Last Week:Bye
This Week: Eastern Michigan
Prediction: MSU -45
Still the best and most well rounded team in the conference by a wide margin. They should have the top defense in the league, and Connor Cook and Tony Lippett are dangerous in the passing game. Look for them to get their ground game going against a week Eastern Michigan team this week.
2. Ohio State (2)
Last Week: 66-0 Win over Ken State
This Week: Bye
The Buckeyes really took their frustrations out on the Golden Flashes last week. Even though Ken State is not very good, their offense looked much improved from the first two games. They are very young, they will get better as the season goes along.
3. Nebraska (3)
Last Week: 55-19 Win over Fresno State
This Week: Miami (FL)
Prediction: NEB -8
Bo Pelini's team bounced back from last weeks narrow escape against McNeese State by taking care of business out west. Ameer Abdullah is the best running back in the conference, and the defense looked better against the Bulldogs. The Canes are a bad team, they should not cause a problem playing a night game in Lincoln.
4. Wisconsin (4)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Bowling Green
Prediction: BG +27 with the Badgers winning outright
The Badgers still have a strong defense and running game, but they face a tough MAC opponent. Let's see if Tanner McEvoy can throw against an FBS team. Bowling Green coach Dino Babers is from the Art Briles coaching tree, so they could have trouble with their speedy spread offense.
5. Penn State (7)
Last Week: Sigh
This Week: UMass
Prediction: PSU -27
The Nittany Lions have a bunch of glaring weaknesses, but they have the best quarterback in the conference in Christian Hackenberg and maybe the best defensive player in the league in Anthony Zettel. Umass played Colorado, Boston College and Vanderbilt tough, but the "Joe Out" crowd might give them problems.
6. Michigan (5)
Last Week: 34-10 Win over Miami (OH)
This Week: Utah
Prediction: Utah +4
Michigan seems to be a classic "the sum is less than the whole of it's parts" team. Turnovers are a problem, as is their young offensive line. The Utes usually have a physical front seven that will probably give them fits up front.
7. Rutgers (8)
Last Week: 13-10 Loss to Penn State
This Week: at Navy
Prediction: Coming Soon
Yes, Rutgers lost and still moved up. This is not a good conference, folks. Gary Nova showed last week that he is still turn over prone, but the defense stepped up in a huge way. At the very least, they won't be pushovers in their new conference.
8. Maryland (10)
Last Week: 40-37 loss to West Virginia
This Week:aat Syracuse
Prediction: MD pick em
I watched most of the Terps game last week, and they were lucky they only lost by three. The Mountaineers dominated them, but shot themselves in the foot with turnovers, inefficiency in the redzone and the total lack of ability to defend the zone read. So yes, they looked bad and still moved up.
9. Iowa (6)
Last Week: 20-17 loss to Iowa State
This Week: at Pitt
Prediction: Iowa +7
Brandon Schreff surprisingly started the CyHawk Game last week, but it wasn't enough to jump start their offense. It is a rivalry game, but Iowa State is a middle of the road Big 12 team at best. I'd expect a low scoring contest with the Panthers.
10. Minnesota (9)
Last Week: 30-7 loss at TCU
This Week: San Jose State
Prediction: Minn -10
Facing a Gary Patterson defense with a one dimensional offense is no way to go through life.Their own defense didn't look great wither.
11. Illinois (12)
Last Week: 44-19 loss at Washington
This Week: vs Texas State
Prediction: Ill -13
They played a very sloppy game in Seattle and the defense continues to be troublesome.
12. Indiana (11)
Last Week: 45-42 loss to Bowling Green
This Week: at Missouri
Prediction: Mizz -14
Their offense finally looked explosive, but their defense fell apart in the second half. Missouri is one of the better team in the SEC East, this will be a tough one.
13. Purdue (14)
Last Week: 30-14 loss to Notre Dame
This Week: Southern Illinois
They were actually somewhat competitive against the Irish, so that's showing improvement!
14. Northwestern (13)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Western Illinois
They are bad and injured too.
Other Picks:
Florida State -14 over Clemson
No Winston, no problem.Their defense and run game are still great and Clemson willingly starts their second best QB.
Oklahoma -8 over West Virginia
Alabama-15 over Florida
Virginia +15, BYU outright
The Hoos defense has been great so far, they should slow down Taysom Hill.
This is another pretty weak slate of games across the country. Can't wait until conference play kicks into full gear.
No comments:
Post a Comment