Weekend forecast - Week 11

While the Buckeyes are down to two regular season games left there will still be action for the next month and races are heating up all across the nation. This week in our picker’s pool we will be looking at a pivotal game in the Big East, a BCS Buster looking not to get busted and a pair of games in the Big Ten.

Michigan State vs. Purdue

Kevin Noon (25-15): Sparty is one game away from being bowl eligible but it hasn’t been easy in dropping two out of the last three. The once lowly Boilermakers actually still have a chance of making a bowl with a win here and then against Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket game. This is a game that the Spartans should win on paper but there is just something about this Purdue team that wills them to win as of late. Purdue 27 Michigan State 20

Ari Wasserman (30-10): It seems like every week that we are picking a Purdue game, and that’s probably because it is really tough to figure out which Boilermakers team is going to show up on a given Saturday. Then, with a match up with Michigan State, you have the same exact problem. Basically, what I am trying to say is that this could be one of the tougher games to pick correctly that we have done all year. I’ll just go Michigan State on this one on a pure gut feeling. Michigan State 26 Purdue 20

Brian Snow (29-11): The Purdue Boilermakers are becoming the surprise of the Big Ten. After a slow start to their season, the win over Ohio State has been a springboard for better times in West Lafayette. Quarterback Joey Elliott is having an excellent season, and the Boilers are making waves. The Spartans on the other hand haven’t had things go so well. Combine the good fortunes of Purdue, and the lost momentum of Michigan State, and this has the recipe for yet another Boilermaker victory. Purdue 31 Michigan State 17

Andy McLachlan (24-16): With both teams on the verge of bowl eligibility, this battle in West Lafayette should be a good one. Sparty Nation (and Kevin Noon) was drinking the green and white kool-aid pre season, thinking the Spartans would finally solidify their spot as a Big Ten power. Unfortunately they have the second worst defense in the state of Michigan and continue to display inconsistency from week-to-week. Despite the blowout against Wisconsin, the Boilermakers have played solid football in the second half, with wins over Ohio State and Michigan. Look for Purdue to get one step closer to bowling it up over the holidays. Purdue 37 Michigan State 31

WVU vs. Cincinnati

Noon: Did UCONN expose Cincinnati last week? The Bearcat run has surprised the nation and this week could be the end of the run against a WVU team that brings in a respectable 7-2 record overall. UC is blessed with two talented quarterbacks but will the hoopla over who will start serve as a distraction? Noel Devine has always proven to be a special back for the ‘Eers and should have a good game against UC’s middle of the pack run defense. But ultimately this has been a special season for the Bearcats and they will prevail (only to lose to Pitt later int he season). Cincinnati 37 WVU 34

Wasserman: With every single week that passes with a Cincinnati win, the more likely it will be that they will run the table. Southern Ohio is really getting excited about the team the Bearcats have this year, but I am not sure they will have what it takes to pull of a season that ends with a goose egg in the loss column. I have drawn a lot of flack for voicing my opinion that Cincy will lose to Illinois, but I think it happens even sooner… Like this weekend. West Virginia 31 Cincinnati 28

Snow: This is the game of the season in the Big East Conference. The Bearcats are in the top five in the country, and have two quarterbacks that are absolutely rolling. West Virginia has the strong running game of Noel Devine to go along with a solid line. The question will be can the usually stout Cincinnati defense control the big plays of West Virginia. In a battle like this one I usually take the home team, but something is telling me the Mountaineers pull the upset. West Virginia 27 Cincinnati 24

McLachlan: We have a Big East game in the forecast? Sheesh, it must be a slow week. Actually, this is a game I am truly looking forward to. West Virginia is the Penn State to the Big Ten. They love to beat up on smaller teams but struggles when they meet an equivalent. If history proves anything, the Mountaineers would be in for a beat down on Friday but with Noel Devine against a suspect Bearcat defense, anything is possible. Devine will gets his numbers but the Cincy offense will make up the difference. Cincinnati 41 West Virginia 36

Utah vs. TCU

Noon: This is a game of two teams that I would struggle to name a combined five players in. TCU has been the team that has made many people forget about Boise State (I am all for that) and Utah always seems to be in the BCS buster conversation (well, maybe not as much this season). TCU has been tested twice this season but the last four games have been horrendous routs. Utah will be the third team to challenge TCU but the dream season will continue for the Frogs. TCU 31 Utah 28

Wasserman: College football has become kind of a situation where the system is just ready to explode (I am talking about the BCS). And it is teams like TCU, Boise State, and even Cincy that are causing problems. Well, I love it. The Horned Frogs have done a good job showing they are one of the elite teams in college football this year and I see them running the table and having their name thrown in the hat of who should play in the title game. I don’t think this team could be Bama or Florida, but it will be fun to hear their argument later on. TCU 40 Utah 24

