gorged yourselves on good food today, because you're going to want an excuse not to get off the couch starting tomorrow afternoon. It's an uncommon occurence that some of the most important college football games of the week will be taking place on a Friday. That's right; Oregon, Auburn, and Boise State (or, numbers one, two, and four in the BCS rankings) will all be taking to the field on Black Friday. Not only are the teams playing, but they are up against some potentially dangerous teams, making the games all the more interesting. By the time Saturday rolls around, we may already have chaos on our hands depending on how these teams fare tomorrow.
5 Games to Pay Attention To
West Virginia at Pittsburgh (Friday, 12 PM EST)
Not surprisingly, the Backyard Brawl will be crucial in deciding the winner of the Big East Conference. Currently, Pitt holds the lead at 4-1 in the conference, but if West Virginia is able to beat the Panthers, then both teams will sit at 4-2 with one game left (West Virginia, by way of head-to-head competition, would be placed ahead of Pitt in the standings. However, if West Virginia wins, they would have to hope for a UConn loss in order to win the conference). This year's installment of the Backyard Brawl will likely come down to who is better prepared on defense. Neither team has an overly explosive offense (West Virginia averages 363.6 yards per game on offense, compared with Pitt's 362.1), which will make every opportunity to score important for both teams. Both defenses will have to key on the opposing team's running game; for Pitt, the job will be stopping Noel Devine, and West Virginia will look to contain Dion Lewis. Due to Devine's issues this year because of injuries, I believe Pitt holds the upper hand in this one.
My Prediction: 24-17 Pitt
#2 Auburn at #9 Alabama (Friday, 2:30 PM EST)
This is possibly the most anticipated game of the year, let alone this weekend. Alabama, despite having suffered two losses, is still a slight favorite against the visiting Tigers. It is no secret that the Crimson Tide will be looking to stop Cam Newton and his duel threat abilities. Many times this season, Auburn has been in tight games with teams entering halftime, only to blow the game wide open in the second half on the way to somewhat comfortable victories. However, that probably won't be the case against Alabama. Although the Crimson Tide defense may not be as dominant and unbeatable as once thought, they still have the ability to shut down players like Newton. Alabama has the chance to play spoiler here, and there is reason to believe that they have something at stake too. If the Crimson Tide can pull out a win, they still may have a shot at receiving a BCS bowl bid. By late afternoon tomorrow, I believe that the result of this game will have the college football world in as chaotic a state as that of the malls tomorrow morning.
My Pick: 33-30 Alabama
#20 Arizona at #1 Oregon (Friday, 7 PM EST)
A few weeks ago, I predicted that the Oregon vs. California game would be a lot closer than many people expected, because Cal has the tendency to play well on a hit or miss basis. While my prediction proved to be correct, there may have been more than just "blind luck" behind their close game with the Ducks. Cal has the second best defense in the Pac-10, behind Oregon, and was able to hold the Ducks to their lowest point total of the season by twenty seven points. Arizona has the third best defense in the Pac-10, giving up just 3.3 more yards per game than Cal. Unlike Cal, Arizona has an offense capable of scoring with about as much ease as Oregon does. If it weren't for Cal's inability to move the ball late in the game, they may have been able to beat Oregon. Thanks to Nick Foles and the rest of the Wildcat offense, Arizona may be able to close the deal that their defense creates.
My Pick: 28-23 Arizona
#3 Boise State at #19 Nevada (Friday, 10:15 PM EST)
This is, hands down, the best WAC game of the season. Boise State has a great opportunity to make a good final impression with the voters by beating a solid Nevada team. For the last few years, the Wolfpack have been the toughest test in the WAC for the Broncos, with the 2007 game being decided in the 4th overtime, and the 2008 game being decided on the final play of regulation. Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick has yet to beat the Broncos in his career, but he is the main reason why Boise State has had so much trouble with Nevada the past three years. Kaepernick will have to play the game of his life in order to beat the Broncos tomorrow night, but don't put it past the fifth year senior. He has come within a play of knocking off Boise State, and he would love nothing better than to spoil the Broncos national title hopes in front of his home crowd. This is probably the biggest game of Kellen Moore's as well. He will know going into the game how the top two teams in the nation fared earlier in the day, which could be added pressure for the spectacular junior quarterback. Expect an exciting, high scoring affair in this one, with the play of the quarterbacks likely being the difference maker.
