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North Dakota State (6-0) at Minnesota
(1-5) 12:00
PM
Big Ten
Network
Why to watch: It took a blocked
field goal for Minnesota to escape
disaster against North Dakota State last
year, winning 10-9 as the only oasis in
an ugly six-game stretch, but this year,
it might be an upset if the Gophers win.
The Bison might be the nation's best FCS
team, coming in on a ten-game winning
streak with a high-powered offense
that's averaging 41 points per game,
including 44 in a crushing win over
Central Michigan. Minnesota played well
offensively in a double-overtime loss to
Northwestern, and is on a five-game
losing streak with Michigan, Illinois, a
road trip to Iowa, and Wisconsin still
to deal with.
Why North Dakota State might win:
The Bison are flat-out better than the
Gophers. The defense has the linebackers
in place to keep the Minnesota running
game in check, and keep QB Adam Weber
from being effective early on. The
Gophers secondary, the worst in the
nation, continues to give up yards in
chunks, the pass rush remains
non-existent, and there have been too
many mistakes with 22 turnovers. Only NC
State has a worse turnover margin.
Why Minnesota might win: No one
has really tried to pound the ball on
the Bison. While that might be easier
said than done against a run defense
allowing just 109 yards per game, this
needs to be the time when Minnesota uses
its solid offensive line and starts
battering the ball a little bit. It
might be smashmouth time for Minnesota
to try to settle things down and control
the clock.
Who to watch: The best running
back in the game might be on NDSU's side
of the field. 233-pound junior Tyler
Roehl got a break last week against
Mississippi Valley State, but throughout
the year has been terrific, scoring
three times in four games and rumbling
for 6.2 yards per carry. Part fullback,
part tailback, he's a dangerous receiver
along with his duties as a bruising
runner. NDSU would like to run him 25
times, set up the pass by bringing the
safeties up to stop him, and win with
ease.
What will happen: The Bison
defensive front will keep Weber from
getting the spread offense going like it
needs to, while the offense will be able
to do whatever it wants to on the Gopher
defense. For most Minnesota fans, this
will signal a low point, but NDSU will
be one of the tighter teams the Gophers
will face.
CFN Prediction:
North Dakota State 38 ... Minnesota 27 ...
Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (5
Keeping Up
with the Kardashians - 1
Ellen's dog plea) ... 1.5
Northern Illinois (1-6) at Wisconsin
(5-2) 12:00
PM
Big Ten
Network
Why to watch: Is Wisconsin
planning on turning it up a few notches
any time soon? After a horrible
performance in a 38-7 loss to Penn
State, the team is going back to the
drawing board, dropping out of the
rankings completely and excusing itself
from the Big Ten title chase. There's
still time to make plenty of noise, with
Michigan and Ohio State still to deal
with, but first, the team needs a
confidence boost. For the first time all
year, the program needs a cathartic
blowout so it can puff out its chest and
feel like the top ten team it probably
is, but hasn't played like. Northern
Illinois has been close in several
games, but can't seem to find the
scoreboard. Four of the six losses came
by a total of ten points, but while the
optimist might think the team is a few
points away from being in the MAC title
hunt, there were losses to Eastern
Michigan, Southern Illinois and Temple.
If Wisconsin doesn't win this game going
away, then it'll be time to finally say
that this is a mediocre team that really
was overrated from the start.
Why Northern Illinois might win:
The Badger lines have turned soft. The
running game has struggled over the last
few weeks with no consistent push from
the front five, while the defensive line
has been out of position and manhandled
in the middle by Illinois and Penn
State. NIU's line is hardly anything
special, but it should be able to open
up just enough holes for the hot Justin
Anderson to run through. The sophomore
has rushed for 132 yards or more in each
of his last five games.
Why Wisconsin might win: Northern
Illinois doesn't score. If you can't put
up points on Western Michigan, Temple or
Eastern Michigan, you're not doing
something right. The Huskie passing game
has been inconsistent, and this is one
of the few teams worse at forcing
turnovers and mistakes than Wisconsin.
