Ranking the 2012 OSU Recruiting Class

Note: Pictured above is potential Buckeye recruit Stefon Diggs, a WR from Maryland. He will be committing to either Ohio State, Florida or Maryland next week. Speculation and inside sources state that he is a solid OSU lean, and chances are he will wear the scarlet and gray. He will not be mentioned in these rankings, but with a commit he would most definitely be the top player of this class, and a sure fire candidate to start at receiver and kick returner for Ohio State in the fall.

The 2012 class that Urban Meyer has hauled in is the best class since the infamous 2008 group that included Terrelle Pryor, Mike Adams, DeVier Posey, Mike Brewster, Jake Stoneburner, etc. In the Tressel era, only the 2002 and 2008 classes can compare to this one, and this is arguably more stacked from top to bottom with sheer athleticism and talent. In other words, after only two months on the job, Coach Meyer has done one of the best recruiting jobs in school history.

Let's go through and check out my personal ranking of the players, which will be denoted with their position and star rating according to Scout.com.

1. Noah Spence/DE (5 stars)
- Speed, speed, and more speed. Those are the defining characteristics of the top prospect in OSU's 2012 class. At 6"3, 240, it is rare for a player to have the kind of quickness and motor that Spence possesses. With more bulk added, he could end up being a name to remember for years to come.

2. Adolphus Washington/DE (5 stars)
- If Spence is #1, then Washington should be 1A. This kid was looking elsewhere in the midst of the Tressel resignation, yet this monstrous DE ended up where he always wanted to in Columbus. 6"6 and freakishly talented, Adolphus could see the field as soon at this fall.

3. Jamal Marcus/LB (3 stars)
- One of the gems of this class, and I will say it right now: believe Coach Meyer when he says that he may not be more excited about any other player in this class other than Marcus. Under-recruited, yet sought after by the top programs in the nation, this "3-star" prospect reminds many of a bigger, stronger version of Brian Rolle. He could be a stud at middle linebacker.

4. Bri'onte Dunn/RB (5 stars)
- I look at this running back and think Beanie Wells immediately. He is HUGE at 6"2, 220 and rushed for over 2,000 yards in his final two years up in Canton. Being enrolled early will help him get into playing shape, while the extra time to work on fundamentals could mean that we see a lot of Bri'onte come September.

5. Josh Perry/LB (4 stars)
- The first player to commit to OSU back in June, yet one of the last players you hear about when talking about this class. I am psyched for his athletic ability and natural football IQ and instincts to hit the field. Do you sense a theme here on the defensive side of the ball? The defensive line and linebackers are absolutely STACKED.

6. Taylor Decker/OT (4 stars)
- In my opinion, one of the biggest recruiting hauls of the year. This is another classic, big OT that the Buckeyes love and could see the field immediately given the team's lack of depth along the offensive line. Big time prospect. Switched from Notre Dame.

7. Kyle Dodson/OT (4 stars)
- One of the better stories of any recruit in the nation, and I am proud that he chose to stay in-state and play for the Buckeyes. He, along with Decker, should provide stability to the tackle position that fans will be able to rely on for the next four years. Switched from Wisconsin.

8. Tommy Schutt/DT (5 stars)
- While this position is stacked for the time being, Schutt will be the next up at DT. A US Army All-American, Schutt is one of the most physical, relentless, talented defensive tackles in the nation. Switched from Penn State.

9. Armani Reeves/CB (4 stars)
- Corner isn't exactly a position where plenty of depth is in place, so this is one of the biggest recruits this season. Thankfully he chose the good guys over Michigan, as he will be seen on the depth chart as soon as this fall, and could start as early as 2013. Can't wait to see if he translates that type of promise into production on the field.

10. Se'Von Pittman/DE (4 stars)
- I had to have this kid in the top ten, as he is simply a can't-miss talent that can get after the ball carrier. Between Spence, Washington and Pittman, the defensive end position should not be of concern for Buckeye fans in the near future. Pittman is an absolute animal and could also play the LEO if needed. Switched from Michigan State.

11. Warren Ball/RB (4 stars)
- Along with Perry was a very early commit out of St. Francis DeSales. While Dunn is the bigger name (and body), Ball may possess more of the God-given ability to create plays with the football and make defenders miss. Mark it down: if he stays healthy - as injuries are a concern with him - he is my darkhorse candidate to be the prize of this class.

