I Can Almost Taste It...

Yet another win over Michigan and a record breaking ninth trip to a BCS game are just a few of the accomplishments for the 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes. Congratulations on an awesome season and a record sixth straight Big Ten championship. Let's win this bowl game and focus on winning a seventh straight!

It hasn't been announced yet, but I have a feeling that OSU won't be heading to the Fiesta Bowl or even South Beach for the Orange Bowl.

Bank on the Buckeyes taking on either Arkansas or South Carolina in the Sugar Bowl.

I can almost taste the sweetness of it... it'd be a hell of a game if the opponent was a top ten ranked SEC opponent (here's hoping its Arkansas so the silver bullets can get after Ryan Mallett).

Championship Game Rundown

SEC Championship Game
#19 South Carolina (9-3) vs. #1 Auburn (12-0)
- It isn't exactly the type of game that we have been accustomed to seeing in recent years (in other words, Alabama and Florida aren't playing in it), but it is still a very intriguing battle to keep an eye on. Obviously if Auburn wins they go to the national championship game while South Carolina would set school records all over the place with 10 wins, an SEC title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl. The Gamecocks will bring their A game, but unfortunately it won't be enough as Auburn has gotten it done all season long in a variety of ways. I see the game being neck and neck for the majority of the contest until Cam Newton breaks a big run to seize every ounce of momentum in the Georgia Dome. Winner: Auburn.

S. Carolina- 26
Auburn- 34

ACC Championship Game
#21 Florida State (9-3) vs. #15 Virginia Tech (10-2)
- I really want to pick Florida State and go into great detail why I think that they can win this game and give Jimbo Fisher an ACC championship in his first year on the job, but I would probably be wasting a lot of my time. Virginia Tech has won 10 straight for a reason (playing outstanding football and being in a terrible conference) and will probably win an 11th straight as FSU isn't quite ready for the spotlight. They'll go on to play in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl while Tech wraps up another ACC crown and a trip to the Orange Bowl.

FSU- 24
VT- 28

Big 12 Championship Game
#13 Nebraska (10-2) vs. #9 Oklahoma (10-2)
- I have had the Huskers pegged as my Big 12 champion since before the season began, but several factors have led to them being a less than confident pick in this game as they enter with multiple injuries and as a team that has seemingly lost their swagger. Oklahoma is riding high after beating their in-state rival in dramatic fashion and will ride that momentum to a Big 12 championship under the direction of Bob Stoops (what else is new?). They'll more than likely play in the Fiesta Bowl and will be looking to win their first BCS contest since the 2003 Rose Bowl against Washington State.

Nebraska- 27
Oklahoma- 31

BCS Bowl Predictions: Pre-Championship Games

BCS National Championship Game-
Oregon Ducks (12-0)
vs.
Auburn Tigers (13-0)

Rose Bowl-
Wisconsin Badgers (11-1)
vs.
TCU Horned Frogs (12-0)

Fiesta Bowl-
Oklahoma Sooners (11-2)
vs.
Stanford Cardinal (11-1)

Orange Bowl-
West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3)
vs.
Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2)

Sugar Bowl-
Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2)
vs.
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1)

I think that Auburn and Oregon will win this weekend to clinch a spot in the national championship game (easy enough). From there, the selection process gets tricky and unlike last season when I felt like I could peg where everyone was going it seems like a pure guessing game at this point.

The Rose Bowl will be Wisconsin - assuming they stay ranked ahead of Ohio State in the BCS - taking on TCU in what should be a very physical game.

The Fiesta Bowl will probably grab Stanford as an at-large team, which will be attractive due to their location in relation to Glendale, their 11-1 record, high BCS ranking and a Heisman candidate in QB Andrew Luck. I see them taking the Big 12 champions who will probably be the Oklahoma Sooners. It being a rematch of last season's Sun Bowl, both of these teams should be very familiar with each other and will need to bring their A-game in order to get the victory.

The Orange Bowl will keep their ties with the ACC going by taking an 11-2 and red hot Virginia Tech team, which will take on the Big East champion (by virtue of not really having much of a choice). At this point will probably be UConn but because I am in disbelief of that I will go with West Virginia with a 9-3 record.

Finally, there is the Sugar Bowl where Buckeye fans should expect to go when the BCS announcements are made. I think they'll take an 11-1 Ohio State to take on an SEC team, which will be either South Carolina if they beat Auburn for the national championship or Arkansas by virtue of a higher BCS ranking than fellow 10-2 SEC team LSU. Hogs and Bucks fans will invade New Orleans on January 3rd.