My Pick: 49-41 Boise State
#11 Michigan State at Penn State (Saturday, 12 PM EST)
This game could ultimately decide whether or not the Big Ten championship is shared by three teams or two. It is far less likely that Wisconsin will lose at home to Northwestern, or that Ohio State will lose at home to Michigan, but Penn State is a potential trap game for Michigan State. This year, Michigan State has drifted away from the usual Dantonio game plan that relies heavily on the run, and instead leans on Kirk Cousins to move the ball with a short passing attack. The Nittany Lions, however, have a defense capable of stopping that type of offense. They are second in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State, in pass defense, giving up just 189.7 yards per game through the air. If the Nittany Lions can stop Cousins and find ways to score themselves, then they could spoil what has been as close to a dream season as possible for the Spartans. Considering the way Michigan State has found ways to win games this year, I would not be surprised if this game ended up being decided in overtime.
My Pick: 35-34 Michigan State
5 More to Flip To
Michigan at Ohio State (Saturday, 12 PM EST)
Ohio State fans probably hope that Rich Rod will stay in Ann Arbor forever. Or, at least, that the Wolverines continue to have one of the worst defenses in college football.
Florida at #22 Florida State (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)
The Seminoles haven't beaten the Gators since three years before Tim Tebow arrived in Gainesville. This year is a great chance for the Seminoles to get a win against their rivals.
#6 LSU at #12 Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)
This is arguably one of the five biggest games of the weekend. If things work out right, LSU may not play for the SEC championship, yet be in position to play for the National Championship. And there are still people out there that support the current system...
Oregon State at #7 Stanford (Saturday, 7:30 PM EST)
If Arizona doesn't beat Oregon, then the Beavers are the last line of defense for those in favor of parody. How they look against Stanford could be an indicator of how much of a shot they have against Oregon next weekend.
#14 Oklahoma at #10 Oklahoma State (Saturday, 8 PM EST)
This game decides the Big 12 South representative in the Big 12 Championship game. Again, arguably one of the top five games this weekend, but there aren't really any national title implications in this one.
Storylines for the Weekend
Gee-Whiz
On Wednesday, Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee told ESPN that teams like Boise State and TCU don't deserve to play for the national championship. Well, President Gee, whether you think they deserve it or not, they may be in the driver's seat for a title bid after this weekend. If things go the way I think they will, then the only two undefeated teams left in the nation will be the Broncos and the Horned Frogs. Gee may have a point; in most years, Boise State and TCU probably don't have a team capable of being one of the best in the nation. However, that doesn't give anyone the right to cast them aside when they do have a team talented enough to beat anyone they play. Also, since when did being President of Vanderbilt (a.k.a. Perennial Bottom Feeder of the SEC) give you the authority to comment on "running the gantlet" in that conference?
"It's dawg eat dawg, down heyre for au Bowyz"
After this weekend, we could have a situation in the SEC that is something like this: Auburn, currently the team with the best shot at a national championship, loses to Alabama is and thus out of the race. LSU, the team who would become the highest ranked SEC team in the BCS rankings, doesn't get a chance to play for the SEC Championship because they lost to Auburn earlier in the season, and is thus second in the SEC East. Alabama, the only team of the three with multiple losses, could still end up being arguably the best team of the three. This potential scenario would prove that the SEC beats each other up, and teams in the conference knock each other out of a chance to play for the national championship. Meanwhile, a team from a "lesser" conference waltzes in by playing seemingly easier competition. If this were to happen, you can bet Boise State and TCU wouldn't be the only teams voicing their support of a playoff.
