Yikes. It had been a long time, but we finally had a losing week to the ledger after multiple successful weeks. We will look to improve on last week's 2-3 performance. Here are this weeks picks.
Michigan vs Michigan St
The Michigan Wolverines travel to East Lansing to take on their in state rival Michigan St Spartans in a top 25 match up. The Wolverines are coming off a bye week after putting up 63 on Indiana and will look to continue their offensive explosiveness against an extremely tough Spartan defense. QB Devin Gardner will look to keep the Spartan defense off balance with his arm and legs on Saturday. While Garner has been a little turnover prone this season, he also has the ability to make some huge plays as his 580+ yard, five touchdown performance against Indiana and 121 yards rushing against Penn St would indicate. Garner will have to be accurate, but careful in his decision making against one of the best defenses in the country. Garner will need some help from RB Fitzgerald Toussaint on Saturday if the Wolverines expect to go into East Lansing and win. Toussaint is averaging almost 4 yards a carry and has 11 touchdowns so far this season, however, he struggled mightily against the Penn St Nittany Lions in Happy Valley averaging just one yard per carry. Toussaint will need to put on the type of performance he did against Connecticut or Indiana to prevent the Spartans from pinning their ears back and bringing pressure against Gardner.
The Spartans are looking to essentially clinch the Legends division with a win over Michigan on Saturday. Michigan State is coming off a 42-3 win over Illinois and will need that offensive output to continue to beat the Wolverines on Saturday. QB Connor Cook has done a great job over the last four games throwing for seven touchdowns and only two interceptions while averaging a quarterback rating of 155.63. The Spartans will need Cook to continue this type of production against a weak Michigan defense that has struggled badly at times. Along with Cook, RB Jeremy Langord has been huge over the last three games, rushing for over 100 yards in all three and scoring five times. Both Cook and Langford need to play well if the Spartan offense plans to move the ball.
The match up to watch in this one will be the Spartans will be their defense against Michigan QB Devin Gardner. If the Spartans can get pressure, they can force Gardner into some bad throws and get their offense a short field.
Prediction: Both teams have something to prove on Saturday with Michigan needing to win if it wants to have any shot of winning the Legends division, while the Spartans want to avenge last years loss. This will be a physical contest with each team having trouble getting any offensive momentum early. Gardner will try and get the ball moving but will throw an interception leading to the Spartans first touchdown. With the Spartans having the lead, Michigan's offense will try to get out of the hole by relying on Gardner, which is exactly what the Spartans want. In the end the Spartans force four Wolverine turnovers and avenge last seasons loss with an incredible defensive performance.
+Michigan State Athletics 17 - +University of Michigan 7
Oklahoma St vs Texas Tech
The Cowboys travel to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders in the marquee game of the week for the Big 12. Oklahoma St is coming off a 58-27 win over Iowa St in which Clint Chelf took over the starting QB spot from JW Walsh and RB Desmond Roland rushed for over 200 yards. Chelf struggled in his first start of the season throwing for only 78 yards on 10 completions. Chelf will need to play much better in the hostile Lubbock environment if the Cowboys expect to win this Saturday. Roland had struggled himself up until the Iowa St game. Before the game against the Cyclones, Roland was only averaging 24.5 yards per game on the ground. If Chelf can keep the Red Raider defense honest by being able to throw the ball down field consistently and Roland can find some holes in the Raider defense, it could be a good day for the Cowboys.
Texas Tech is looking to rebound after losing to Oklahoma 38-30 in Norman last week. QB Davis Webb was great at times, throwing for 385 yards and two touchdowns, but also cost his team badly with two huge interceptions. Webb will need to take care of the ball better as the Cowboys defense has already amassed seven interceptions so far this season. WR's Jace Amaro and Eric Ward will need to create some separation from the Cowboy defensive backs to help Webb out. The Red Raiders have struggled running the ball consistently and it won't get any easier on Saturday as the Cowboys only give up 120 rushing yards per game. RB Deandre Washington will need to make the most of his opportunities and prevent himself from losing yardage.