I will update my projections after all of the championship games are played this weekend and before the BCS selections are made Sunday night.

My Top Ten- Championship Week

1. Auburn (12-0, vs South Carolina)
2. Oregon (11-0, @ Oregon State)
3. TCU (12-0, end of regular season)
4. Wisconsin (11-1, end of regular season)
5. Ohio State (11-1, end of regular season)
6. Stanford (11-1, end of regular season)
7. Michigan State (11-1, end of regular season)
8. Arkansas (10-2, end of regular season)
9. Oklahoma (10-2, vs Nebraska)
10. Virginia Tech (10-2, vs Florida State)

Outside Looking In...

LSU (10-2)
Nebraska (10-2)
Missouri (10-2)
Nevada (11-1)
South Carolina (9-3)

Game 12- #8 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) vs. Michigan Wolverines (7-4, 3-4)

Where: Ohio Stadium
When: Noon EST
TV: ABC National

The common denominator that has been missing in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry since Rich Rod took over: UM has lacked the big play, electrifying leader that can keep the Wolverines in any game and score at any time.

This season, Denard Robinson finally gives Michigan just what the doctor ordered and is on pace to be invited to New York for the Heisman Tophy ceremony. On top of that, Michigan is bowl bound for the first time since 2007, has one of the top rushers in college football (he's a QB, not a RB) and has one of the most explosive offenses in America. It sounds like the rivalry is finally back to normal... wait, what, Michigan is 112th in the nation in defense? Oh...well, maybe next season it will be back to normal. It is certain though that the rivalry has a face to hate again in Denard Robinson, and combined with Buckeye Nation's disdain for Rich Rodriguez makes Saturday a very intriguing and anticipated battle in The Game for the first time in three years.

Certainly the challenge will be to stop Denard Robinson - which has been difficult to do all season long - but OSU features the perfect defense to slow down the record-setting rusher so that shouldn't be the monumental task that many pundits view it to be. OSU's nickel/star alignment excels as defending spread type offenses (ala the Rose Bowl against Oregon) so I don't think that Michigan will light up the scoreboard much like they have done all season long en route to a seven win season. Don't believe me about the defense? Then check out a professionals take on this match up by checking out the following link:
http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/2010/11/26/1836596/strength-v-strength-the-michigan-offense-v-the-ohio-state-defense

Heading into this game, I wonder if OSU will try to keep Denard off the field all together by running an offense similar to what we saw against Iowa last week where the game plan was predicated on Pryor moving out of the pocket to make plays and allowing Boom Herron to have success on the ground as well. Regardless of the gameplan I expect plenty of points to be scored against one of the worst defenses I've seen at a major college program since I have been alive/cognizant of college football. Any chance to spit in the wounds of a Michigan program that is just not getting it done across the board with Greg Robinson as their defensive coordinator will gladly be taken up by me, or any other OSU fan really. With that being said, I'm not just saying that this will be a blowout because I like to see Michigan suffer, but rather because all factual signs point to it with the Buckeyes averaging 39 points a game this season (take out the 73 point effort against Eastern Michigan, and they still have averaged 36 points per game). I'm not blowing smoke out of my ass when I say that Michigan is a terrible defensive football team, and it will show tomorrow once the early emotion and adrenaline is taken out of the equation.

Pryor will throw for two touchdowns in this game, along with a nice effort on the ground to overshadow anything that Denard Robinson does tomorrow, as Ohio State wraps up yet another Big Ten championship and, just as satisfying, another big win over the Maize and Blue. Boom Herron will have one of his best games in a Buckeye uniform while the defense keeps the Wolverine offense quiet for most of the game. OSU may not dominate the time of possession factor as much as I would like, but the defense will play well enough to make sure that isn't going to come back and bite the Buckeyes in the butt.

Prediction:

Michigan- 17
Ohio State- 45

I really don't care if it is two to nothing in all honesty. Give me a seventh straight win over Michigan, a sixth consecutive Big Ten championship and a trip to a BCS bowl and I should be good to go.

Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 13

#2 Auburn (11-0) @ #11 Alabama (9-2)
- The day after Thanksgiving, all eyes will need to focus away from the malls and toward the television as CBS will host the biggest Iron Bowl match up that I can remember, as Auburn is heading toward a berth in the BCS National Championship game while Alabama (last year's national champ) will be looking to rain on their rival's party. I see that happening in all honesty, as the Tide will feature a fully rounded offensive attack to complement an ever-improving defense en route to an upset of the Auburn Tigers. Sure-fire Heisman winner Cam Newton will have a big game, but won't be able to do it all by himself for the first time this season. Nick Saban will kick Gene Chizik to the curb in this one.