Defense Wins Championships
I think that we will truly get to find out if Oregon is for real or not. Up to this point, they have really only played one team that has had a defense that the Little Sisters of the Poor (man, I'm really ripping on Gee's comments) wouldn't be able to score on; California. Cal was able to stop Oregon, and you can be sure that Arizona has the tape of that game, and has identified what Cal did to stop the Ducks offense. I think that tomorrow evening, the entire country will realize what I have suspected is the case for most of the season. The Pac-10 just doesn't have that many teams that can play good defense, and when Oregon actually faces one that does, they don't play like the best team in the nation.
- K. Becks
Showing posts with label penn state. Show all posts
Showing posts with label penn state. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
NCAAF Week 5 Weekend Preview
It seems as if the slate of games from week to week just keeps getting better. If last week wasn't good enough for you, then you're in luck: four of the Big 6 conferences feature games in which two top 25 teams will square off against one another. In two of those four games, both teams are in the top ten. Also, the Boise State debate truly begins, now that the supposed "tough part" of their schedule is behind them, perfect record still intact. This is a bigger weekend than "Monster Saturday" in my opinion, just because of the stakes of certain games. Some of these matchups could ultimately decide who wins a conference.
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#11 Wisconsin at #24 Michigan State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Both of these teams rely on the running game to carry the offensive load. The question is, which defense will do a better job of containing the run? Wisconsin running back John Clay ran for over 100 yards last year in a win over the Spartans, and will likely be a factor in tomorrow's game. While the Spartans biggest task may be stopping Clay, they cannot forget about Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien. Tolzien was key in Wisconsin's win last year by throwing four touchdown passes, and could very well be the x-factor in this game as well. Michigan State has the tools to win this game, but they are going to need to play exceptionally well on both sides of the ball in order to do it.
My Pick: 27-21 Wisconsin
#21 Texas at #8 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
It's not often that the Red River Rivalry isn't regarded as the biggest game of the weekend, but thanks to UCLA's drubbing of the Longhorns last Saturday, it definitely lost some significance in the public eye. However, counting Texas out in this game would be a grave mistake. The Longhorns' loss last weekend can be attributed to two factors: inexperience, and the fact that they had five turnovers. If they can take care of the football better, they should have a much better chance of winning this weekend. I had said at the beginning of this season that I thought Oklahoma was underrated; after the Cincinnati game, I started to wonder if I was wrong. Redemption for last week, as well as the added intensity of a rivalry game should make this one worth watching.
My Pick: 34-24 Oklahoma
#9 Stanford at #4 Oregon (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
This is quite possibly the best game in the Pac-10 this year. These two teams are arguably the best in the conference, and both have been very solid offensively and defensively. Oregon looked almost unstoppable in their first three games, but then struggled a bit against an Arizona State team who has been surprisingly tough this season. Like UCLA, they showed how much turnovers (they forced seven against Arizona State) can be a difference maker. However, the Ducks probably won't be able to rely on turnovers against the Cardinal. Andrew Luck is an extremely talented quarterback who makes good reads and decisions in the pocket. Disrupting Luck will be the task at hand for the Ducks. As for the Cardinal defense, keeping the game close is about all you can do. Oregon will score, but limiting the scoring so that Luck has a chance will be the key. This one is a toss-up, but considering I picked Stanford to win the conference, I'm looking for the upset.
My Pick: 44-41 Stanford
#7 Florida at #1 Alabama (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Other than the loyal Crimson Tide fan base, hearts around the country sank when Ryan Mallet's pass, which was intended to be thrown away, was intercepted by Dre Kirkpatrick, thus sealing the game for Alabama. Maybe next week, right? Well, maybe not. Like Texas was, Florida is probably a little higher in the rankings than they ought to be. Other than last week against Kentucky, the Gators have not looked particularly impressive, and have shown sloppiness on the offensive side of the ball. Tailback Jeff Demps, who has been one of the more productive players for Florida this year, has been wearing a protective boot on his left foot all week. While he should play, his possible diminished impact could be devastating for the Gators. Even with Demps, I don't know how confident I would be in picking Florida to win this game. Still, no one thought Alabama was going to beat Florida last year, either. It could be a shocker, in which case I'll have to eat my words about Florida being overrated.
