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Ohio (0-3) at Northwestern (3-0), 12 EST Big Ten Network
Why to watch: It should
be a positive sign that things
are improving at Northwestern
under head coach Pat Fitzgerald
that the team is 3-0 and winning
rather easily even though it’s
not playing well. The offense
isn’t quite clicking and the
defense has been spotty, but 3-0
is 3-0, even if it’s against
Syracuse, Duke and Southern
Illinois. With the Big Ten
season kicking off next week at
Iowa, the Wildcats need to
sharpen up the attack, but they
can’t look past an Ohio team
that might be the MAC’s
hard-luck story of the 2008
season. The Bobcats should’ve
won at Wyoming, could’ve won at
Ohio State, and almost won
against Central Michigan, but
are 0-3 and in desperate need of
a break. With three road games
to follow a layup against VMI,
Ohio needs this win to turn its
season around.
Why Ohio might win: The
Bobcat secondary should provide
a few problems for the
sputtering Wildcat passing game.
Northwestern has been able to
run the ball well, but the
passing attack has been hit or
miss. The offense changed things
up this off-season with a more
quick-timed passing game, and
while there have been some nice
runs, there hasn’t been much in
the way of consistency. Ohio has
the corners to keep the outside
passes to a minimum.
Why Northwestern might win:
Turnovers. Northwestern has only
come up with two takeaways, and
has only lost the ball twice,
while Ohio has had major
turnover issues losing the ball
nine times so far with four
fumbles and five interceptions.
Northwestern is getting good
pressure from the defensive
front, and if it’s able to
disrupt the Ohio offense and
force QB Boo Jackson to rush,
the mistakes will come.
Who to watch: It has
taken a few years, but
Northwestern DE Corey Wootton is
starting to play like the killer
all-around playmaker many
expected him to be as a true
freshman. With NFL prototype
size and excellent quickness to
go along with his experience, he
has come up with four sacks in
three games and 12 tackles. He’s
growing into a dominant
playmaker.
What will happen: The
Northwestern running game will
control one side of the field,
while the pass rush will control
the other. Ohio will outgain the
Wildcats through the air, but
two key turnovers will allow NU
to pull away in the second half.
CFN Prediction:
Northwestern 24 … Ohio 17...
Line: Northwestern -10.5
Must See Rating: (5
Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest
Loser: Families) … 2.5
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Florida Atlantic (1-2) at
Minnesota (3-0),
12 EST Big Ten Network
Why to watch: How far has
Minnesota come in a year? Last
year the Gophers suffered a
42-39 loss at Florida Atlantic
that was a stunner at the time,
but turned out to kick off a
ten-game losing streak. The 2008
team has tripled the win total
from last year and can even
start thinking about a possible
bowl bid if it can get by the
Owls. With a date at Ohio State
up next to start a run of three
road trips in four games, this
is a must win. FAU might be the
defending Sun Belt champions,
but they haven’t produced so far
against the two BCS foes it has
faced, Texas and Michigan State,
losing to them by a combined
score of 69 to 10. The Sun Belt
season starts up next week for
the Owls at Middle Tennessee.
Why Florida Atlantic might win:
Minnesota’s defense has
improved, but it’s still not
doing much against the pass.
Northern Illinois came up with
the home runs, Bowling Green was
able to dink and dunk, and
Montana State came up with 218
yards. However, the Gophers have
allowed four touchdown passes
and picked off four. FAU has
been terrific in pass
protection, the line hasn’t
allowed a sack, and Minnesota
isn’t going to generate too much
pressure, so expect QB Rusty
Smith to throw for at least 300
yards without breathing hard.
Why Minnesota might win:
The Gophers should be able to
run the ball. Texas rolled for
232 yards and three touchdowns,
and Michigan State and Javon
Ringer rolled last week. UAB QB
Joe Webb ran for 66 yards.