Auburn- 28
Alabama- 34

#5 LSU (10-1) @ #12 Arkansas (9-2)
- Another upset in the making?? Yeah, probably. The Razorbacks have been kept under wraps from the national spotlight ever since losing to Alabama early in the year despite being in position to beat the defending champs throughout the entire game. I think that Ryan Mallett will lead Arkansas to a win against a very good LSU team, but I really can't defend my pick too well. LSU has a great defense that can keep Arkansas in check, but Ryan Mallett has to leave a mark for what should be his final year...right?

LSU- 17
ARK- 23

#13 Oklahoma (10-1) @ #9 Oklahoma State (10-1)
- Points. Lots of points. More points than you can think of. That is what I expect to see when these teams take the field on Saturday night. Oklahoma State features a Doak Walker finalist in running back Kendall Hunter and the eventual winner of the Biletnikoff Award in wide receiver Justin Blackmon, as well as an overachieving group of players that have taken this program to new heights. Oklahoma is...well...Oklahoma, and that is why I am picking them to beat their rivals in the Bedlam game and move on to the Big 12 Championship game.

Oklahoma- 52
OK State- 49

Big Ten Rundown-

Michigan @ #8 Ohio State - TBA

Northwestern (7-4, 3-4) @ #7 Wisconsin (10-1, 6-1)
- If Dan Persa was the quarterback for the Wildcats still, I would be hard pressed not to pull the trigger on calling the biggest upset of Big Ten season to happen in the final week. He is injured, Northwestern is 0-1 without him, and I don't see any luck bouncing the underdog's way this week. Wisconsin will wrap up a dominating Big Ten campaign at home to win its first Big Ten championship since 1999.

#10 Michigan State (10-1, 6-1) @ Penn State (7-4, 4-3)
- UPSET! I hate to think that PSU will finish the year 7-5 despite improving vastly over the course of one of the toughest schedules in America, so I am going to throw Joe Pa and the boys a bone and say that they steal a Big Ten title away from the Spartans and upset Michigan State. Sorry Coach Dantonio...maybe next year.

#24 Iowa (7-4, 4-3) @ Minnesota (2-9, 1-6)
- Literally nothing to say here other than that Iowa will win their eighth game of the season and will represent the Big Ten very well in their respective bowl game after dismantling Minnesota in the final regular season game of the year. This is a very talented yet unlucky bunch of guys, and my heart goes out to their four fourth quarter losses this season.

Indiana (4-7, 0-7) @ Purdue (4-7, 2-5)
- Yawn. I guess with three games being played that will affect the conference race there has to be a game or two that are pretty bad. Despite this being a bitter rivalry game, I'll go ahead and say that this is the worst one of the week. I'll go with Indiana to get their first win of the season in light of the fact that I think Purdue is a God awful team and IU is bound for some good fortune after some of the games they have lost this season. The fun fact for this game: none of the these teams are going bowling! Wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year because you won't see these guys again until 2011.

BCS Bowl Projections- Thanksgiving Week

BCS National Championship-

Boise State Broncos - BCS #2
vs
Oregon Ducks - BCS #1

Rose Bowl-

Stanford Cardinal - At Large
vs
Wisconsin Badgers - Big Ten Champs

Fiesta Bowl-

TCU Horned Frogs - At Large
vs
Oklahoma Sooners - Big 12 Champs

Orange Bowl-

West Virginia Mountaineers - Big East Champs
vs
Virginia Tech Hokies - ACC Champs

Sugar Bowl-

Ohio State Buckeyes - At Large
vs
Auburn Tigers - SEC Champs

It's Time....

It's Michigan Week!!!

And for the first time since 2007, both teams have a winning record.

In the event you have been living under a rock for the past several years or are just in complete denial like most Wolverine fans, Michigan has had a combined record of 8-16 the past two seasons.

If you have been living under a rock/been in denial for longer than that, here is a refreshing course: OSU has won eight of the past nine meetings.

Here's hoping for a seventh straight win over the Blue.