12. David Perkins/LB (4 stars)
- Really? This is the third best linebacker, in my opinion, of this class? Wow. I hope Perkins doesn't take offense, because he is the fastest of all the linebackers mentioned so far, and is disgusting to watch attack the edge and get after the quarterback. An exciting prospect, for sure.

13. Najee Murray/CB (4 stars)
- I may have him higher than some other very talented prospects, but I love the way he plays the game. He has good size for his position at 5"11, is a big hitter, sound fundamentally, and has a knack for making plays in the return game as well. I look at him and see the type of player that Malcolm Jenkins and Donte Whitner were. I'm not saying he will be a star, but he reminds me of that similar type of skill set. There's something special about this player.

14. Devan Bogard/S (4 stars)
- I was nervous that he would be attending USC, but eventually signed with OSU. Seems like a good player who can help out as a strong safety in the future. Not much to say other than he is excellent in coverage.

15. Camren Williams/LB (4 stars)
- THRILLED that he joined the class, along with his friend Armani Reeves from the same school. Again, how is this guy ranked below three other linebackers in this class? This recruiting class is sick on paper, especially at linebacker. Williams has the size, speed and awareness to play big time college football. Switched from Penn State.

16. Ricquan Southward/WR (3 stars)
- He's up awfully high, isn't he? That's because I think with his speed, combined with the coaching in Urban's offense, he could be a gem in this class. Has decent size at 6"1, plays under 200, and will be interesting to watch once he gets to Columbus.

17. Blake Thomas/TE (3 stars)
- Tight Ends under Urban Meyer have quite a good track record, and Thomas could continue that trend. I like his skill set, and while he may not be as athletic as a Aaron Hernandez or Jake Stoneburner, he will certainly be on the field in the future doing work.

18. Mike Thomas/WR (4 stars)
- The guy was an Under-Armour All-American, played a year at Fork Union, comes into the class at 6"4 with an explosive ability to make plays, and he checks in at 18? That's because I am not sold on his game from a mental standpoint. He only had one good year in high school, so he needs to prove that he can be consistent. I am rooting for him both on and off the field.

19. Cardale Jones/QB (3 stars)
- Another Fork Union guy, and yet another Glenville prospect. No one will surpass Braxton Miller until he graduates, but as a backup it doesn't get any better in terms of size. Cardale is 6"5 and has a cannon for an arm, so here's hoping he develops to the point where he can be a reliable backup - or future starter after Braxton leaves.

20. Joey O'Connor/OG (3 stars)
- Offensive line help was needed, and the Under-Armour All-American was up for the challenge of answering the call. I think this kid deserves a higher star rating, but that stuff doesn't matter anyway. I see him being a name to look out for throughout the next five years at Ohio State, as I see him redshirting in 2012. Switched from Penn State.

The rest of the class...

21. Jacoby Boren/C (3 stars) - Youngest of the Borens (Justin and Zach). Good lineage.

22. Luke Roberts/LB (3 stars)- Classic OSU LB mold. Time will tell.

23. Frank Epitropoulos/WR (3 stars)- Not the Urban type of recruit. Future could be at Punter.

24. Tyvis Powell/S (3 stars)- Big hitter and good size. I know very little about him.

25. Patrick Elflein/OG (3 stars)

Recap- Changes

The last time I posted, bowl preparation was under way.

I did not have a preview for the game, nor did I break down any of the Big Ten bowl games.

Let's recap everything we missed:

OSU was bad against Florida. The defense played it's best game since Wisconsin, but the offense barely produced 17 points while the special teams gave up 14 points. While the final score was only 24-17, it was just a bad game. Good news, though: no one cared about that game.

What else did we miss regarding the Buckeyes? Oh yeah, the bowl ban. Awesome. It really sucks that kids are being punished for a few people's actions, but that's the nature of the game, and the reality of life. It may not always be fair, but as an institution you need to suffer the consequences. Jim Tressel is one of the most respected coaches in football - informed individuals will tell you as much - but his ignorance to the players that committed NCAA violations, which led to him withholding information, is basis enough for punishment against the program. A true black eye for the university, but time will heal all. I still miss Coach Tressel.

The Big Ten sucked in bowl games, as expected. Michigan State and Michigan were the saving graces for the conference, as MSU beat SEC East champ Georgia and Big Blue beat ACC runner-up Virginia Tech (both won in overtime). Everyone else laid a HUGE egg. The Rose Bowl featuring Wisconsin and Oregon was truly entertaining, but the Badgers really let that one slide out of their hands. It won't get any better for the conference next season, as OSU has a bowl ban, Wisconsin will be down from the past two years, as will MSU, Michigan and Nebraska have some retooling to do on the defensive side of the ball, Penn State is in shambles, Iowa lost their star tailback in Coker, as well as star receiver McNutt, and the likes of Illinois, Purdue and Northwestern aren't exactly going to hoist the banner for the Big Ten. 2012 is not going to be a good year for the conference - guaranteed.

