Big Ten Preview

Projected Records & Standings

1. PENN STATE         11-1  (7-1)
2. OHIO STATE         10-2  (6-2)
3. ILLINOIS            8-4  (5-3)
4. MICHIGAN            9-3  (5-3)
5. MICHIGAN STATE      7-5  (4-4)
6. IOWA                7-5  (4-4)
7. NORTHWESTERN        8-4  (4-4)
8. MINNESOTA           5-7  (3-5)
9. WISCONSIN           6-6  (3-5)
10.PURDUE              4-8  (2-6)
11.INDIANA             3-9  (1-7)

Champion: PENN STATE
The schedule sets up nicely for Penn State with Ohio State visiting Happy Valley. Those two are enough ahead of the rest of the pack that the conference title will probably come down to that game. Give the Nittany Lions the advantage because of senior quarterback Daryll Clark and what should again be a very good defense. The return of Sean Lee at linebacker will only make Navorro Bowman better. And Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu make up one of the best defensive tackle duos in the land. Add to that a running back who is one of the most underappreciated players in the nation in Evan Royster running behind an athletic offensive line and there is a real possibility Penn State could run the table and sneak their way into the National Title game.

Could Surprise: MICHIGAN

With seemingly everybody rooting against Rich Rodriguez at this point, it’s time to bring up the fact that his teams usually take the biggest step forward in year two. The defense didn’t always play well, but with players like DE Brandon Graham and LB Obi Ezeh the Wolverine defense should be in fine form. If the offense shows even the slightest bit of improvement – and there’s really no where else to go but up – Big Blue should find themselves in the top half of the Big Ten standings where they belong.

Here’s an early upset pick: Michigan will beat Ohio State in Ann Arbor this November.

Question the Hype: BIG TEN CONFERENCE
This conference is in a state of flux. Penn State and Ohio State are clearly the front-runners, but neither has proven capable of beating good teams from other conferences in recent seasons. Somebody is going to have to pick up a big NON-conference win in order to reverse the perception that the Big Ten is lagging behind the other major conferences. Unfortunately, outside of Ohio State playing USC, most of these schools seem content to avoid playing big non-conference games. So don’t be surprised if the Big Ten gets their clocks cleaned come bowl season yet again.

Bo Jackson Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
QB-Juice Williams, Illinois
QB-Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
RB-Evan Royster, Penn State

Ten to Watch:
WR-Arrelious Benn, Illinois
RB-Carlos Brown, Michigan
OT-Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
OT-Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
QB-Daryll Clark, Penn State
WR-Eric Decker, Minnesota
RB-Jewel Hampton, Iowa
RB-Dan Herron, Ohio State
RB-Jaycen Taylor, Purdue
C-Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

Arrington Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
DE-Brandon Graham, Michigan
DT-Jared Odrick, Penn State
LB-Martez Wilson, Illinois

Ten to Watch:
LB-Pat Angerer, Iowa
LB-Navorro Bowman, Penn State
CB-Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State
SS-Kurt Coleman, Ohio State
LB-Obi Ezeh, Michigan
LB-Greg Jones, Michigan State
DE-Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
DT-Ollie Ogbu, Penn State
CB-Donovan Warren, Michigan
DE-Corey Wootton, Northwestern

J.Pike's Ballot: Gold Wrenches

I chose to hand out five Gold Wrenches this season. Pikes Picks awards Gold Wrenches for outstanding play in the trenches, and all five of these groups played huge roles in determining the outcomes of their teams' games.

Alabama Offensive Line
starters: Antoine Caldwell, Drew Davis, Marlon Davis, Mike Johnson, Andre Smith
reserves: John Michael Boswell, Brian Motley, David Ross

Texas Defensive Line
starters: Lamarr Houston, Henry Melton, Roy Miller, Brian Orakpo
reserves: Ben Alexander, Sam Acho, Eddie Jones, Aaron Lewis

USC Defensive Line
starters: Clay Mathews, Fili Moala, Kyle Moore, Christian Tupou
reserves: Armond Armstead, Jurrell Casey, Everson Griffen, Averell Spicer

Oklahoma Offensive Line
starters: Jon Cooper, Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, Brandon Walker, Trent Williams
reserves: Cory Brandon, Branndon Braxton, Brian Simmons

Penn State Defensive Line
starters: Josh Gaines, Aaron Maybin, Jared Odrick, Ollie Ogbu
reserves: Maurice Evans, Abe Koroma

Sproles/Sauerbrun Award Finalists

SPROLES/SAUERBRUN AWARD

The Sproles/Sauerbrun Award was founded to recognize excellence in special teams. It gets its name from Kansas State return man Darren Sproles and legendary West Virginia punter Todd Sauerbrun. The award can be given to a kicker, a punter, a return man, or even a player that displays a special ability to run down and make hits on kick coverage.

This award has the longest list of finalists due to its all-inclusive criteria, but all eight of the following candidates warrant being considered finalists.

J.Pike's Finalists

JOE BURNETT
(Senior KR/PR, Central Florida)
Key Stats
KR: 26 returns for 745 yards;
28.7 avg, 2 td (long 91);
PR: 26 returns for 378 yards;
14.5 avg, long of 36;
1,123 total return yards, 2 touchdowns


MARDY GILYARD
(Junior KR, Cincinnati)
Key Stats
KR: 32 returns for 897 yards;
28.0 avg, 2 td (long 100);
Huge game against Oklahoma - 5 returns for 246 yards, 1 td



BRANDON JAMES
(Junior PR/KR, Florida)
Key Stats
PR: 36 returns for 509 yards;
14.1 avg, 2 td (long 78);
KR: 29 returns for 687 yards;
23.7 avg, long of 52;
1,196 total return yards, 2 touchdowns


A.J. JEFFERSON
(Junior KR, Fresno State)
Key Stats
KR: 31 returns for 908 yards;
29.3 avg, 1 td (long 92);
One of Fresno's main scoring threats




JEREMY MACLIN
(Sophomore KR/PR, Missouri)
Key Stats
KR: 41 returns for 987 yards;
24.1 avg, 1 td (long 99);
PR: 19 returns for 188 yards;
9.9 avg, long of 46;
Excellent speed - a threat to score every time he touches the ball;
1,175 total return yards, 1 touchdown

JACOB RICHARDSON
(Senior P, Miami-OH)
Key Stats
52 punts, 45.4 avg (4th nationally);
17 punts of 50+ yards, long of 74;
18 punts inside 20 yard line;
6 fair catches, only 7 touchbacks