My Top Ten- Michigan Week

1. Auburn (11-0, @ Alabama)
2. Oregon (10-0, vs Arizona)
3. Boise State (10-0, @ Nevada)
4. TCU (11-0, @ New Mexico)
5. Wisconsin (10-1, vs Northwestern)
6. LSU (10-1, @ Arkansas)
7. Ohio State (10-1, vs Michigan)
8. Stanford (10-1, vs Oregon State)
9. Oklahoma State (10-1, vs Oklahoma)
10. Alabama (9-2, vs Auburn)

Outside Looking In...

Michigan State
Virginia Tech
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Nebraska

Game 11- #9 Ohio State (9-1, 5-1) @ #20 Iowa Hawkeyes (7-3, 4-2)

Where: Kinnick Stadium
When: 3:30 EST
TV: ABC/ESPN

This is when real OSU football is supposed to kick into gear, but it will be a daunting task going to Iowa City and expecting to knock off the Hawkeyes. Iowa heads into this game having lost two heartbreakers to Northwestern and Wisconsin and falling short of a comeback bid against Arizona at the beginning of the year. I suppose you can say it is karma for having won so many close games last season, but there is no doubting how talented this team is. From the beginning of the season it has been marked down as the battle for the Big Ten championship, and despite it failing to live up to those standards it doesn't make it any less important. Both want to win this game, and both need to win this game.... OSU just needs it more.

The ninth ranked Buckeyes are two wins away from their sixth straight Big Ten championship and their seventh overall under head coach Jim Tressel, so the magnitude of Saturday's game for the Buckeyes is slightly higher than that of the home team. With a 7-3 record and two losses in conference play, Iowa is all but eliminated from the conference race but can still realistically finish as high as #2 in the conference if it wins out and gets a little help. Iowa wants more than a trip to the Outback Bowl, so it is a matter of fact that they will be treating this game with as much respect and intensity as they would if they were about to clinch a conference title. If that is the case, then refer back to last season's game in Columbus and understand how tough it will be for whoever wins this game to gain and sustain much momentum.

I don't think it will be easy for the Buckeyes and I certainly don't think that Iowa is a "joke" because they haven't lived up to their lofty standards. They have lost to some good football teams, evidenced by losing to two teams inside the BCS top 22 including #7 Wisconsin back in October. Wisconsin has been basically unstoppable for the majority of their Big Ten championship run, yet Iowa put a hell of a scare into them when they squared off in Kinnick Stadium. The Buckeyes were hardly a blip on the radar when they played the Badgers under different circumstances, so we will see if that has any bearing on what will transpire tomorrow afternoon.

I like what Ohio State is doing right now with Boom Herron running the ball effectively (824 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season -- wow) and Terrelle Pryor at full strength being able to improvise and keep plays alive with his feet. I mention this because I think that Pryor's passing stats are going to be minimal the next two weeks with the rushing attack taking center stage versus Iowa and Michigan. That is not to say that Pryor won't have good games, but his good games will be masked by pedestrian overall statistics passing. I see him leading the offense well against Iowa and being able to put up just enough points to hold off Iowa. The BIG question mark is how will the defense play against a very balanced Hawkeyes offense that features the interception prone turned highly efficient QB Ricky Stazi and some nice wide receivers such as McNutt and Johnson-Koulianos. If the Buckeye defensive line cannot control the line of scrimmage and get pressure on Stanzi, then he should have no problem picking apart the secondary. That is not a knock on the secondary, but rather facing facts and understanding how this defense has played all season and knowing how good Stanzi has been in 2010.

The defense will play a decent game but will make plays when it counts in the fourth quarter to bolster a game winning touchdown drive on the road by Terrelle Pryor to give OSU a hard fought victory in Iowa City. I don't think it will be pretty, but unlike Wisconsin this team won't come out of the gates playing lethargic and hopefully will play to the best of their ability.

Almost Michigan week... I wonder if Denard Robinson will be in one piece or even the starter when he comes to Columbus.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 26
Iowa- 24

Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 12

The top three teams in the BCS all have bye weeks (has that ever happened before?), so there isn't anything too monumental going on. There are a few games that have BCS implications though so here they are.

#16 Virginia Tech (8-2) @ #24 Miami (7-3)
- Hmm... let's summarize the situation: Virginia Tech lost a heartbreaker to Boise State the first week of the season, then went on to lay an egg against an FCS team. They have won every game since that 0-2 start. Miami, on the other hand, has been one of the weirdest teams in college football to figure out. Losing on the road to Ohio State is respectable, but blowout losses to Florida State and Virginia (I know Miami almost came back, but it was an ass kicking) are slightly confusing. Both have had their moments this year where they haven't seemed worthy of much, but Virginia Tech has the consistency thing going for them so, yeah, I think they will beat down on Miami for sure. Not much more to really say about that one.

