Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 8

(Note: Rankings now go by current BCS Standings)

#6 LSU (7-0) @ #4 Auburn (7-0)
- This is the start of the big time SEC gauntlet that is at hand the remainder of the season. LSU, Auburn and Alabama all play each other before the beginning of December and it should be a hell of a show to watch. First things first, LSU really hasn't done anything yet to truly impress me despite winning on the road at Florida - then again, the Gators lost to Mississippi State as well. I love the defense and I think that they should be able to give QB Cam Newton some trouble, but Auburn has a special feel about them. I am going to go with the home team here to pull out a huge conference victory. After this game the national champion talk will start to ring very loud throughout the nation and especially in the south.

LSU- 24
AU- 28

#13 Wisconsin (6-1, 2-1) @ #15 Iowa (5-1, 2-0)
- The Big Ten race has narrowed down to the following with each six weeks to play: Michigan State is undefeated, Iowa is in the driver's seat and controls their destiny despite MSU's record, Wisconsin is about third in line at this point, and the Buckeyes have fallen to the back of the pecking order. It is a four team competition, and this is when it starts to get interesting. I usually subscribe to the theory that after an upset, the team that delivered the win heard round the world usually falls a little short the next week. I will stick to my guns and say that Wisconsin plays well enough to win but the Hawkeyes will refuse to be pushed around like the Buckeyes were last Saturday. Iowa eliminates Wisconsin from the Big Ten conversation- for now - after a win in Kinnick Stadium.

Wisconsin- 20
Iowa- 27

#1 Oklahoma (6-0) @ #11 Missouri (6-0)
- This will be yet another upset in my opinion. Oklahoma is lacking something...not sure what, but they are missing a key component in what it takes to be a national champion. If it is not revealed this weekend, I believe that it will be sometime down the road. Missouri has the total package to manage to slow Oklahoma's offense down and ultimately steal a win from the Sooners. Missouri's Blane Gabbert needs to be healthy in order for this to come to fruition, though.

Oklahoma-31
Missouri- 33

Big Ten Rundown-

#10 Ohio State vs Purdue- TBA

#13 Wisconsin @ #15 Iowa- See Above

#7 Michigan State (7-0, 3-0) @ Northwestern (5-1, 1-1)
- This has trap game written all over it. While I think that Northwestern can make this a very interesting game, I don't believe that MSU will lose before their big game at Iowa next week. A very, very close win for the Spartans is what I see happening here.

Indiana (4-2, 0-2) @ Illinois (3-3, 1-2)
- Yawn. Illinois will play sound defense and capitalize off of two big turnovers from QB Ben Chappell on their way to sending the Hoosiers packing. Illinois is a very odd team to figure out, but I definitely know that their defense is legit.

Penn State (3-3, 0-2) @ Minnesota (1-6, 0-3)
- Um... I really don't know here. Penn State should win but they really aren't playing well at all this season. There are too many injuries to keep the Lions from being too competitive. However, at the end of the day, I guess it is Minnesota and they don't have to play to save Tim Brewster's job (not that they would want to in the first place). I'll go with Joe Pa in this one.

And Michigan has a much needed bye week. Denard getting hurt, you say? Who could see that coming? Who could also predict that once good teams arrived on the schedule Michigan would suffer on both sides of the ball? Well, I guess you should give Michigan props for coming back against Iowa, but who was at quarterback? Man, things are weird up in Ann Arbor. I'll guarantee a win against Purdue, but outside of that who knows. Penn State isn't good, so there is a chance for a win on the road there, and Illinois just doesn't have the greatest offense around. Three Big Ten wins should be the cap on what the Wolverines will do, but even then that would be a great success. 8 wins would be light years ahead of what the team has done the past two seasons.