What will be more intriguing is if each team can remain unbeaten until their meeting in Tallahassee on Nov. 3. Most Big East people figured the conference would be decided the following Thursday when West Virginia and Louisville played. Who would have thought a USF/UC game would end up being more relevant?
How disappointing. Minnesota has the worst defense in the conference, Ohio State trounces Northwestern 58-7, and all the Buckeyes can manage is 30-7? Okay, that isn't exactly pitiful, but they should've been able to put that up by halftime. Is Minnesota coming around? *Haha* I know, I know, I just had to throw it out there.
Michigan gets to move back up the ladder against a Directional Michigan (does it matter which one?), Penn State and Iowa will duke it out to get off the 0-2 conference schneid, and it will likely be whichever offense removes it's head from it's...uhh, playbook long enough to get out ahead in the scoring.
Illinois will look to continue their unexpected push to the top of the conference against Wisconsin (at home, no less. Bonus). Indiana should manage to do the same against the aforementioned Gopher defense, and Purdue somehow managed to get themselves ranked. We'll see if they really do have a potent offense, or just a team that has been buoyed by bad opponents, because they have to face #4 Ohio State.
Winners: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State.
Two major upsets last week have the Big XII South in disarray. Colorado made a huge fourth quarter comeback with a last second field goal to take down Oklahoma. That shocking win might have cost the conference its best shot at a national title participant but it was able to give this preview a win in at least one game last week, leaving us 4-4 for the season.
Kansas (+3) at Kansas State - Kansas State scored a major win against Texas, beating the Longhorns for the second year in a row. Last year’s victory led to a major let down against Kansas the next week. It seems unlikely for a repeat of that despite Kansas’s huge offensive output in their first four games. I am going with Kansas State to win and cover.
Nebraska (+7) at Missouri - Neither team in this game has shown much of a defense, so this one could be a good call for the over. The winner here stays in the race for the North. I think Sam Keller’s arm and Marlon Lucky’s legs will trump Chase Daniel and Tony Temple. Take Nebraska.
Article comments
1 - Pico
Josh:
Two things to look for with LSU/Fla. Number one will Tiger QB Matt Flynn be close enough to 100%? If not, that's where LSU will lose the game with turnovers, much as they did last year in the Swamp. Number two, can mlb Ali Highsmith and the rest of the Tiger front seven be effective at stopping Tebow's qb draws? Since Florida doesn't seem to be a running threat with their running backs, stopping Tebow will be crucial to stopping their running game. I expect the Gators to get a few big pass plays on LSU's man coverage but if they can't run, they can't win. Oh, and rain could be a factor, too.
BTW, one of this week's best SEC matchups was already played: #8 Kentucky losing at #11 S. Carolina 38-23. Woodson looked very mortal out there.