#8 Nebraska (9-1) @ #19 Texas A&M (7-3)
- I like Texas A&M a lot more now that I did heading into the season as they are starting to play complete games and playing much better defensively. Nebraska has an ailing QB and I'm sure the offense will suffer as a product of that, but I still have to go with the Cornhuskers to pull out the tough road win. I picked Nebraska to be 11-1 heading in the Big 12 Championship game at the beginning of the season so I need to back up my prediction.

#6 Stanford (9-1) @ California (5-5)
- There has to be an upset in the top ten, right? Stanford has been playing very good football all season long, but something has got to give here for the Cal Bears. They have played incredibly at home this season and really, truly, honestly should have beaten Oregon last weekend. I'll go ahead and say that Coach Tedford finds a way to rally the troops and take down the #2 team in the conference in Berkley.


Big Ten Rundown-

#9 Ohio State @ #20 Iowa- TBA

#7 Wisconsin (9-1, 5-1) @ Michigan (7-3, 3-3)
- It is a very rare occurrence, and I really do try to keep it to a minimum, but I will be rooting for the Michigan Wolverines this weekend. Look, I don't have to really HATE Michigan until after Saturday, so I am entitled to this one. If Wisconsin loses and Ohio State wins out, then by virtue of a higher BCS ranking than Michigan State (if they won out as well) the Buckeyes would head to Pasadena for the second year in a row. Chances of that happening: unlikely. Wisconsin is playing too well right now and Michigan is simply average. It'll be a decent game to watch for awhile, though.

Purdue (4-6, 2-4) @ #12 Michigan State (9-1, 5-1)
- Michigan State wins. Plain and simple. It is senior day in East Lansing so I really don't see a reason to pick Purdue. Next week's MSU-PSU game will be really fun to watch.

Illinois (5-5, 3-4) @ Northwestern (7-3, 3-3)
- It is being played at Wrigley Field, which will be the host of ESPN's College Gameday, so the atmosphere should be a lot of fun to be around. I love Northwestern's fight each and every season and their ability to pull off 8 or 9 win seasons with the smartest players in the conference. I'll go with brains over brawn in this one with Northwestern beating Illinois. Even if Illinois beats Fresno State to end the season I think that Ron Zook is a goner.

Penn State (6-4, 3-3) vs Indiana (4-6, 0-6)
- The game is being played at a neutral site, so that should add some intrigue for both sides involved. It really is unfair that Indiana is the only Big Ten team without a conference victory because facts are facts and Minnesota is a much worse football team that the Hoosiers. I want to give them a win badly, but they won't get it here. PSU will earn its seventh win of the season before taking on Michigan State in Happy Valley.

My Top Ten- Week 12

1. Auburn (11-0, Bye Week)
2. Oregon (10-0, Bye Week)
3. TCU (11-0, Bye Week)
4. Boise State (9-0, vs. Fresno State)
5. Wisconsin (9-1, @ Michigan)
6. LSU (9-1, vs. Ole Miss)
7. Ohio State (9-1, @ Iowa)
8. Nebraska (9-1, @ Texas A&M)
9. Stanford (9-1, @ Cal)
10. Oklahoma State (9-1, @ Kansas)

Game 10- # Ohio State (8-1, 4-1) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-2)

Where: Ohio Stadium
When: 3:30 EST
TV: ABC Regional

The above image is just a glance into what the aftermath of the 2008 meeting with Penn State in the Shoe was like following a 13-9 loss to the Nittany Lions. I doubt such drama and sadness will ensue the game on Saturday. Although the last time PSU came into Columbus they were able to beat the Buckeyes, they still have not been able to win in Ohio's capital city too often. They are 1-7 since joining the Big Ten in 1993 when playing the Buckeyes in the friendly confines of Ohio Stadium, so chances are that OSU will win this game even without looking at the facts or rankings. Update: I just looked at the stats and rankings, and I'm very confident that Penn State will lose this game.

This will always be a challenging game from a physical perspective for both teams, however there is no denying that OSU has some major advantages over their rivals. Penn State may be playing better football but they still lack playmaking ability at wide receiver and have had shaky offensive line play all season - eh, it's been more about average QB play that anything, but regardless they have been average on offense. Former walk-on Matt McGloin will start for the Nittany Lions after playing very well the past two weeks against less than formidable defenses. This will be a whole new ball game for him, so look for him to commit at least two turnovers against the Silver Bullet defense. PSU, due to spotty coverage, will give up a lot of big plays in the intermediate passing game so guys like Dane Sanzenbacher, DeVier Posey, Jake Stoneburner, running backs like Boom Herron and Jordan Hall, and even Brandon Saine could see some big plays potentially open up throughout the game for them.