My Pick: 30-17 Alabama
#22 Penn State at #17 Iowa (Saturday, 8:05 PM ET)
This has been a very intriguing series over the last couple of years. In both 2008 and 2009, Penn State came in as the heavy favorites over the Hawkeyes, but the Hawkeyes managed to win both times. This year, the tables have been turned, as Iowa is the favorite against a Penn State team that has been struggling. The Nittany Lions have had trouble on the offensive end, which is understandable after losing quarterback and team leader Daryll Clark to graduation. Although the rankings wouldn't suggest it, a Penn State win would be about as monumental an upset as when Iowa beat the Nittany Lions in 2008 (when Penn State was ranked #3) considering the way their season has been going so far. Joe Pa's team needs to be more productive on offense if they want that to happen, though.
My Pick: 24-17 Iowa
5 More to Flip To
#16 Miami (Fla.) at Clemson (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
This could be an indicator of who the best team in the entire ACC is.
#2 Ohio State at Illinois (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Illinois can be a tricky team to play on the road. Also, Ron Zook may be on his way out after this season, so he may try to pull out all the stops to get a "job-saver" win.
Virginia Tech at #23 N.C. State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
One of the surprises of the season, N.C. State looks to stay atop the ACC Atlantic division standings.
Tennessee at #12 LSU (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
I'll probably put Tennessee on this list every week from here on out. They always seem to have a shot, and I don't think this week will be any different.
Arizona State at Oregon State (Saturday, 6:30 PM ET)
Oregon State didn't get through their non-conference schedule how they would have liked, but they can start off the Pac-10 season on a positive note by beating a Sun Devils team that has been surprisingly tough this year.
Storylines for the Weekend
How will Georgia respond?
Two weeks ago, I said that Mark Richt was not going to lose his job after this season. Now, he has the tools back to prove me right. After serving his four game suspension, All-SEC wide receiver A.J. Green will be back to help the Bulldogs take on Colorado. How big of a deal is this for Georgia? Well, I picked Green as one of my preseason Heisman hopefuls, and the 6'4 receiver is a huge target who can go up and pick balls out of the air, which should help out redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray tremendously. Georgia still has a chance to turn this season around, and if they do, Green will likely be instrumental in their success.
Who wants to step up?
The ACC is doing it again. It's impossible to peg a team in the conference as the best for more than a week. Rankings wise, Miami is still the best team. However, upstart N.C. State is the only team in the conference that is still unbeaten. Virginia Tech, which got off to the worst start possible, now has the chance to take the lead in the Coastal division with a win against N.C. State. In other words, this conference is a mess. Again. If someone wants to step up as the frontrunner in this division, then now would be the time to do it.
- K. Becks
Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend
#11 Wisconsin at #24 Michigan State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
Both of these teams rely on the running game to carry the offensive load. The question is, which defense will do a better job of containing the run? Wisconsin running back John Clay ran for over 100 yards last year in a win over the Spartans, and will likely be a factor in tomorrow's game. While the Spartans biggest task may be stopping Clay, they cannot forget about Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien. Tolzien was key in Wisconsin's win last year by throwing four touchdown passes, and could very well be the x-factor in this game as well. Michigan State has the tools to win this game, but they are going to need to play exceptionally well on both sides of the ball in order to do it.