LOUIE SAKODA
(Senior K/P, Utah)
Key Stats
115 total points (7th nationally);
21/23 FGs, 52/53 XPTs;
8/10 FGs over 40 yards, long of 53;
Hit game winning field goal on last play against Oregon State;
50 punts, 41.7 avg, long of 81;
21 punts inside 20 yard line;
16 fair catches, only 9 touchbacks

DERRICK WILLIAMS
(Senior KR/PR, Penn State)
Key Stats
KR: 18 returns for 486 yards;
27.0 avg, 2 td (long 94);
PR: 18 returns for 169 yards;
9.4 avg, 1 td (long 63);
655 total return yards, 3 touchdowns;
Averaged one touchdown every 12 returns


J.Pike's Honorable Mention

BRANDON TATE
(Senior PR/KR, North Carolina)
Key Stats
PR: 7 returns for 158 yards;
22.6 avg, 1 td (long 82);
KR: 11 returns for 305 yards;
27.7 avg, long of 56
Tate was well on his way to a fantastic senior season when he tore up his knee in the sixth game of the season. Although he isn't technically considered a finalist for the Sproles/Sauerbrun Award, his play through six games warrants at least a mention here because he was one of the favorites to win the award at the time of his injury.

WEEK THIRTEEN - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1 Alabama is IDLE

#2 Texas Tech at #7 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
If this game had been played a week ago it would have been a no-brainer for me. Texas Tech is playing lights out, and honestly, they have been a more impressive team on both sides of the ball than Oklahoma in 2008. Tech brought unmatched fire and desire to their play in the trenches, and Mike Leach's commitment to the running game has given opposing defenses something to think about.

BUT, the week off might have given the Red Raiders too much time to think about their success. Plus, will leaving the friendly confines of Lubbock make all those holding calls magically reappear? Despite being one of the most penalized teams in the Big XII, they seemed to get away with a lot in those two big games against Texas and Oklahoma State.

So how does Oklahoma win this game? Sam Bradford and Gerald McCoy. Bradford will keep up his remarkably consistent high level of play if the Sooner O-Line can keep his shirt clean. Gerald McCoy, one of the best defensive tackles in the nation, will have the exact opposite effect on Graham Harrell.

Oklahoma will jump out to their usual fast start and build a big first half lead, but don't ever count the Red Raiders out. They'll mount a comeback, but come up just short. If the Sooners win, get ready for the national media to go crazy giving them more credit than they deserve.
J.Pike's Pick: Oklahoma 34, Texas Tech 31

The Citadel at #3 Florida
(Saturday, 12:30 pm, Sun Sports PPV)
Gotta love the way these SEC teams schedule. This might end up backfiring on the Gators actually. If the starters play past the first quarter in this game, I think it will kill the momentum they have built up over the last several weeks. Get those backups in early and treat this game like an off week or risk losing your feel for playing against the speed of the SEC.
J.Pike's Pick: Florida 58, The Citadel 7

#4 Texas is IDLE

#5 USC is IDLE

#6 Georgia is IDLE

24 BYU at #8 Utah
(Saturday, 5 pm, The Mtn.)
The Holy War should be a good one this year. BYU has a potentially explosive offense, but will they be able to move the ball against Paul Kruger, Stevenson Sylvester, and the Utah defense? I don't think so. Utah quarterback Brian Johnson will continue the Utes magical season with another solid day, but kicker Louie Sakoda will be the hero.
J.Pike's Pick: Utah 22, BYU 16

#13 Michigan State at #9 Penn State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN 2)
This will be a good old fashioned Big Ten game in the cold. Expect three yards and several clouds of dust because both teams will rely on their running backs to get things done. Penn State is the better team defensively, and I think they'll be able to slow down Javon Ringer.
J.Pike's Pick: Penn State 23, Michigan State 13

Michigan at #10 Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am, ABC)
Don't get caught up in all the blowout talk. Ohio State is good, and they'll win this game, but that defense is possibly the most overrated unit in the nation. They have some solid players, but there isn't enough speed on that side of the ball to compete on a national level. Michigan has a good enough defense to keep the score down, and I won't be surprised if the Wolverines actually have a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
J.Pike's Pick: Ohio State 20, Michigan 16

WEEK TWELVE - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1 Texas Tech is IDLE

Mississippi State @ #2 Alabama
(Saturday, 6:45 pm, ESPN)
This game comes down to whether or not Alabama shows up. The fact that the Crimson Tide have lost two in a row to the Croomdawgs means Nick Saban didn’t have to work too hard to get his team’s attention. It will probably still be a hard fought, low scoring game, but I don’t expect Bama to have too much trouble dismissing Mississippi State.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 22, Mississippi State 10

#3 Texas @ Kansas
(Saturday, 11:30 am, FSN)
Simply put, this isn’t the same Kansas team that won a BCS bowl game last year. The Jayhawks definitely miss defensive coordinator Bill Young, who took over the DC job at Miami in the offseason. Kansas is giving up a Big XII worst 276.3 passing yards per game, which means Texas quarterback Colt McCoy should be in for yet another big day. The Longhorns will put this one away early and erase all the recent memories of photo finishes in Lawrence.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 42, Kansas 24

South Carolina @ #4 Florida
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
I’ll be honest with you, I have no idea what to expect from this Florida team on a week to week basis. Urban Meyer’s squad has as much athleticism as any team in the nation, but they seem to rely on their speed more than on Xs and Os. That leaves the door open for any opponent they face to sneak out of town with a win (see Ole Miss earlier this season). South Carolina brings a solid defense to The Swamp, highlighted by speedy defensive end Eric Norwood and tackling machine Emanuel Cook (if Cook ever misses a tackle, let me know). But the Gamecock offense is anything but consistent. Steve Spurrier keeps going back and forth between freshman Stephen Garcia and error prone (but eligible) Chris Smelley, and that leads to drastic ebbs in the cohesiveness of the offense. I would say Garcia should be the guy, but I have a feeling Smelley might come up big in this game. South Carolina will keep it close, but I’ll give Florida the nod.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 24, South Carolina 18

Indiana @ #5 Penn State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
After getting knocked out of the national title picture with a loss to Iowa last week, you might think the Nittany Lions would pack it in for the season. But the senior leadership on this team won’t let that happen. Quarterback Darryl Clark has been inconsistent of late, but facing the Big Ten’s worst pass defense should allow him and his three senior receivers to get back on track.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 37, Indiana 13