Snow: Make no mistake about it, the TCU Horned Frogs are for real. They are well coached, have good talent, and most importantly they believe they will win. That right there is a recipe for success, and look for that to continue. Utah is solid, but they simply don’t have the weapons to beat TCU. Gary Patterson can really coach, and his team is deserving of a BCS bid assuming they win this game, which I think they will. TCU 37 Utah 20

McLachlan: Seriously, is there not a Big 12 or SEC game we can cover this week? No? Oh well, I guess you deal with the cards you are dealt with. While the Utes only loss was to Pac 10 leader Oregon, they have been the back page story to the undefeated Horned Frogs. The only difference between these two teams is Utah is barely 8-1 with a few close calls while TCU has clearly been the most dominant team in the Mountain West. To top it off with home field advantage, TCU improves to 10-0. TCU 29 Utah 10

Ohio State vs. Iowa

Noon: You hate to see a game decided on an injury and if Ricky Stanzi was healthy I would have felt that this game would be a lot closer. But unfortunately for the world of college football Stanzi is out and thus you see a 17 point line for this game.

Both defenses are solid but you have to give the edge to the Ohio State defense who have been downright nasty this season. Ohio State will have to account for Adrian Clayborn and Tyler Sash on the field at all times because both are difference makers.

But ultimately it will come down to the fact that Ohio State has more athletes and even though both teams have the same amount of things on the line the Buckeyes are playing at home on senior day and it will be a charged atmosphere around the ‘Shoe with the Buckeyes having the chance to clinch a Rose Bowl berth at home for the first time in more than a generation. Ohio State 35 Iowa 7

Wasserman: Prior to last weekend, I saw Iowa’s season playing out in a few ways, but I never though that they would draw this kind of luck. When looking at a team that has had somewhat of a magical year this year, you can’t help but feel bad for them when they lose their quarterback, the game, and their national title hopes all within the span of three hours. Unfortunately, with the loss of Ricky Stanzi, that happened to Iowa. And I feel for them.

What’s even worse is the fact that I don’t think they stand a chance against the Buckeyes this weekend, and I think that is evident in the 17-point spread. Sure, the Buckeyes have struggled at times this year, but thinking about Iowa trying to score with their backup quarterback on Ohio State’s defense just doesn’t seem like something that will work out for the Hawkeyes. Both teams control their destiny for the Rose Bowl, but Iowa’s may have been lost with Stanzi. Ohio State 31 Iowa 10

Snow: The winner of this game is heading west to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. While that isn’t quite set in stone, let’s be real, it is going to work out well for the winner. The problem for Iowa right now is that quarterback Ricky Stanzi is basically out. While Stanzi won’t be confused with a Heisman Trophy winner, he is still a quality football player.

Ohio State’s defense should be able to tee off on Iowa. The Hawkeyes are a solid running team, but the OSU defensive line can be absolutely dominant. Add in the fact that the Buckeye secondary should be able to contain the Iowa wide outs, and it has a recipe for a dominant defensive performance.

It has been a long time since the Buckeyes made the trip to Pasadena, but after this game the streak will officially be over. OSU is simply too talented for the Hawkeyes, and with the game being at home, it is almost impossible to see them losing. Ohio State 24 Iowa 6

McLachlan: After the dismantling of the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes enter this game licking their chops, ready to pounce on the wounded Hawkeyes. After such an emotional season so far where it would seemed Iowa would lose a game, then miraculously come back and pull out the win has appeared to taken its toll.

Is the loss to Ricky Stanzi that huge of a hit? After all, the junior threw six interceptions in his last three games. Even though his replacement James Vandenberg was less than stellar against Northwestern, the second year freshman put up some nice numbers during his senior year (completed nearly 70% of his passes for 3,729 yards and 49 touchdowns) so he could be a secret weapon the Buckeyes are not ready for.

I think the defenses are pretty equal across the board. Both have strong defensive lines, good sets of linebackers and ballhawks in their respected secondaries. Field position will be crucial with Iowa getting the advantage with punter Ryan Donahue. He can boot it over 60 yards with ease (72 longest this year) so the Ray Small factor will be critical to make up some of the yardage.

Calm, cool and collective. That is what Terrelle Pryor demonstrated last week and that is what he needs to do again. As long as he continues to realize that he does not have to beat teams on his own, he will be more effective as a quarterback. Call me crazy, call me psychotic but I see a lack of focus from Pryor this weekend. The Hawkeyes came up big in State College and they will do it again in Columbus. Iowa 20 Ohio State 17