BCS Bowl Projections- 11/26

BCS National Championship-
#1 LSU Tigers (13-0)
vs
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1)

Rose Bowl-
Wisconsin Badgers (11-2)
vs
Oregon Ducks (11-2)

Fiesta Bowl-
Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1)
vs
Stanford Cardinal (11-1)

Orange Bowl-
Michigan Wolverines (10-2)
vs
Virginia Tech Hokies (12-1)

Sugar Bowl-
Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3)
vs
Houston Cougars (13-0)

My Top Ten- Week 13

1. LSU (12-0, vs Georgia)
2. Alabama (11-1)
3. Virginia Tech (11-1, vs Clemson)
4. Oklahoma State (10-1, vs Oklahoma)
5. Stanford (11-1)
6. Houston (12-0, vs Southern Miss)
7. Arkansas (10-2)
8. Boise State (11-1)
9. Georgia (10-2, vs LSU)
10. Michigan State (10-2, vs Wisconsin)

SEC Championship- LSU (12-0) vs Georgia (10-2)
Big Ten Championship- Mich State (10-2) vs Wisconsin (10-2)
ACC Championship- Virginia Tech (11-1) vs Clemson (9-3)
Pac 12 Championship- Oregon (10-2) vs UCLA (6-6)

Quick thoughts.... Pac 12 sucks. That is all.

End of an Era

There's a new sheriff in town in the greatest rivalry in college football.

Congrats to Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines on snapping a 7 game losing streak and beating OSU 40-34 in Ann Arbor today.

The win gives Michigan an excellent shot at making it to a BCS game - probably the Sugar Bowl - with a 10-2 record. Their opponent would likely be an SEC team (Arkansas or Georgia).

I praised the hiring of Hoke for the intensity he would bring to this rivalry. He didn't disappoint. Michigan wanted this one BADLY.

The Buckeyes played both their best and worst today, as the offense put up great numbers while the defense gave up 40 points and two 100 yards rushers.

The story of Jim Tressel's "resignation" is now over, and it ended with a 6-6 record.

My feeling right now?

Optimism.

The future is bright.

THE GA*E- Ohio State (6-5, 3-4) @ #15 *ichigan (9-2, 5-2)

Where: *Stadium (Ann Arbor, *I)
When: Noon EST
TV: ABC/ESPN

Boy...that escalated quickly. I mean things really got out of hand, fast! It jumped up a notch.

I didn't think Jim Tressel's resignation and the hiring of Brady Hoke would change the face of these two programs this drastically. Despite *y resistance, it has actually happened. *ichigan is the better tea* in 2011.

This rivalry stretches beyond who is the better tea*, and the *ental aspect tends to be a huge factor.

*y personal opinion: *ichigan is playing like the better tea*, although they are less talented. OSU has a *ental edge when it co*es to their 7 straight victories over the Wolverines, but they are also on the other side of the coin when it co*es to their current overall psyche.

What will that *ean for this ga*e? It *eans to*orrow is going to be very interesting.

The only change OSU has of winning this game is if the defense goes back to playing the way that it was *idway through the season, when it was stonewalling *ichigan State, Nebraska (for three quarters), Illinois and Wisconsin. The defensive line, especially John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, needs to be able to keep the running ga*e at bay if OSU is to keep Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Touissant off the field and give Braxton *iller a chance to work with a shorter field and *ake so*e plays.

Braxton *iller is the other key. *ake no *istake about it. If *iller is able to co*pli*ent a potent running attack with Boom Herron, this *ichigan defense - that features a very soft secondary - will be very susceptible to DeVier Posey. I have a feeling that Posey is going to be a factor, even though it *ay not be in the for* of a do*inant statistical perfor*ance. I think that he will be able to do enough on third down and in the red zone to *ake Big Blue think twice about stacking the box.

Whether OSU will stop *ichigan enough ti*es is another story, and it is one that I really don't have a great feeling about.

Do I go with *y heart and pick the Buckeyes? Or do I go with Brian Sa*becki's *ind and gut and say that the streak ends with Brady Hoke winning in his first year on the job?

...........

OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Urban *eyer era doesn't start for a few *ore days, nor does it need to. This one is for those who stayed, which includes the incredible task Luke Fickell took up in the wake of the Jim Tressel era ending.

I will go with the Buckeyes in this one, baby.

7-5 never seemed so good.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 27
*ichigan- 25

My Top Ten- Week 13

1. LSU (11-0, vs Arkansas)
2. Alabama (10-1, @ Auburn)
3. Arkansas (10-1, @ LSU)
4. Virginia Tech (10-1, @ Virginia)
5. Oklahoma State (10-1, Bye Week)
6. Stanford (10-1, vs Notre Dame)
7. Houston (11-0, @ Tulsa)
8. Boise State (9-1, vs Wyoming)
9. Michigan State (9-2, @ Northwestern)
10. Oregon (9-2, vs Oregon State)

This. Season. Is. Bizarre.

Game 11- Ohio State (6-4, 3-3) vs Penn State (8-2, 5-1)

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

Here's all I have to say about the game:

- PSU will be the best defensive front the Buckeyes have played all season.