#6 Utah @ San Diego State
(Saturday, 7 pm, The Mtn.)
The clutch comeback win at home over TCU last Thursday night was huge. Now the Utes get to stretch their legs a little bit and get some backups some valuable game experience because San Diego State doesn’t have a chance to compete in this one. Utah was held to 13 points against the stingy Frog defense, but Brian Johnson and company should have no problem putting points on an Aztec defense that has given up at least 35 points in each of the last six games.
J.Pike’s Pick: Utah 44, San Diego State 7

#7 Oklahoma is IDLE

#8 USC @ Stanford
(Saturday, 6 pm, Versus)
I’ve been calling for it for weeks, so here it is: Stanford will upset USC. Again. I know nobody has forgotten about last season when Jim Harbaugh’s troops marched into the Coleseum and emerged victorious, despite being 42 point underdogs. How did they do it? They played scrappy defense, collecting four sacks and forcing five turnovers. Well, fast forward a year and Stanford is now leading the Pac-10 in sacks. They’ll get to Mark Sanchez and force him to make decisions on the run, which means USC will struggle to score. That opens the door for the surprisingly physical Stanford offense to ride Toby Gerhart and the Pac-10’s second ranked rushing attack to victory. USC has been playing outstanding defense of late, but they haven’t really faced a real challenge during that stretch. Oregon State proved that if you aren’t scared of USC, and you come out and punch them in the mouth, the Trojans will back down. Because there’s no use risking an NFL career for a meaningless college game …
J.Pike’s Pick: Stanford 20, USC 18

#9 Georgia @ Auburn
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
My, how the mighty have fallen. Before the season started I circled this game as one of the top five games to watch this year. Auburn was a preseason top 10 team and Georgia started the year at the very top of the polls. Now Georgia is struggling to maintain legitimacy at 8-2 while Auburn wallows in the pit of the SEC at 5-5. This game could be ugly. Auburn is only averaging 13.3 points per game in SEC play, but they can play a little defense when their hearts are in it. Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno’s heart is always in it, and I expect him to carry the Bulldogs this afternoon.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 24, Auburn 12

#10 Boise State @ Idaho
(Saturday, 4 pm)
It’s a Potato State showdown! Is Boise State ever going to play anybody again? Idaho is one of the worst teams in Division 1A, and there will probably be more Boise fans at the game than Vandals. Boise makes French fries out of Idaho and rolls to 10-0.
J.Pike’s Pick: Boise State 38, Idaho 6

WEEK ELEVEN - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1-t Alabama @ #21 LSU

(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
Nick Saban travels to Baton Rouge, where he won a national championship just five years ago. Les Miles won a championship last year, but his Tigers have taken a step back this year. Without Bo Pelini to run the defense, LSU gave up 50+ points to both Florida and Georgia. LSU has some talent on the D-Line, but Knowshon Moreno ran wild on the Tigers. That means the Crimson Tide can do what they do best and hammer Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch behind that massive offensive line. That will take the pressure off John Parker Wilson who will be able to make a couple plays to blossoming wideout Julio Jones. The Tide stays unbeaten.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 25, LSU 17

#1-t Penn State @ Iowa
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN)
Iowa has been the trendy upset pick this week. Unfortunately if you have seen either team play at all you’d know that Penn State will win this game without much difficulty. Iowa has had to rely solely on their tailback Shonn Greene because of the revolving door at quarterback. Greene is a solid back (139.7 yards per game), but Penn State’s defense is way too good to allow a one-man offense to score many points. Plus, the Nittany Lions seniors won’t let the team get a big head, and the upset talk will have them more focused than ever. Penn State wins this one going away.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 27, Iowa 6

#8 Oklahoma State @ #3 Texas Tech
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Texas Tech pulled off a big upset over top ranked Texas a week ago with an excellent performance. But can the Red Raiders get as jacked up for Oklahoma State as they were against Texas? If they can, they’ll stay undefeated. But I think it’s near impossible to get that up for two games in a row, and Oklahoma State has a few more offensive weapons than the Longhorns had to offer. Running back Kendall Hunter is one of the best backs in the Big XII and he’ll have better luck against the Tech front than the Texas running game did. Also look out for tight end Brandon Pettigrew – he’ll have a huge game and end up making the difference. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I like the mental makeup of this Oklahoma State team. Coach Mike Gundy doesn’t let his team get too up or too down, and that will pay big dividends on Saturday night as they go to Lubbock and pull off the upset.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma State 41, Texas Tech 35

Baylor @ #4 Texas
(Saturday, 11 am, FSN)
This one is worth getting up early for. Getting to see freshman quarterback Robert Griffin go up against Will Muschamp and the Longhorn defense should be a treat. Texas is without the services of stud defensive end Brian Orakpo though, who was injured against Texas Tech. That leaves Roy Miller, Sergio Kindle, and Roddrick Muckelroy to chase after Griffin. Griffin is an excellent player and new head coach Art Briles has this program headed the right direction. After taking Missouri down to the wire last week, the Bears will continue to improve as they make another strong showing in Austin this weekend. Unfortunately Briles doesn’t have enough complementary players yet to beat Texas.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 42, Baylor 24
J.Pike Guarantee: Baylor will make at least one bowl game during Robert Griffin’s career

#5 Florida @ Vanderbilt
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN 2)
The Vanderbilt secondary is good enough to cause the Florida passing game some problems. But the speed of Jeffrey Demps and Percy Harvin out of the backfield will be enough to counter that Vandy advantage. Ever since Bobby Johnson went away from Chris Nickson at quarterback, the Vanderbilt offense has lost the ability to score consistently against SEC defenses. He was a player opposing defenses had to game plan for, and although Mackenzi Adams is a solid player, he doesn’t have that same effect. All of these factors add up to a Gator win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 31, Vanderbilt 13

#6 Oklahoma @ Texas A&M
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
I’m starting to think the jig is up. Oklahoma hasn’t been dominant on defense for a couple years now, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the amount of coaches they have lost from the coaching staff on that side of the ball or if they just don’t have the same caliber of player anymore. Either way, it has become a trend rather than a fluke. So don’t write the Aggies off so quickly in this game. Quarterback Jarrod Johnson is proving week after week that he should have been playing ahead of Stephen McGee all along, and he has the talent to put the A&M offense on his broad shoulders and score 30+ against the Sooners. The problem is Mike Sherman inherited a roster completely void of any defensive talent. Sam Bradford shouldn’t have a problem putting points on the board against the woeful Aggie defense, but again – don’t be surprised if the outcome is still in doubt deep into the third quarter.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 47, Texas A&M 34

#17 California @ #7 USC
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Oh no, this one could be ugly. Jeff Tedford finally realized his team was better with Kevin Riley at quarterback, but Riley suffered a concussion in the first quarter last week against Oregon. Cal held on to win with Nate Longshore at quarterback, but that was a fluke. If Longshore has to play against USC you can count on him throwing at least two picks and allowing the Trojans to pick up another easy Pac-10 victory. If Riley plays though, give the Bears a shot. Cal running back Jahvid Best is one of the fastest players in the nation and he could give the USC defense fits if he gets any help at all from the passing game.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 32, California 20
Saturday morning update: Cal QB Kevin Riley will sit out this game with a concussion, which means Nate Longshore will get the start.