The match up to watch is the Texas Tech run defense against Roland. The Red Raiders have struggled stopping the run and Roland is coming off a monstrous performance in his last game. Whoever wins this match up will win the game.
Prediction: The Red Raiders will come out clicking on offense like they have essentially all year. The Cowboys will continue to establish their running game and not rely on Chelf to win the game as of yet. After another Raider touchdown, the Cowboys find themselves down 14 in the third and decide they need to rely on Chelf to get them back in the game. After a successful drive and defensive stop, the Cowboys get the ball back and tie the game with three minutes to go. The Raiders get a big kick return and start with great field position. After a couple of first downs, the Raiders get a big play from Eric Ward and on the ensuing play Washington takes it in with little time left to secure the win.
+Texas Tech University 35 - +Oklahoma State Athletics 28
Miami vs Florida St
The Hurricanes travel to Tallahassee to renew one of the best rivalries in college sports. After a few years of struggles, this rivalry has all the makings of a great game on Saturday. The Hurricanes have been doing just enough to win this year including last week beating Wake Forest 24-21 in a game that the Hurricanes escaped in the final seconds. QB Stephen Morris has struggled at times this year and will need to play much better than he has this year for Miami to have a shot against Florida St. Morris has thrown for 10 touchdowns, but has thrown eight interceptions as well and will need to have a clean game to keep Florida St from piling up the points. RB Duke Johnson will need to put the team on his back and chug forward for first downs to keep the Seminoles offense off the field. Johnson has been unstoppable at times this year for the Hurricanes so expect 25+ carries for Johnson and long methodical drives to keep the Hurricanes in this one.
Florida St has been nothing short of electrifying so far this season. The Seminoles have scored at least 41 points in every single game this season including a 63-0 trouncing of then #25 Maryland and 51-14 demolishing of then #3 Clemson at Clemson. Heisman hopeful QB Jameis Winston has led the charge completing 70% of his passes for close to 2200 yards, 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Winston has been phenomenal not only in his play making ability but also in his decision making. Winston will be going up against the best defense he has faced this season, but if he plays at the level he has been playing at, it won't be much of a problem for him or Florida St. RB Devonta Freeman has been gashing opponents for an average of six and half yards per carry and will look to continue the balanced success the Seminoles have had on offense this season.
The match up to watch in this game will be Winston against the Hurricane corners. If the Seminoles can prevent pressure on Winston, it will be a long day for the Hurricane defense.
Prediction: This game will be close in the early going with Miami having success with the running game of Johnson mixed in with some play action for Morris, while the Seminoles will be chucking it down field early and often with Winston. After an explosive first half, the Seminoles will take a commanding lead forcing the Hurricanes to rely on Morris as opposed to Johnson. After a costly turnover from Morris, the Seminoles put this one away before the third quarter is over.
+Florida State Seminoles 42 - +Miami Hurricanes 21
Boise St vs Colorado St
Boise St looks get to back on the winning side after being destroyed by BYU 37-20 last week in Provo. The Broncos have three regular season losses for the first time since 2005. The Broncos have tried to find a solution at QB but have juggled between Joe Southwick and Grant Hedrick. Hedrick started last weeks game against the Cougars and was inefficient to say the least. He will need to play the way he did against Nevada if the Broncos expect to go to Fort Collins and win. RB Jay Ajayi has also been a conundrum so far this season. Ajayi has led a power running attack for the Broncos with 12 touchdowns and an average of six yards per carry, but can't seem to hold onto the football. In the Broncos three losses this season, the team has turned the ball over seven times to their opponents one. If the Broncos can take care of the ball, they should be in contention to win on Saturday.