- DeVier Posey's return will spark this team to a good showing offensively - guaranteed.

- Boom Herron will eclipse 100 yards rushing (shocker).

- Luke Fickell may not be returning as the head coach, but he will be applauded as the team leaves the field as the winner of this football game.

- All sportsmanship aside, I really do feel bad for Joe Paterno. I could go on and on about that situation, but it looks like ultimately he's being made out to be more of a scapegoat than the actual man that committed the crime.

Yeah, I think the Bucks will win for sure. It'll be a great game with Penn State's defense coming to play, but the return of Posey will be too much.

I leave you now with some PSU jokes to lighten the mood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83t4WJsQRYg

Prediction:

PSU- 9
OSU- 20

Week 12 Bowl Projections

Rose- Wisconsin Badgers vs Oregon Ducks

Fiesta- Oklahoma Sooners vs Stanford Cardinal

Sugar- Alabama Crimson Tide vs Cincinnati Bearcats

Orange- Clemson Tigers vs Houston Cougars

BCS National Championship- #2 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs #1 LSU Tigers

Big Ten Bowl Games:

Wisconsin (11-2) - Rose Bowl vs Oregon Ducks
Michigan State (10-3) - Capital One Bowl vs Georgia Bulldogs
Nebraska (10-2) - Outback Bowl vs South Carolina Gamecocks
Ohio State (8-4) - Gator Bowl vs Auburn Tigers
Michigan (8-4) - Insight Bowl vs Utah Utes
Penn State (8-4) - Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas vs Missouri Tigers
Iowa (7-5) - TicketCity Bowl vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Illinois (7-5) - Little Caesars Bowl vs Ohio Bobcats
Purdue (6-6) - New Mexico Bowl vs BYU Cougars

Week 12 Big Ten Rundown

Indiana @ #15 Michigan State-
Am I really going to give Indiana a shot at the upset? Short answer: no.

#16 Nebraska @ #18 Michigan-
According to the rankings, this will be a big time game that could determine who goes to the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. I don't think it will be all that great of a game, in favor of the visiting team. Nebraska wins by at least 10.

#17 Wisconsin @ Illinois-
The Illini will make it interesting early on - as in the first quarter - then it will amount to business as usual for Wisconsin. I like the Badgers to score over 40.

#21 Penn State @ Ohio State- TBA

Iowa @ Purdue-
The Boilers are riding high after their overtime win over Ohio State, while Iowa is wishing they could have the first half of their game vs. Michigan State back. I'll go with the team with something to prove in Iowa over a team that may feel a little overconfident at the moment.

Minnesota @ Northwestern-
I am going to go with the Gophers in the upset here. I like the way that this team is playing under Coach Jerry Kill, and it will pay off with a win over the disappointing Northwestern Wildcats.

My Top Ten- Week 12

1. LSU (10-0, @ Ole Miss)

2. Oklahoma State (10-0, @ Iowa State)

3. Alabama (9-1, vs Georgia Southern)

4. Oregon (9-1, vs USC)

5. Arkansas (9-1, vs Mississippi State)

6. Oklahoma (9-1, @ Baylor)

7. Clemson (9-1, @ NC State)

8. Stanford (9-1, vs Cal)

9. Virginia Tech (9-1, vs North Carolina)

10. Houston (10-0, vs SMU)

If I were a betting man - which I am occasionally - I'd say LSU-Oklahoma State is what we will be seeing in the BCS National Championship game in New Orleans.

Game 10- Ohio State (6-3,3-2) @ Purdue (4-5,2-3)

Where: Ross-Ade Stadium (West Lafayette, IN)
When: Noon EST
TV: Big Ten Network

Wow...Indiana really played a good game last Saturday, didn't they?

Regardless, the Bucks notched their third win in a row and look to still control their own destiny in the Big Ten Leaders division. The next challenge: playing an improved Purdue Boilermaker team on the road in West Lafayette at high noon.

I am not as confident as most others are about this game. I do believe that the Buckeyes will win and that they look to be in great shape to get to the Big Ten championship game (still can't believe it), but going to Ross-Ade Stadium hasn't been kind to OSU in the past decade or so. In 1996, when OSU went 11-1 and won the Rose Bowl, the Boilers jumped out to a 14-0 lead. In 2000, the top 15 ranked Buckeyes lead late against the eventual Big Ten champions until Drew Brees led a heartbreaking comeback. 2002 = Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins to save an undefeated season. In 2004, facing a down year of sorts, Ohio State lost by a touchdown to Kyle Orton and Purdue. 2009 resulted in a 26-18 loss that sent Columbus into a stir over whether Terrelle Pryor should be moved to receiver or not (hahahaha). In a nutshell, it is rarely ever easy to win on the road at Purdue.

I expect the running game to get off to a slow start with RT J.B. Shugarts out of the game, only to pick up as the game goes along and the legs of Braxton Miller keeping the Purdue defense on its heels. Boom Herron will once again go for 100 yards - shocking- and the Silver Bullets will do their job as OSU gets a 10 points victory over the pesky Boilers.