#9 Georgia @ Kentucky
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Both of these teams have suffered an alarming number of key injuries this season. That means it will come down to depth, and Georgia wins that battle every time. Oh yeah, there’s also the Knowshon Moreno advantage – Georgia has him and Kentucky doesn’t. This won’t be the prettiest game of the weekend, but Georgia will get back on the right track with a hard fought victory over Rich Brooks’ pesky Wildcats.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 23, Kentucky 10

WEEK NINE - Spotlight Game of the Week

#3 Penn State

at
#4 Ohio State

(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)

When Penn State has the ball
Penn State holds a huge five letter advantage over Ohio State: S-P-E-E-D. The last four losses suffered by the Buckeyes have all been at the hands of opponents with the speed to take advantage of those slow footed linebackers, and the Nittany Lions definitely have their share of speedsters.

The thing I like about Penn State so much this year is their balance offensively. Not just the fact that they average 234.6 rushing yards and 253.1 passing yards per game, but the number of different styles they can beat you with.

First there’s Bo Jackson Trophy candidate Even Royster in the backfield. He’s a bruiser that wears down defenses as the game goes along, but he also has deceptive speed that has allowed him to run for enough big gains to pad his average all the way up to 7.7 yards per carry! Then when defenses get tired of taking the beating from Royster, freshman Stefphon “Warp Speed” Green comes into the ball game.

Penn State can also spread the field and beat you throwing the football. You won’t find a more veteran trio of receivers in the nation than Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler, and Derrick Williams. All three are seniors with great speed and the smarts to get open in clutch situations. The Ohio State secondary is pretty good, but these guys will be able to get open and make key third down grabs to keep the chains moving. And don’t forget that Williams is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the nation too.

But the most impressive part about this Nittany Lion offense so far this year has been quarterback Darryl Clark. Clark entered the season as an unknown quantity that barely beat out big armed Pat Devlin for the starting job. All he has done is play as well as any quarterback in the Big Ten. Clark is a better than average passer, which makes his scrambling skills even more effective. All in all, he rounds out the offense perfectly.

The Ohio State defense has taken some hits recently, and deservedly so. The blowouts they have suffered at the hands of USC, LSU, and Florida were partly due to the lack of speed on that side of the ball. Penn State has speed and they’ll be able to score when they need to Saturday night.

When Ohio State has the ball
Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor has given the Ohio State offense some much needed playmaking ability. With his running ability now a permanent fixture in the offense, defenses aren’t able play vanilla and shut down the Buckeyes.

If there’s one aspect of Pryor’s game that has been a surprise, it’s his passing touch. He has made some very nice throws this year and it’s only a matter of time before he gains consistency and becomes a star.

Unfortunately he doesn’t get much help from the current crop of receivers. Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie are two non-factors in games like this because they refuse to help their quarterback out. Both of these guys would rather complain to the officials and keep their uniforms clean than actually go up and make a catch in traffic. Against a ballhawking Penn State secondary that includes Anthony Scirrotto, that sort of attitude will lead to interceptions.

That means the onus offensively will be on the Buckeyes running game. Chris Wells entered the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate but has since fallen out of the race after missing several key games early with a toe injury. Wells is almost back to full strength so you can be sure Jim Tressel will use him early and often Saturday night.

Pryor also has excellent athleticism and can make defenders miss in the open field. He’ll need that athleticism because Penn State features one of the best pass rush duos in the nation in ends Aaron Maybin (10 sacks) and Josh Gaines (3.5 sacks). The Penn State defensive line has been so good this year that blitzing is rarely necessary. That has freed up the linebackers to make plays elsewhere, which will come in handy against Ohio State as they will be freed up to track Wells and Pryor.

All in all, there don’t appear to be many advantages for Ohio State on this side of the ball. If Terrelle Pryor isn’t making plays with his feet, points may be few and far between against the Nittany Lion defense.

Final Verdict
In short, I think Penn State is just a much better team than Ohio State right now. That’s not a knock against the Buckeyes, it’s more of a statement about how good Penn State is right now. There also don’t happen to be many matchups in this game that favor Ohio State. Even though it’s in The Horseshoe, Penn State will cruise to an easy victory and stake a claim to not only the Big Ten title, but to a berth in the national championship game as well.

J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 32, Ohio State 16

National Championship Race - The Undefeated

Now that we have whittled the number of unbeatens down to single digits, it’s time for Pikes Picks to take a look at the national title race. In this installment I will take a look at the nine remaining undefeated teams, break down each of their remaining schedules, and give you my pick on which teams will finish undefeated and which teams will play in the BCS National Title Game.

BALL STATE (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, @Miami(OH), @Central Michigan, Western Michigan, MAC Championship Game
Chance of going undefeated: 40%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 10%
Chance of playing for the national title: 0%
Ball State is led by their outstanding quarterback Nate Davis. Unfortunately, their other Faulk Trophy candidate, wide receiver Dante Love, suffered a spine injury earlier this season that will likely end his football career. The Cardinals have played well since losing Love, but will they be able to go to Mount Pleasant, Michigan in late November and knock off MAC stalwart Central Michigan? I’m not sure they can.
J.Pike’s Pick: 10-2, no BCS bowl

TULSA (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: UCF, @Arkansas, @Houston, Tulane, @Marshall, Conference USA Championship Game
Chance of going undefeated: 60%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 25%
Chance of playing for the national title: 0%
Todd Graham and Gus Malzahn have the Golden Hurricane offense tearing through opposing defenses like, well, a Golden Hurricane. They are averaging 56.6 points per game and put up 77 on UTEP last Saturday! Senior quarterback David Johnson is in his first year starting, but has already displayed big play ability thanks to his great touch on the deep throws. The defense hasn’t really needed to do much this year, so there are still question marks on that side of the ball that need to be answered on back to back road trips to Arkansas and Houston if Tulsa is to remain undefeated.
J.Pike’s Pick: 12-1, Conference USA champs, no BCS bowl