Now...on to the class of 2012 for Ohio State.

Big Ten Bowl Predictions- FINAL

Little Caesars Bowl- Northwestern Wildcats vs Ohio U

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas- Iowa Hawkeyes vs Texas A&M

Insight Bowl- Penn State Nittany Lions vs Oklahoma

Ticket City Bowl- Purdue Boilermakers vs Iowa State

Gator Bowl- The Ohio State Buckeyes vs Florida

Outback Bowl- Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Georgia

Capital One Bowl- Michigan State Spartans vs Arkansas

Sugar Bowl- Michigan Wolverines vs Alabama

Rose B0wl- Wisconsin Badgers vs Oregon

FINAL BCS Predictions

Allstate BCS National Championship Game
(1/9/12, New Orleans)

#2 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1) vs #1 LSU Tigers (13-0)

Rose Bowl (1/2/12)

Wisconsin Badgers (11-2) vs Oregon Ducks (10-2)

Fiesta Bowl (1/2/12)

Stanford Cardinal (11-1) vs Kansas State Wildcats (10-2)

Sugar Bowl (1/3/12)

Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) vs Michigan Wolverines (10-2)

Orange Bowl (1/4/12)

Clemson Tigers (10-3) vs West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3)

Oh Yeah...My Predictions

Okay, so it's a new era of Buckeye football, and I will discuss that in great detail once the season is over.

There are games tonight/tomorrow? Okay, okay! I'll tell you who's going to win...

Pac 12 Championship Game: UCLA (6-6) vs Oregon (10-2)
- Other than the fact that it is a complete mismatch, the game is being played in Eugene. I'm going to go out on a very long, thing branch here and say that Oregon comes away with the Pac 12 title and plays in the Rose Bowl for the second time in three years, and three straight BCS appearances overall.

SEC Championship Game: Georgia (10-2) vs LSU (12-00
- Does this game even matter? LSU is going to play for the national title regardless, and if Georgia wins, Alabama will still go to the national title as well. This is a very odd circumstance. I'll go with the Tigers to beat Georgia by at least 10.

ACC Championship Game: Clemson (9-3) vs Virginia Tech (11-1)
- If this game were played after week five of the season, it'd be the most hyped match up of any of the conference title games. Unfortunately, the rest of the season happened and while VT got significantly better, Clemson lost a lot of steam. Hokies should roll in this one despite a spirited offensive effort from Tahj Boyd and the gang.

BIG Championship Game: Michigan State (10-2) vs Wisconsin (10-2)
- MSU needed a Hail Mary touchdown to win at home, at night in East Lansing. Wisconsin should have things wrapped up by the fourth quarter on a neutral field. Payback is a killer. I'll go with the Badgers to play Oregon in the Rose Bowl - which will be a great game.

The other de-facto championship games...

UConn (5-6) @ Cincinnati (8-3)
- Let me get this straight here: if Cincinnati wins, it will create a three-way tie in the Big East, meaning that West Virginia would likely go to a BCS game. If UConn upsets the Bearcats, then Louisville will get the automatic bid. Who will be crowned champ? I'll make it easier on the folks watching the BCS games in January and pick Cincy to win, providing someone a chance to see West Virginia play instead of L'Ville.

Oklahoma (9-2) @ Oklahoma State (10-1)
- BEDLAM!! I think that Oklahoma will likely win this game, simply because I haven't like the Cowboy's defense all season long. QB Landry Jones will have a big day, and it will send Oklahoma off to a BCS game after winning yet another Big 12 title.

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

My Top Ten- Week 10

1. LSU (8-0, @ Alabama)
2. Alabama (8-0, vs LSU)
3. Oklahoma State (8-0, vs Kansas State)
4. Boise State (7-0, @ UNLV)
5. Stanford (8-0, @ Oregon State)
6. Oregon (7-1, @ Washington)
7. Arkansas (7-1, vs South Carolina)
8. Nebraska (7-1, vs Northwestern)
9. Oklahoma (7-1, vs Texas A&M)
10. Virgnia Tech (8-1, Bye Week)