This should be the game the Badgers show
off their power game. NIU is quick and
can get into the backfield, but it can
also be shoved around. It shouldn't take
more than a few early scores to put it
away.
Who to watch: This is a game for
the Badger lines. There have been a few
sacks, but not enough plays in the
backfield. The offensive line has been
awful in pass protection on key plays,
and hasn't done nearly enough early on
to give P.J. Hill any room to move. If
Wisconsin is going to turn this thing
around, it'll have to start in the
trenches, and it'll have to start with
this game.
What will happen: Wisconsin will
play its sharpest game of the year.
Completely mediocre so far, the running
game will crank out 250 yards, the
defense will come up with a few
turnovers, and it'll be the breather the
team desperately needs.
CFN Prediction:
Wisconsin 45 ... Northern
Illinois 13 ...
Line: Wisconsin -23.5
Must See Rating: (5
Keeping Up
with the Kardashians - 1
Ellen's dog plea) ... 1.5
Michigan State (5-2) at Ohio State (7-0)
3:30 PM ABC
Why to watch: Is Ohio State next?
In a strange year with upset after
upset, Ohio State has managed to avoid
the pitfalls of the other top teams, but
the best win so far is only over Purdue,
or maybe on the road against Washington.
While the college football world has
begrudgingly accepted the Buckeyes on
the top of the BCS rankings, everyone's
waiting for the moment when they looking
like a number one team. That might not
happen, and that's not a slight in any
way. This year, just being consistently
great is enough, and OSU's defense is
playing light's-out. It'll get its best
test yet against a Michigan State
offense that's the best in the Big Ten,
and has exploded for 37 points and 467
yards per game. Basically, this is a
living, breathing test for OSU, who
hasn't lost to the Spartans since 1999.
Why Michigan State might win: No
one has hit OSU QB Todd Boeckman yet.
Outside of Washington, maybe, the
Buckeyes haven't faced anyone who can
consistently get to the quarterbacks.
That's not Michigan State, who's second
in the nation in sacks and third in
tackles for loss. The secondary is
burnable, and the run defense will get
pounded on from time to time, but if
Jonal Saint-Dic and the line can somehow
pressure Boeckman, this could be the
toughest game yet for the Buckeye
offense.
Why Ohio State might win:
Has anyone made any real attempt to run
on the Ohio State defense? Minnesota
tried with it's anemic spread thing it
does, and the same goes for Kent State
and Washington, but no one's been able
to lineup and blast out yards like
Michigan State can. Until this week. The
Buckeye speed and experience in the
linebacking corps should be enough to
keep Javon Ringer from cranking out huge
run after hug run, and if the ground
game isn't working, and the game is on
the shoulders of MSU QB Brian Hoyer,
OSU's defensive front should be able to
tee off. MSU's pass protection has been
lacking.
Who to watch: With Ringer
cranking out big yards as a runner and
receivers, and Jehuu Caulcrick pounding
the ball, and the aggressive defense,
the big start to Brian Hoyer's season
has been overlooked. Drew Stanton might
have been a special talent, who simply
never got a good break, but he wasn't
consistent. Hoyer has been steady,
throwing just three interceptions on the
year, with two coming against Bowling
Green, while doing a great job of taking
what the defenses are giving him
completing 61% of his passes with 11
touchdowns. He's coming off a special
day against Indiana, completing 20 of 23
passes, and now he's going to need to be
even sharper for the Spartans to
penetrate the Buckeye defense. He'll
have his chances.
What will happen: Michigan State
might be the Big Ten's most dangerous
offensive team, but it's also flaky
defensively. The offense will do more
than anyone else has on the OSU brick
wall, but it won't have enough success
running the ball to overcome two huge
Brian Robiskie catches that'll break the
game open in the second half.
CFN Prediction: Ohio State 31 ...Michigan
State 17
...
Line: Ohio State -17
Must See Rating: (5
Keeping Up
with the Kardashians - 1
Ellen's dog plea) ... 3.5
Big 10 Week
8 Predictions, Part 1
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