Guarantee: it will NOT be easy. Wins over Penn State and Michigan may look prettier than the game this weekend.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 27
Purdue- 17

Week 11 Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown

#7 Oregon @ #4 Stanford
- My gut is telling me to pick Oregon in this one, as they have looked impressive since their loss to #1 LSU at the beginning of the season. My reasons revolve around a defense that a year ago made Andrew Luck look less than Heisman worthy. However that transpired in the comfy, friendly confines of Autzen Stadium, and this season we are in Cardinal territory for this contest. Andrew Luck is my pick to win the Heisman Trophy, and I think he comes up big for his team en route to a huge Pac 12 win over Oregon. Not only is Stanford my pick to have the Heisman winner, but I also think they will play LSU for the national championship.

Oregon- 31
Stanford- 38

#20 Auburn @ #15 Georgia
- Fire Mark Richt!! Fire Mark Richt!! Those were the chants that most people in Athens were chanting after an 0-2 start. Nowadays, I'd say that those were just slightly premature. The Bulldogs are in place to take on LSU for the SEC championship in December and have won seven games in a row. I think that trend will continue against a solid Auburn team at home between the hedges.

Auburn- 21
Georgia- 26

#19 Nebraska @ #12 Penn State
- So...where to begin? Who would have thought that Joe Paterno's reign at PSU would end in scandal as suddenly as it did? It ended way too fast for a man that gave his heart and soul to Penn State University since slightly after World War II ended. I will miss his presence in the sport that I love the most, and consider him to be one of the best role models for coaching excellence in any sport. The drumbeats of PSU collapsing are loud and heavy, but I am on the opposite side of the fence. I think that this game will represent Joe Paterno's last home game, even though he won't be on the sidelines. He will be in the player's hearts, who will send his legacy off in positive fashion as they surprise the Cornhuskers in Happy Valley. Things aren't going so great in State College, but they will silence the doubters and remain one win closer to a bid in the Big Ten championship game.

Nebraska- 23
Penn State- 27

Big Ten Rundown-

# Nebraska @ # Penn State: see above
#17 Michigan State @ Iowa: The Hawkeyes play tough, but MSU's defense is the x-factor.
#18 Wisconsin @ Minnesota: Gophers impressing me lately...still no match for Wisconsin.
#24 Michigan @ Illinois: Will Big Blue win another game? I'll say yes against Illinois...barely.
Ohio State @ Purdue: TBA
Rice @ Northwestern: Persa and the Cats will notch another win against the Owls.

My Top Ten- Week 11

1. LSU (9-0, vs Western Kentucky)
2. Oklahoma State (9-0, @ Texas Tech)
3. Stanford (9-0, vs Oregon)
4. Boise State (8-0, vs TCU)
5. Alabama (8-1, @ Mississippi State)
6. Arkansas (8-1, vs Tennessee)
7. Oregon (8-1, @ Stanford)
8. Oklahoma (8-1, Bye Week)
9. Clemson (8-1, vs Wake Forest)
10. Virginia Tech (8-1, @ Georgia Tech)

Game 9- Ohio State (5-3, 2-2) vs Indiana (1-8, 0-5)

Where: Ohio Stadium
When: Noon EST
TV: Big Ten Network

Ohio State wins. Enough said. Is this game over yet?

Boom Herron gets his 100 yards, Braxton will look efficient, the defense will play a great game and the backups will see their fair share of playing time in the second half.

Prediction:

Indiana- 13
Ohio State- 41

Week 10 Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown

#1 LSU @ #2 Alabama

-Game of the year. Easily. No question about it. This game is HUGE. ESPN likes to say that it could be a preview of the national championship game, but I think that is literally not going to happen...ever. Regardless, it is a big game and any college football fan should be excited to see it. The difference for is the tenacity of the LSU defense to compliment an efficient, potent offensive attack. Alabama has a very strong defense, but a little too one dimensional for my taste. I can see the Tide pulling this one out, but I'll go with the top team in the nation to win out and go to the national championship game.

LSU- 28
Bama- 24

#9 South Carolina @ #7 Arkansas

-Yawn. I think that Arkansas is going to blow the doors off of South Carolina. Why? SC lost Marcus Lattimore - aka their entire offense. Arkansas is a loaded offense machine and their defense is vastly underrated. I'll go with the Hogs at home to make some BCS noise and keep winning. Their date with LSU at the end of the year should be a mighty find showdown.

SC- 14
ARK- 31

#14 Kansas State @ #3 Oklahoma State

- The Wildcats are coming off their first loss of the season to Oklahoma, while OSU is still king of the Sooner State with an undefeated record and the heir apparent to the #2 spot in the BCS rankings after the loser of the LSU/Bama game is in the books. I don't see much of a chance for KSU to knock off the Cowboys, unless Coach Gundy lets his team keep their minds off course amidst the BCS hype and they lay an egg. Kansas State is a solid team, but they aren't as good as their record indicates (I've been saying that all season). I'll take OSU big against the Cats.

KSU- 21

OSU- 48