My Pick: 27-21 Wisconsin
#21 Texas at #8 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
It's not often that the Red River Rivalry isn't regarded as the biggest game of the weekend, but thanks to UCLA's drubbing of the Longhorns last Saturday, it definitely lost some significance in the public eye. However, counting Texas out in this game would be a grave mistake. The Longhorns' loss last weekend can be attributed to two factors: inexperience, and the fact that they had five turnovers. If they can take care of the football better, they should have a much better chance of winning this weekend. I had said at the beginning of this season that I thought Oklahoma was underrated; after the Cincinnati game, I started to wonder if I was wrong. Redemption for last week, as well as the added intensity of a rivalry game should make this one worth watching.
My Pick: 34-24 Oklahoma
#9 Stanford at #4 Oregon (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
This is quite possibly the best game in the Pac-10 this year. These two teams are arguably the best in the conference, and both have been very solid offensively and defensively. Oregon looked almost unstoppable in their first three games, but then struggled a bit against an Arizona State team who has been surprisingly tough this season. Like UCLA, they showed how much turnovers (they forced seven against Arizona State) can be a difference maker. However, the Ducks probably won't be able to rely on turnovers against the Cardinal. Andrew Luck is an extremely talented quarterback who makes good reads and decisions in the pocket. Disrupting Luck will be the task at hand for the Ducks. As for the Cardinal defense, keeping the game close is about all you can do. Oregon will score, but limiting the scoring so that Luck has a chance will be the key. This one is a toss-up, but considering I picked Stanford to win the conference, I'm looking for the upset.
My Pick: 44-41 Stanford
#7 Florida at #1 Alabama (Saturday, 8 PM ET)
Other than the loyal Crimson Tide fan base, hearts around the country sank when Ryan Mallet's pass, which was intended to be thrown away, was intercepted by Dre Kirkpatrick, thus sealing the game for Alabama. Maybe next week, right? Well, maybe not. Like Texas was, Florida is probably a little higher in the rankings than they ought to be. Other than last week against Kentucky, the Gators have not looked particularly impressive, and have shown sloppiness on the offensive side of the ball. Tailback Jeff Demps, who has been one of the more productive players for Florida this year, has been wearing a protective boot on his left foot all week. While he should play, his possible diminished impact could be devastating for the Gators. Even with Demps, I don't know how confident I would be in picking Florida to win this game. Still, no one thought Alabama was going to beat Florida last year, either. It could be a shocker, in which case I'll have to eat my words about Florida being overrated.
My Pick: 30-17 Alabama
#22 Penn State at #17 Iowa (Saturday, 8:05 PM ET)
This has been a very intriguing series over the last couple of years. In both 2008 and 2009, Penn State came in as the heavy favorites over the Hawkeyes, but the Hawkeyes managed to win both times. This year, the tables have been turned, as Iowa is the favorite against a Penn State team that has been struggling. The Nittany Lions have had trouble on the offensive end, which is understandable after losing quarterback and team leader Daryll Clark to graduation. Although the rankings wouldn't suggest it, a Penn State win would be about as monumental an upset as when Iowa beat the Nittany Lions in 2008 (when Penn State was ranked #3) considering the way their season has been going so far. Joe Pa's team needs to be more productive on offense if they want that to happen, though.
My Pick: 24-17 Iowa
5 More to Flip To
#16 Miami (Fla.) at Clemson (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
This could be an indicator of who the best team in the entire ACC is.
#2 Ohio State at Illinois (Saturday, 12 PM ET)
Illinois can be a tricky team to play on the road. Also, Ron Zook may be on his way out after this season, so he may try to pull out all the stops to get a "job-saver" win.
Virginia Tech at #23 N.C. State (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
One of the surprises of the season, N.C. State looks to stay atop the ACC Atlantic division standings.
Tennessee at #12 LSU (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
I'll probably put Tennessee on this list every week from here on out. They always seem to have a shot, and I don't think this week will be any different.
Arizona State at Oregon State (Saturday, 6:30 PM ET)
Oregon State didn't get through their non-conference schedule how they would have liked, but they can start off the Pac-10 season on a positive note by beating a Sun Devils team that has been surprisingly tough this year.
Storylines for the Weekend
How will Georgia respond?