BOISE STATE (6-0)
Remaining Schedule: @San Jose State, @New Mexico State, Utah State, @Idaho, @Nevada, Fresno State
Chance of going undefeated: 80%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 70%
Chance of playing for the national title: 2%
Boise State is surprisingly led by a freshman quarterback and a stout defense. Defense is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when discussing the Broncos, but this unit is pretty good. Only one team has managed to top 7 points against Boise so far and that was Oregon - who only had 13 points entering the fourth quarter. The Boise State secondary is playing extremely well so far, picking off 11 passes and limiting opponents to below 50% completions. But the gutsy play of freshman quarterback Kellen Moore is the reason the Broncos will most likely run the table.
J.Pike’s Pick: 12-0, WAC champs, BCS Bowl

TEXAS TECH (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: @Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State, @Oklahoma, Baylor, Big XII Championship Game
Chance of going undefeated: 0%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 5%
Chance of playing for the national title: 0%
Texas Tech made it to 7-0 by playing a schedule that consisted of two Division 1-AA opponents and exactly zero teams ranked anywhere near the top 25. The past two weeks the Red Raiders have struggled against the mediocre teams in the Big XII, so there is a good chance they could lose each of the next four games against the better teams in the conference. At least head coach Mike Leach will still have his offensive stats to fall back on when he’s 8-4 again.
J.Pike’s Pick: 9-3, no BCS bowl

UTAH (8-0)
Remaining Schedule: @New Mexico, TCU, @San Diego State, BYU
Chance of going undefeated: 55%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 55%
Chance of playing for the national title: 5%
Don’t discount the Mountain West Conference because Utah is for real. The Utes have stormed out to an 8-0 start thanks to an aggressive defense and Faulk Trophy favorite QB Brian Johnson. The meat of the schedule remains with nationally ranked TCU and BYU. Both games are at home, but both teams will present legitimate challenges in completely different ways. If Utah makes it through the rest of the season undefeated, they should easily grab their second ever BCS Bowl berth.
J.Pike’s Pick: 11-1, Utes will be more deserving of a BCS bowl bid than Boise State, but won’t get one

OKLAHOMA STATE (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: @Texas, Iowa State, @Texas Tech, @Colorado, Oklahoma, Big XII Championship Game
Chance of going undefeated: 10%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 15%
Chance of playing for the national title: 5%
We’ll find out just how for real the Cowboys are this weekend when they travel to Austin to face #1 ranked Texas. Mike Gundy and the Pokes have been one of the biggest surprises of 2008 not because of their prolific, balanced offense, but because of their surprising improvement on defense. Again, we’ll find out how much better they are on defense this weekend. Since Gundy took over the play calling again (former OC Larry Fedora took the head coaching job at Southern Miss in the offseason), the offense has gotten more physical thanks to the running of Kendall Hunter. With Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma left on the schedule though, chances are slim they make it through unscathed.
J.Pike’s Pick: 9-3, no BCS bowl

ALABAMA (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: @Tennessee, Arkansas State, @LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn, SEC Championship Game
Chance of going undefeated: 50%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 90%
Chance of playing for the national title: 45%
If there’s one word you could use to describe Alabama, it’s “physical”. The Crimson Tide are looking to beat up every last team on their schedule and anybody who doubts them. That approach will win them a lot of games, but the lack of consistency on offense will make it difficult to run through the SEC undefeated.
J.Pike’s Pick: 12-1, BCS bowl

PENN STATE (8-0)
Remaining Schedule: @Ohio State, @Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State
Chance of going undefeated: 80%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 95%
Chance of playing for the national title: 75%
If you haven’t had the chance to watch this Penn State team yet, make sure and tune in Saturday night when the Nittany Lions invade the Horseshoe. Joe Paterno’s squad is probably the most well-rounded team in the nation. Quarterback Darrell Clark steadies a speedy offense that can run between the tackles with the immensely underrated Evan Royster, or pick you apart in the passing game with three senior wide receivers. Aaron Maybin (10 sacks) and the defensive line is flat out dominating right now, which has allowed the ballhawking secondary to roam free and intercept 11 passes. Don’t discount the senior leadership on this team. Playing in the Big Ten means they have the best shot at going undefeated, and therefore playing in the BCS Championship Game.
J.Pike’s Pick: 12-0, National Title game

TEXAS (7-0)
Remaining Schedule: Oklahoma State, @Texas Tech, Baylor, @Kansas, Texas A&M, Big XII Championship Game
Chance of going undefeated: 70%
Chance of making a BCS bowl: 98%
Chance of playing for the national title: 70%
If defense wins championships, the Longhorns are definitely in the discussion. Will Muschamp has his troops playing as aggressively as anybody, and when you have linemen that are as physically dominant as Brian Orakpo and Roy Miller it makes everybody look good. But the reason this team is dangerous is their hunger to win. When Colt McCoy takes the Sports Illustrated with his image on the cover and throws it in the trash before the Missouri game, you know this is a special team. Difficult games against Oklahoma State and Kansas loom large, but this Texas teams seems to be up to any task.
J.Pike’s Pick: 13-0, Big XII Champs, National Title game

WEEK EIGHT - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

Ole Miss at #1-t Alabama
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
If Ole Miss hadn’t already pulled an upset over Florida earlier this season, I’d be tempted to pick them here. But you can be sure Nick Saban let his team know about that upset every day the last two weeks in preparation for this game. Alabama will lose a game this year because of their inconsistent passing game, but I don’t think it will be this one. They’ll need to make a few plays late in this one though because Houston Nutt can coach and his Rebels will be ready to play.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 23, Ole Miss 22

#9 Missouri at #1-t Texas
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
There’s no way Chase Daniel will play as bad as he did last week again. He hasn’t had a game that bad the past two years and he’ll be going up against a young Texas secondary. If Will Muschamp can mix up the coverages the way Oklahoma State did and confuse Daniel, who often makes his decision on who to throw the ball to before the snap, Texas will be able to hold Mizzou’s potent offense to a reasonable score. But it only takes one mis-step by one of the freshmen safeties for the explosive Jeremy Maclin to take it to the house. Texas is playing with an edge this year – the chemistry and leadership on this team is as good as you’ll find anywhere. Colt McCoy might not win the head-to-head quarterback battle, but his team will get the win by playing better football in all other aspects of the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 38, Missouri 31

Michigan at #3 Penn State
(Saturday, 3:30 pm, ESPN)
Michigan is in trouble. At 2-4, their record string of 33 consecutive bowl appearances appears to be in jeopardy. That’s why the Wolverine defense will show up here to prove to the nation they aren’t quitters. Make no mistake, Penn State is on a mission this year and they won’t lose this game at home. But don’t be surprised if the Michigan defense keeps it reasonably close.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 27, Michigan 10