The Rams have won two in a row, both on the road, and will look to beat Boise St to stay in contention for the Division lead. The Rams are led by a balanced offense that is middle of the road in both the run and pass. QB Garret Grayson has improved tremendously from the first two games of the season and the Rams have won four of the six games since. Grayson has taken good care of the ball, but has also shown the ability to be a play maker down the field in his games against UTEP and San Jose St. Grayson will need to take care of the ball, but also throw the ball down the field successfully if the Rams expect to beat the Broncos. RB Kapri Bibbs will look to take some of the load off of Grayson by running the ball down the Broncos throats. In three of the last four games, Bibbs has rushed for over 135+ yards. In those three games, the Rams were 3-0. Expect the Rams to give Bibbs a heavy load against the Broncos in this one.
The match up to watch will be the Colorado St defensive front against the Boise St running game. If the Rams can stop Ajayi and even force a fumble or two, then they will be in this one till the end.
Prediction: Both teams will come out and try to establish the run game against their opponent with much success. Both teams will march down the field and score in the beginning stages of the game. The Rams will force another Ajayi fumble giving them the lead late in the first half. With the lead, the Rams give a nice mix of Bibbs and Grayson leading to another touchdown drive. The Rams will now force Hedrick to prove he can beat them. Hedrick will lead a touchdown drive, but the Broncos will be down a touchdown deep in the fourth quarter. The Broncos force a Rams punt, but have no timeouts and only a couple of minutes to drive down the field and score. The Broncos get into Rams territory, but a deflected pass leads to an interception and the Rams pull off the victory at home.
+Colorado State University 24 - +Boise State University 17
Upset Special
Wisconsin vs Iowa
The Badgers travel to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes in a match up that hasn't been played since 2010. Wisconsin is coming off a bye week after throttling Illinois 56-32 the previous week. The Badgers offense has been clicking on all cylinders, winning their last two games by 26.5 points. RB's Melvin Gordon and James White have been the catalysts of the offensive surge the last two games. Wisconsin has pounded the ball the last two games rushing for 280+ yards each game. Look for the Badgers to try and do this against the Hawkeyes on Saturday. QB Joel Stave has played better the last two games as well throwing for five touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 68% of his passes. In the two games the Badgers have lost, Stave was extremely inaccurate, so look for the Hawkeyes to try to get after Stave early and often in passing situations.
The Hawkeyes are looking to become bowl eligible after not making a bowl last year and can do that with a win over the Badgers on Saturday. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 17-10 overtime win over the Northwestern Wildcats last week. The Hawkeyes have struggled a bit running the football the last two weeks, which is the Hawkeyes forte so RB's Mark Weisman and Damon Bullock will need to find some holes early and often against the tough Badger defense it the Hawkeyes expect to win. Despite the Hawkeyes struggles to run the football of late, QB Jake Rudock has played well the last two weeks in the win against Northwestern and keeping the Hawkeyes in the game against the Buckeyes two weeks ago. Rudock will try and help his RB's out by keeping the Badger defense honest and prevent them from stacking the box.
The matchup to watch in this game though is the Iowa run defense against the Badger rush offense. If the Hawkeyes can slow the Badger rushing attack a little bit, then they will have a chance at the upset.
Prediction: Both teams will come out and try to impose their will on each other with the run game. Both teams will stack the box early and force the opposing QB to make plays to beat them. After falling down early, QB Jake Rudock will get his team back in the game with a touchdown right before the half. Down going into half time, the Hawkeyes come out and score on a long drive and time consuming drive to take the lead. Wisconsin answers the call with a drive of their own to take the lead again. After a Iowa field goal, the Hawkeyes need a stop to get the ball back with time left on the clock to drive down the field. The Hawkeyes get the stop they desperately needed and force punt. After a fourth down conversion from Rudock, Weisman breaks a nice run up the Badger defense. After a few more runs, the Hawkeyes attempt the game winning field goal and convert pulling off the upset and becoming bowl eligible.
+University of Iowa 23 - +Wisconsin Badgers 20
Last Week: 2-3
2013 Season: 29-16
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