Two weeks ago, I said that Mark Richt was not going to lose his job after this season. Now, he has the tools back to prove me right. After serving his four game suspension, All-SEC wide receiver A.J. Green will be back to help the Bulldogs take on Colorado. How big of a deal is this for Georgia? Well, I picked Green as one of my preseason Heisman hopefuls, and the 6'4 receiver is a huge target who can go up and pick balls out of the air, which should help out redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray tremendously. Georgia still has a chance to turn this season around, and if they do, Green will likely be instrumental in their success.
Who wants to step up?
The ACC is doing it again. It's impossible to peg a team in the conference as the best for more than a week. Rankings wise, Miami is still the best team. However, upstart N.C. State is the only team in the conference that is still unbeaten. Virginia Tech, which got off to the worst start possible, now has the chance to take the lead in the Coastal division with a win against N.C. State. In other words, this conference is a mess. Again. If someone wants to step up as the frontrunner in this division, then now would be the time to do it.
- K. Becks
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
NCAAF: Big Ten Preview
Tiger Woods is struggling, Johnny Cueto is kicking, and Darrelle Revis is still holding out. With all that is going on in the sport-o-sphere, I'm kind of sad that I'm not covering any of it. However, I'm excited to be close enough to the start of college football to be giving my predictions, and I'm especially excited that today I get to cover the Big 10 conference. Just keep holding out Revis, so that I have something to talk about once my preview is completed.
Overview
The Big 10 may finally be ready to challenge the SEC for the title of "Best Conference in College Football". After a promising bowl season last year, in which the Big 10 won four of their seven bowl games and finished with four teams in the Top 15 in the final rankings (the first conference to do that since...the Big Ten, in 1999), 2010 could finally be the year that they gain respect from the media once again. Come early January, all eyes may be on a certain Big Ten team to see whether or not they can compete in yet another national title game, and silence the critics that have screamed "overrated" ever since this certain team's meltdown in the 2007 title game.
Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
Ohio State
It may not seem like it's been this long, but it's been five years since anyone other than Ohio State has won the Big 10 title. The Buckeyes hope to continue that streak for at least another year, with arguably the best team to be assembled in Columbus since the 2006-2007 season. It is widely believed that Terrelle Pryor is finally ready to lead the Buckeyes, after he showed significant improvement last year and played extremely well in leading the Buckeyes to victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl. If Pryor really is ready, the Buckeyes have the pieces around him on offense and the usual lockdown defense to make it back to Glendale.
Iowa
Obviously, the Hawkeyes will have to focus on one game at a time, making sure they don't stub their toe against a Northwestern like last season. However, the fact that their season will likely come down to one game, on November 20th versus Ohio State, is common knowledge to just about everyone following college football. In order for that game to have such meaning, they will have to be more efficient on offense than they were last season. Coming from behind makes for great storylines, but it isn't the best way to preserve an undefeated season.
Watch Out! (Team That Could Surprise)
Michigan State
The reason that the Spartans could do well this year is that they return a lot of key starters, and their schedule is pretty favorable. Michigan State gets to play their first five games at home (the game against Florida Atlantic is in Detroit, which is essentially a home game), and they don't have to deal with Ohio State this year. Kirk Cousins is a good, productive quarterback, so if the Spartans can find a running game (which coach Mark Dantonio is known for having), then they could surprise some people.
Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Penn State vs. Alabama (September 11th)
I really think that Penn State could be trouble for Alabama. With Penn State having to replace so many starters on both offense and defense, this could be a team that comes out of nowhere. Of course, Penn State may end up being totally befuddled by Alabama, making this game one not to watch. However, I'm going to say that the Nittany Lions will still be pushing Alabama by the fourth quarter in this one.
In-Conference Game To Watch
Ohio State vs. Iowa (November 20th)
Chances are, this game will probably decide who wins the Big 10 title. However, this game could have much bigger implications as well. If both teams manage to stay perfect up to this point in the season, the winner could be headed to Glendale in January. Clock management will probably be a factor in this game, just as it was last year.