#14 Kansas at #4 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
You can’t ask for more in a head coach than Kansas has in Mark Mangino. His teams play some of the smartest football in the land and they rarely make mistakes. The problem is the talent isn’t on Oklahoma’s level. Kansas will play it close thanks to a passing game that features Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier. But the running game won’t get anything against the Oklahoma defense, and that will be the difference in the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 42, Kansas 28

Vanderbilt at #5 Georgia
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Please fasten your seatbelts and return your tray tables to their upright and locked positions Vanderbilt fans because you are now in the descent portion of your season. I love the effort of this team, and head coach Bobby Johnson is still one of the most underrated commodities in the nation. But they don’t have the talent to compete throughout the season against the likes of Georgia. Watch out though because Vandy’s secondary is legit and they’ll give Matt Stafford a hard time. Knowshon Moreno is the Dawgs not-so-secret weapon and he’ll be the difference in the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 27, Vanderbilt 13

#6 Ohio State at #16 Michigan State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN 2)
This should be a good old fashioned Big Ten football game. Will Master Tressel be able to maintain his edge over his protégé Mark Dantonio? I’m going to tentatively say yes – but the student is most definitely closing the gap on his teacher. Javon Ringer will prove that he is better than Beanie Wells, but it won’t be enough. The Ohio State defense will take away MSU’s passing game, eliminating their balance. That will allow the remarkably poised freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor to lead the Buckeyes to a late touchdown drive to win the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 19, Michigan State 16

#7 Florida is idle

#10 USC at Washington State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, FSN)
Washington State is one of the worst teams in the nation thanks to the limited roster new head coach Paul Wulff inherited. USC is still in a post-Leinart/Bush lull – Mark Sanchez threw 3 interceptions last week against a lifeless Arizona State team. USC will win by 30 on talent alone, but I’m still not convinced they are a dominant force.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 48, Washington State 12

Gameday Commentary - 12:30 pm

*Iowa State is looking really good so far against Kansas. Gene Chizik might be even further along in his rebuilding plans than I expected. If they can hold on against Kansas (up 20-0 in the middle of the second quarter) it would be a great win.

*Robert Griffin needs some help. Griffin has breathtaking athletic ability and Baylor is playing a lot harder for Art Briles than they have in the past, but Oklahoma is just waaaay better.

*Usually the home fans are always rooting for their team to go for it on fourth down, but here's a random PREDICTION: Mike Leach will be the first head coach in the history of football to get booed for GOING FOR IT on fourth down. Leach is one of the rare exceptions where the fans might actually be smarter than the head coach when it comes to decisions like that.

*Penn State is a team to be reckoned with. They aren't playing great against Purdue so far (10-0 lead early second half), but you can just see that they have all the pieces to make a serious run at the Big Ten title. They have the makeup of a team that can win even on an off day, and the skill and toughness to beat anybody when they are on top of their game.

*Florida on the other hand is looking more and more like that loss to Ole Miss wasn't a fluke. Urban Meyer's offense is in neutral because apparently Tim Tebow isn't the "greatest player of our generation." The Gators are struggling against a bad Arkansas team early.

WEEK SIX - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

Kentucky at #1-t Alabama
(Thursday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
This would be the perfect moment for Alabama to come crashing back to earth. The Tide is riding high off a huge win over Georgia a week ago and their promotion to the top of the polls. Kentucky has quietly snuck out to a 4-0 start thanks to an experienced defense that is capable of shutting down Bama if the players’ hearts aren’t in it. But I don’t think Nick Saban will let that happen. Not this week anyway.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 23, Kentucky 10

#1-t Oklahoma at Baylor
(Saturday, 11:30 am, FSN)
Robert Griffin is a force to be reckoned with, and I have a feeling he and Art Briles will actually get the Baylor program turned around. But right now the Bears simply don’t have enough else around Griffin to beat Oklahoma. Briles will have his kids playing their hearts out and Baylor fans will be proud of their effort. In fact, don’t be surprised if this is still a game in the third quarter. But OU has too much talent to let one player beat them.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 48, Baylor 24

#3 Penn State at Purdue
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN)
Penn State is playing as well as anybody right now. Evan Royster is quietly becoming a dark horse candidate for the inaugural Bo Jackson Trophy. Quarterback Darryl Clark is spreading the ball around to Deon Butler and Derrick Williams, two speedsters who can take it to the house on any play. Then there’s the defensive line. Now that Maurice Evans is back at defensive end, the Nittany Lions can claim one of the best defensive lines in the nation. Purdue is no match.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 37, Purdue 20

#4 Missouri at Nebraska
(Saturday, 8 pm, ESPN)
Bo Pelini is quickly establishing himself as one of the best defensive schemers in the nation. He may be working with limited talent on the defensive side of the ball (only Cody Glenn and maybe Ndamukong Suh and Zach Potter are truly “Blackshirt” worthy), but he’ll put his guys in the best position to win. I expect to see the Nebraska coaching staff coach circles around the Missouri coaching staff … BUT it won’t matter because Missouri has much better players. Nebraska will make Missouri look bad at times, but ultimately Chase Daniel will continue his push for the Bo Jackson Trophy.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 41, Nebraska 24

#5 Texas at Colorado
(Saturday, 7 pm, FSN)
Colorado’s offensive line is in flux after losing tackle Ryan Miller for the season. That’s not good timing for the Buffs because Texas comes to town with a fast-improving defense that boasts 16 sacks, most in the Big XII. Colt McCoy also happens to be playing as well as anybody in the nation right now (see his 80% completion percentage and improved strength and speed in the running game). Colorado will need to play the whole game with the immediacy and aggressiveness they displayed in the first quarter against West Virginia if they are to have a chance to win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 34, Colorado 16

#6 LSU is Idle

#7 Georgia is Idle

#8 Ohio State at #18 Wisconsin
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Wisconsin’s loss to Michigan a week ago was troubling because Michigan doesn’t look like a team with any skill on offense. If Steven Threet gave this Badger defense troubles in the second half, what is Terrelle Pryor going to do? Wisconsin is a solid team, but Ohio State is in the process of shaking off the USC knockdown punch and re-establishing their dominance in the Big Ten. Wisconsin will barely be a speed bump on their road back to the top 10.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 17

#22 Oregon at #9 USC
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
This will be a good game. More importantly though – when is Mitch Mustain going to transfer again? There’s no way he’s ever going to see the field at USC, so why isn’t his momma speaking up for him?
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 34, Oregon 27