I believe that Terrelle Pryor will have his best game in November as Ohio State's quarterback on Saturday, thus leading the Buckeyes to a big win over their cross-state rivals. It will be physical, but PSU's inability to run the ball with stud RB Evan Royster will make all the difference as Pryor rushes for a score and throws for three more en route to a big time win in the Shoe.

Bring on Iowa.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 38
Penn State- 13

BCS Bowl Predictions- Week 11

BCS National Championship (1/10, Glendale)

TCU Horned Frogs - BCS #2
vs.
Oregon Ducks - BCS #1

Rose Bowl (1/1, Pasadena)

Boise State Broncos - At Large
vs.
Wisconsin Badgers - Big Ten Champs

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, 1/1)

LSU Tigers - At Large
vs.
Nebraska Cornhuskers - Big 12 Champs

Orange Bowl (1/3, Miami)

Virginia Tech Hokies - ACC Champs
vs.
Pitt Panthers - Big East Champs

Sugar Bowl (1/4, New Orleans)

Ohio State Buckeyes - At Large
vs.
Auburn Tigers - SEC Champs

Big Ten Rundown 11

There aren't any games that deserve to be analyzed, so I'll just go ahead and look ahead to the games this coming Saturday throughout the conference.

Penn State @ #9 Ohio State - TBA

Indiana (4-5, 0-5) @ #7 Wisconsin (8-1, 4-1)
- The Hoosiers lost a heartbreaker to Iowa this past weekend, and while one could say that it has all the makings of a catapult to a big victory at some point this season I absolutely disagree. It was a demoralizing loss in my humble opinion and I do not see them recovering. Wisconsin wins this game handily in Madison en route to what seems more and more likely to be a trip to Pasadena to be your Rose Bowl representative from the Big Ten.

#13 Iowa (7-2, 4-1) @ Northwestern (6-3, 2-3)
- TRAP GAME! Iowa just came back from a near-losing road trip to Indiana, however has OSU to worry about after playing the Wildcats. You would think that Iowa would refocus and take care of business after almost losing but I see a team that will probably be looking ahead to Ohio State fall into the clutches of Ryan Field, where many many teams feel more like taking a nap then playing a football game. Iowa wins, but it will be close - VERY close.

Minnesota (1-9, 0-6) @ Illinois (5-4, 3-3)
- Don't want to talk about Minnesota; they are a disgrace to college football this season. Illinois rebounds from the Michigan loss and wins.

Michigan (6-3, 2-3) @ Purdue (4-5, 2-3)
- Purdue is bound to win another game this season, but it may not come until they play Indiana at the end of the season. Michigan is believing in their system right now despite a God-awful defense and seems to have their confidence back. Purdue will play very well (seemingly) but Michigan will squeak this one out I think. Look for the Wolverines to be 7-4 when they come to the Shoe to take on the Buckeyes.

My Top Ten- Week 11

1. Auburn (10-0, vs Georgia)
2. Oregon (9-0, @ California)
3. TCU (10-0, vs San Diego State)
4. Boise State (8-0, @ Idaho)
5. LSU (8-1, vs UL-Monroe)
6. Wisconsin (8-1, vs Indiana)
7. Ohio State (8-1, vs Penn State)
8. Nebraska (8-1, vs Kansas)
9. Stanford (8-1, @ Arizona State)
10. Oklahoma State (8-1, @ Texas)

Outside Looking In...
Iowa
Michigan State
Alabama
Virginia Tech
Utah

The defending champs have officially been knocked out of the championship race, along with Oklahoma and the Utah Utes. This is all good news if you are a fan of Boise State or TCU, as those teams (especially Alabama) posed a legitimate threat to pass those teams over for a national championship berth if either Auburn or Oregon lost. Speaking of the top two teams in the country, Auburn gets to play Alabama in a few weeks while Oregon has to worry about Cal, Arizona and Oregon State to end the year and there are no guarantees for either team finishing undefeated.

I stand by an Oregon vs. TCU national championship game happening, but there is a lot of football to be played. For a lot of people that is simply music to their ears... including Ohio State fans. This is shaping up to be an awesome season.