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.