WEEK FIVE - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1 USC at Oregon State
(Thursday, 8 pm, ESPN)
Everybody remembers what happened the last time the Trojans visited Corvalis. The Beavers pulled off the upset, ending USC’s 27-game Pac-10 winning streak. In this matchup, the Rogers brothers bring a lot more speed to the table than Ohio State did two weeks ago, so there could be trouble brewing. Throw in one of the most underrated playmakers in the nation in Sammie Stroughter and you have what could be a recipe for another upset. But Mark Sanchez is no John David Booty, and the young Oregon State defense has struggled in the early going. Oregon State’s speed on offense will make the USC defense will look human for the first time all season – if only for a few series. But overall USC is too good and too prepared to get upset again.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 34, Oregon State 24

#11 Alabama at #2 Georgia
(Saturday, 6:45 pm, ESPN)
Spotlight Game of the Week [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 24, Alabama 20

#24 TCU at #3 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN)
Here’s another game that featured a landmark upset a couple years ago. When TCU knocked off Oklahoma in the 2005 season opener, it marked the start of the Rhett Bomar era. That was not a pleasant season in Norman. Luckily Bomar the Ballhog is gone, and in his place is the remarkably efficient Sam Bradford. TCU is good defensively, but I don’t think they can contain Oklahoma for four quarters anymore. Oklahoma gets their revenge.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 33, TCU 13

Arkansas at #4 Texas
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
This game was postponed due to Hurricane Ike a couple weeks ago. The only thing that happened between then and now is that Arkansas played like a JV team against Alabama and got beat 49-14. Arkansas is flat out bad defensively. The offense is semi-capable, but Casey Dick is prone to throwing bad interceptions, so he’ll give Texas’ young secondary a much needed boost of confidence. Colt McCoy is quietly playing as well as anybody right now, and he’ll guide the offense to another big day.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 38, Arkansas 21

Ole Miss at #5 Florida
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Ole Miss has a history of beating Florida, so don’t be surprised if this game is still in doubt in the fourth quarter. Florida’s offense hasn’t yet hit its stride, but the defense is more than picking up the slack. Ole Miss has been completely rejuvenated thanks to the arrival of Houston Nutt. Quarterback Jevan Snead will play well, but in the fourth quarter the Florida defense will rise up and force him into the mistake that ruins the upset bid.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 32, Ole Miss 20

#6 Missouri is Idle

Mississippi State at #7 LSU
(Saturday, 6:30 pm, ESPN 2)
Mississippi State has one of the worst offenses in college football and LSU is coming off a big win at Auburn. The LSU defense could probably win this game by themselves. Put Derek Pegues on offense!
J.Pike’s Pick: LSU 37, Mississippi State 3

#19 Illinois at #8 Penn State
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Evan Royster, Darryl Clark and the Penn State offense has been fantastic in guiding the Nittany Lions to a 4-0 start. The Illinois defense on the other hand has struggled with tackling in the early going. That doesn’t bode well for the Illini. Throw in the fact that Penn State’s defense, which has been playing as well as anybody this year, could possibly be bolstered by the return of their best defensive lineman, Maurice Evans, from suspension. Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn are good, but I don’t think they have enough help around them.
Watch Evan Royster – he’s good.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 34, Illinois 20

#9 Wisconsin at Michigan
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN)
Michigan is going to need their defense to step up if they are going to win any games this season. The offense just isn’t there yet and they will turn the ball over. Wisconsin on the other hand has their running game in high gear already. Hosses P.J. Hill and John Clay have been pounding people to the tune of 518 yards and 7 touchdowns in only three games so far this season. Look for that duo to wear down a feisty Michigan team and win it in the fourth quarter.
J.Pike’s Pick: Wisconsin 20, Michigan 14

Minnesota at #10 Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
Don’t let Brent fool you – Minnesota isn’t very good. Sure, they have a 4-0 record, but that’s only because they beat the same cupcakes they managed to lose to a year ago. Ohio State on the other hand has found new life with Terrelle Pryor as the full time quarterback. He brings a new dimension to the offense that Todd Boeckman lacked. Chris “Beanie” Wells is also expected to be back in the lineup after missing the last two games with a toe injury. Look for the Buckeyes to put together their most complete game of the season as they beat up and out-coach the inferior Golden Gophers.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 37, Minnesota 13

WEEK FOUR - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1-t USC is Idle

#1-t Georgia at #23 Arizona State
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Some of the luster was worn off this game when Arizona State lost to UNLV last week – a classic case of the old look-ahead. Either way, Georgia should cruise in this one. The Bulldog defense is fast and aggressive, and they’ll look to pressure Rudy Carpenter all night. Carpenter wasn’t great under pressure last year - he was sacked a whopping 55 times - but the O-Line play has been a little better so far this year so the Sun Devils might stand a chance. I don’t see any way to slow down Knowshon Moreno though, so he’ll carry the Dawgs to 4-0.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 27, Arizona State 17

#3 Oklahoma is Idle

#4 Florida at #24 Tennessee
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
There’s obviously going to be bad blood in this series. Ever since Steve Spurrier started cracking on Tennessee (“Can’t spell Citrus without UT!”), the Vols have circled this game on the calendar. This year the fuel for the fire comes from last year’s 59-20 thrashing by the Gators, a game in which Tennessee players accused Urban Meyer of running up the score. Well, those players are probably right because that’s exactly what Meyer likes to do – and he’ll probably get a chance to do it again this year. Florida has waaaay too much speed for the Vols. Tennessee was held to 37 rushing yards in this game last season, and I don’t see any reason that won’t happen again.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 34, Tennessee 17

Buffalo at #5 Missouri
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN PPV)
To say the Missouri offense is playing well right now would be an understatement. Chase Daniel has this offense clicking like few others in recent memory - to the tune of over 600 yards and almost 58 points per game! Buffalo is coming off a win over Temple that featured the play of the week when Drew Willy hit Naaman Roosevelt with a 35-yard game winning touchdown pass on the last play of the game. Turner Gill has the Bulls playing better than ever, but that’s still not enough to slow this juggernaut down. They might be the first team to hold Mizzou under 50 this year though.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 49, Buffalo 23

Rice at #6 Texas
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN)
Thanks to Hurricane Ike, Texas is coming off an unscheduled bye week and Rice’s home city of Houston suffered severe damages. This game has the look of a shootout. Both teams average 40+ points per game, and the Rice defense allows 33 points per game. Texas will probably be a bit rusty early on as they get back in the swing of things on the field. Don’t be surprised if this is a close ballgame at halftime. But don’t be surprised when Colt McCoy sparks a second half rally to put the feisty Owls away either.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 45, Rice 27