Conference Predictions
1. Ohio State (12-0, [8-0])
2. Iowa (10-2, [6-2])
3. Wisconsin (10-2, [6-2])
4. Penn State (9-3, [6-2])
5. Michigan State (8-4, [4-4])
6. Northwestern (8-4, [4-4])
7. Purdue (7-5, [4-4])
8. Michigan (5-7, [3-5])
9. Illinois (3-9, [2-6])
10. Minnesota (3-9, [0-8])
11. Indiana (2-10, [0-8])
Next, I'll be taking a half step back and a leap South as I preview the Sun Belt Conference.
- K. Becks
Overview
The Big 10 may finally be ready to challenge the SEC for the title of "Best Conference in College Football". After a promising bowl season last year, in which the Big 10 won four of their seven bowl games and finished with four teams in the Top 15 in the final rankings (the first conference to do that since...the Big Ten, in 1999), 2010 could finally be the year that they gain respect from the media once again. Come early January, all eyes may be on a certain Big Ten team to see whether or not they can compete in yet another national title game, and silence the critics that have screamed "overrated" ever since this certain team's meltdown in the 2007 title game.
Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
Ohio State
It may not seem like it's been this long, but it's been five years since anyone other than Ohio State has won the Big 10 title. The Buckeyes hope to continue that streak for at least another year, with arguably the best team to be assembled in Columbus since the 2006-2007 season. It is widely believed that Terrelle Pryor is finally ready to lead the Buckeyes, after he showed significant improvement last year and played extremely well in leading the Buckeyes to victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl. If Pryor really is ready, the Buckeyes have the pieces around him on offense and the usual lockdown defense to make it back to Glendale.
Iowa
Obviously, the Hawkeyes will have to focus on one game at a time, making sure they don't stub their toe against a Northwestern like last season. However, the fact that their season will likely come down to one game, on November 20th versus Ohio State, is common knowledge to just about everyone following college football. In order for that game to have such meaning, they will have to be more efficient on offense than they were last season. Coming from behind makes for great storylines, but it isn't the best way to preserve an undefeated season.
Watch Out! (Team That Could Surprise)
Michigan State
The reason that the Spartans could do well this year is that they return a lot of key starters, and their schedule is pretty favorable. Michigan State gets to play their first five games at home (the game against Florida Atlantic is in Detroit, which is essentially a home game), and they don't have to deal with Ohio State this year. Kirk Cousins is a good, productive quarterback, so if the Spartans can find a running game (which coach Mark Dantonio is known for having), then they could surprise some people.
Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Penn State vs. Alabama (September 11th)
I really think that Penn State could be trouble for Alabama. With Penn State having to replace so many starters on both offense and defense, this could be a team that comes out of nowhere. Of course, Penn State may end up being totally befuddled by Alabama, making this game one not to watch. However, I'm going to say that the Nittany Lions will still be pushing Alabama by the fourth quarter in this one.
In-Conference Game To Watch
Ohio State vs. Iowa (November 20th)
Chances are, this game will probably decide who wins the Big 10 title. However, this game could have much bigger implications as well. If both teams manage to stay perfect up to this point in the season, the winner could be headed to Glendale in January. Clock management will probably be a factor in this game, just as it was last year.
Conference Predictions
1. Ohio State (12-0, [8-0])
2. Iowa (10-2, [6-2])
3. Wisconsin (10-2, [6-2])
4. Penn State (9-3, [6-2])
5. Michigan State (8-4, [4-4])
6. Northwestern (8-4, [4-4])
7. Purdue (7-5, [4-4])
8. Michigan (5-7, [3-5])
9. Illinois (3-9, [2-6])
10. Minnesota (3-9, [0-8])
11. Indiana (2-10, [0-8])
Next, I'll be taking a half step back and a leap South as I preview the Sun Belt Conference.
- K. Becks
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