Minnesota lost its top runner
Duane Bennett for the year, but
it’s getting production out of
anyone who ended up toting the
rock. DeLeon Eskridge ran for
114 yards and three touchdowns
last week, and QB Adam Weber is
always a dangerous option
whenever he’s out of the pocket.
Who to watch: The
Minnesota offensive line could
become a major problem. On the
same play that Duane Bennett was
lost for the year, center Jeff
Tow-Arnett suffered a knee
injury of his own and missed
last week’s game. He practiced
this week, but he’s gimpy. Guard
Ned Tavale will play through an
ankle injury, while tackle Dom
Alford has a leg problem and is
out. That means Minnesota is
going to a youth movement up
front, and while that might not
be a problem this week, it’ll be
a big issue once Big Ten play
starts.
What will happen: Smith
will get his passing yards, but
Minnesota will have too much
offensive balance and will come
up with the key turnovers needed
to get the tough win.
CFN Prediction: Minnesota
34 … Florida Atlantic 31 ...
Line: Minnesota -7
Must See Rating: (5
Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest
Loser: Families) … 2.5
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Troy (2-0) at Ohio State (2-1),
12 EST Big Ten Network
Why to watch: Ohio State
came up with yet another big
game clunker against an elite of
the elite team, and now it’ll
try to pick up the pieces
against a Troy team good enough
to capitalize on a downward
trend. The Buckeyes need a great
performance, not just a good
one, to show that they really
are worthy of being considered
among the nation’s better teams
after getting rolled 35-3 by
USC. While next week’s Big Ten
opener against Minnesota
shouldn’t be a problem, the trip
to Wisconsin the week after will
be a certain loss unless OSU
gets far crisper on offense.
Troy was supposed to play LSU
two weeks ago but hurricanes had
something to say about that (the
game was moved to November 15th),
but everything was razor-sharp
in a 65-0 win over Alcorn State
that could’ve been 165-0.
Already 1-0 in Sun Belt play
with a win over Middle Tennessee
that looks a whole bunch better
now than it did in September,
the Trojans can make a major
statement next week with a win
at Florida Atlantic. Of course,
beating Ohio State would look
pretty good, too.
Why Troy might win: If
you’re ever going to catch Ohio
State down, this should be the
game. The team is saying all the
right things about still
shooting for the BCS and the Big
Ten title, but it’ll be next to
impossible for there not to be a
letdown after the fiasco in L.A.
There’s one other side to this:
Troy really is good. The
secondary is good enough to keep
the OSU passing game in check,
while the defensive front has 22
tackles for loss and five sacks
in two games. This won’t be the
USC defense, but it should
provide enough pressure to be
annoying.
Why Ohio State might win:
Welcome to the OSU pass rush.
Much maligned after doing next
to nothing last week, the
Buckeye defensive front is way
overdue for a big performance.
Troy’s offensive line is good,
and it should be among the Sun
Belt’s best, but it’s been
mediocre in pass protection over
the last two games. For all the
problems OSU had last week, the
defense is still among the best
in America and it should keep a
good Troy offense under wraps.
Who to watch: Beanie is
out, Terrelle is in. If Chris
Wells couldn’t go against USC,
he’s sure as shoot not going to
play against Troy with the Big
Ten season coming up next week.
Even though Beanie has been
practicing, Jim Tressel said
that his star back is definitely
out for this week. Meanwhile,
Terrelle Pryor will be in the
quarterback rotation more after
getting more work this week.
Todd Boeckman will start, but
Pryor will be a far bigger part
of the offense.
What will happen: Ohio
State will come out hot,
struggle for a while as Troy’s
defense keeps the game close,
and then Pryor will take over in
the second half leading the way
to two good scoring drives to
allow everyone to breathe
easier.
CFN Prediction: Ohio
State 31 … Troy 13 ... Line:
Ohio State -21
Must See Rating: (5
Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest
Loser: Families) … 2.5
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Big 10 Week
Four Fearless Predictions,
Part 2
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