#7 LSU at #11 Auburn
(Saturday, 6:45 pm, ESPN)
Breakdown can be found here: [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: LSU 16, Auburn 6

Troy at #8 Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am Big Ten Network)
After getting exposed by USC in prime time last Saturday, there’s no better antidote than getting to face a team from the Sun Belt, right? Well, maybe not. Troy is a perfect 2-0 (mostly because their contest with LSU in week two was postponed) and averaging 48 points per game. Neither of their games were in doubt much past halftime, and the Trojans posted an impressive rout over Oklahoma State a year ago. It’s even possible that Troy will field a faster team than Ohio State. Okay, maybe not, but if Ohio State is feeling too sorry for themselves after their trouncing last week, there is a very real possibility that they could lose this game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 26, Troy 22

#9 Wisconsin is Idle

Temple at #10 Penn State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
Penn State is playing like one of the best teams in the country right now. At 3-0, the Nittany Lions are outscoring their opponents by an average of 43 points per game. Temple comes into this game heartbroken after losing two games in a row on the last play. The Owls can take solace in knowing this one won’t end in a similar fashion because Penn State will win going away and continue their march up the polls.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 37, Temple 10

WEEK THREE - Recap

THE GOOD

*Drew Willy and the Buffalo Bulls knocked off Temple on a last second hail mary. After giving up a go ahead touch down with only 38 seconds left in the game, Willy calmly guided his team down the field and completed the 35-yard touchdown pass to Naaman Roosevelt on the last play of the game for the win.

*The Missouri offense looks unstoppable. If we had to hand out the Bo Jackson Award right now, my vote would be split between Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin. Daniel displayed his deadly accuracy and quick decision making yet again, posting ridiculous numbers (405 passing yards, 4 tds) in only two and a half quarters! Maclin's blazing speed was obviously too much for Nevada's defense as he racked up 172 receiving yards and scored on 3 of his 6 receptions. And if you think these are the only two weapons on the offense, you're wrong - three other receivers each grabbed 6 passes and went over 100 yards in the game. Wow.

*BYU and quarterback Max Hall burst UCLA's bubble. After a nice opening weekend win over nationally ranked Tennessee, Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow were geniuses. Now UCLA is 1-1 after suffering the school's most lopsided defeat since, like, the '30s. Max Hall was phenomenal. He had a record breaking stat line by halftime (6 touchdown passes in the first half, 7 in the game) in leading BYU to a 59-0 rout.

*Penn State is looking more and more like your Big Ten champs every week. With Ohio State's struggles, the door is wide open for the Nittany Lions. Against a vastly inferior Syracuse team, they didn't disappoint. The starters barely got to play the whole first half in this blowout! The Darryl Clark to Jordan Norwood connection continues to impress, as does running back Evan Royster. Royster might be one of the best kept secrets in the nation right now - he's fantastic. On top of the offensive firepower, the defense only allowed 159 yards and 8 first downs.

*Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is on a mission to make me look bad for ranking him as the fourth best QB in the Big XII. Bradford simply led the Oklahoma offense to an easy 55-14 victory over Washington in Seattle. The Sooners were never tested thanks to Bradford's efficiency - he threw 5 touchdown passes against only 3 incompletions.

THE BAD

*Cross country road trips were't kind to California and Oregon. Oregon overcame a slow start and 20-6 halftime deficit to beat Purdue in overtime, but Cal wasn't as lucky. Cal had to make the coast-to-coast trip to Maryland, where the game kicked off at noon - or 9 am Berkeley time. They were clearly asleep in the first half as Maryland coasted to an easy 21-6 halftime advantage. This is notable because Maryland was only averaging 14 points PER GAME and was coming off a loss to Middle Tennessee. Cal finally woke up in the fourth quarter and scored three touchdowns, but by then it was too late.

*Oregon could use a quarterback with a bionic knee. A year ago the Ducks season was ruined when they lost potential Heisman Trophy finalist Dennis Dixon late in the season to a knee injury. Backup Nate Costa was already out due to a knee injury so they had to go with Brady Leaf. This season, Costa was projected to be the starter, but he injured the same knee and will be out all year. Then yesterday, Justin Roper injured his knee in overtime and will be out at least two weeks. I'm not sure I would want to play quarterback for Oregon right about now.

*Syracuse. Coach Greg Robinson is obviously on his way out because this team looks completely inept on both sides of the ball. The offense has been awful for years now, but defense was supposed to be Robinson's specialty. Well, this defense is continually out of position and could barely qualify as a speed bump in yesterday's matchup with Penn State's high powered offense.

*Notre Dame and Michigan. Notre Dame won in a downpour, but it looked more like Michigan just gave them the game thanks to 6 turnovers. Rich Rodriguez's offense has a loooooong way to go, there's no question about that. The quarterback play is atrocious, and their best running back right now is Sam McGuffie, who looks like a guy that should be playing in the MAC - not the Big Ten. On the other side of the field, The Ostrich Jimmy Clausen proved yet again that he's the second coming of Ron Powlus with another outstanding stat line: 10-for-21 with 2 interceptions. Notre Dame will make a bowl game because of their lame schedule this year, but don't let that fool you.

*Is there a worse pair of offenses than those featured in the Auburn/Mississippi State game last night? The final score was 3-2. Granted, both defense are pretty good, but those two offenses are putrid. Mississippi State quarterback Wesley Carroll has lead-feet. Even if he had time in the pocket, he couldn't complete a pass beyond the line of scrimmage. I expect that kind of play from the Bulldogs, but shame on Auburn. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin has that offense headed in the wrong direction. I don't know why they decided to abandon the strong running game they've had for so many years, but now their short yardage running game is embarassing. And the trade off is Chris Todd at quarterback? Ugh. On top of that, Auburn committed numerous holding penalties (one in the end zone that gave Mississippi State their only 2 points in the game) and had a ton of problems with hand-offs that led to two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter. Auburn scored 3 points in this game, and I think it's an indication of things to come for that offense the rest of the year.

THE GAME OF THE WEEK

*No surprises here. USC dominated Ohio State from start to finish, which falls in line with Ohio State's recent woes in big games. The Buckeyes defense struggled mightily against the speedy Trojan offense, proving once again that they don't have the speed on that side of the ball to compete on a national stage. Joe McKnight ran circles around James Laurinaitis and company, and Mark Sanchez proved he's going to be a step up from John David Booty. I think both teams are right about where we expected them to be.