The Change of Women's Basketball

Who really cares about women's basketball?

I can definitely say I never cared about it until my cousins started playing at DePaul University. Now of course a lot of people are going to say well it sucks and it's way too slow. Well I challenge everyone to take a second look or at least give it a chance.

The atmosphere at women's games can be just as exciting or more than any men's game. In fact on a trip to Tennessee when I went to see my cousins play was the best basketball atmosphere I've been in period. Not to mention the game was intense and fast paced to combat the argument everyone makes about women's basketball.

This argument may not be true of every women's basketball game. But if you look to the sold women's college basketball programs their teams are good and fast paced. Everything is a lot more competitive and everyone can thank Title 9. This allowed women's basketball to reach a higher level and it allowed more talent to be on one team.

To get more information and another point of view to back my argument and thoughts I interviewed three people that are very close to me, my aunt and her two daughters. They have played at the top level of competition and provide a lot of useful information.

1)Chris (Prieboy) Quigley-Strle- She is possibly the best athlete I have ever met and if not then one of her daughters are better. She went to the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois and holds just about every career record in basketball and softball and for her senior year she decided to throw in tennis for a try and went 19-0. Although she went to an extremely small school she got invited to try out for the Olympic women's basketball team. Now she didn't make it but she pretty much never stood a chance. Not because she wasn't good enough but because of the coach. Before going to St. Francis she went to Illinois State University only to get home sick. Well ISU's coach was one of the Olympic coaches at the time and still had bad feelings. However, she had a successful career at USF and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1991 and her basketball number is retired there.

She pretty much summed up the change in women's basketball the best.

“Girls today are definitely a lot more skilled and there are more skilled players on one team. In the past there may be only a couple of good girls in the whole league. I think this can be attributed to the opportunities out there for girls today with travel basketball and more competitive leagues.”

2) Allie Quigley- Out of high school Allie did something that Illinois had never seen. She was the first athlete ever to be named first-team Chicago Sun Times All-Area in three sports (Basketball, Volleyball, and Softball). She was also named the Chicago Sun-Times high school Athlete of the Year. She then went on to DePaul University which was a top 25 team throughout her career there. She was named Freshman of the Year in Conference USA before DePaul moved on to the Big East. After a high successful career which placed her third on DePaul's all time scoring list she moved on to the WNBA. She was drafted last year and played for the Phoenix Mercury. She currently plays in Turkey during the WNBA's off season.

“I feel like the media coverage has definitely come a long way. I think that Title 9 has helped this and also the overall level of competition which includes big-time players like Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, etc. The competition and skill level has improved so much which makes the game more exciting to watch. Because there is a fan base, the media wants to show this talent on TV, magazines, internet, etc.”

3) Sam Quigley- She was named Chicago Sun-Times Female Athlete of the Year coming out of high school and also went on to DePaul. She is currently a junior but in her second year playing because she lost her sophomore year to knee surgery. She is now back on the court and starting for DePaul in hopes of making it to the WNBA in the future.

“I feel as though women's basketball has gained a larger audience. It seems to be one of the more popular women's sports. Just recently my DePaul basketball team played in New Mexico for a tournament. In the championship game, we played in front of 8,000 people. The crowd was unreal. 8,000 people is more than most WNBA and NBA teams get.”

Women's basketball has always been compared to men's and that's why it has always been seen as inferior. However, women's basketball is on the rise and is becoming much more competitive and a lot more fun to watch. For anyone that has ever questioned women's basketball because it is too slow watch again or for those that have had that judgment before even watching a game, give it a chance.

Now Here's Photos of my Aunt and Cousins

Allie Quigley Sam Quigley --->

Chris (Prieboy) Quigley-Strle

Big Ten's Image

Although the media coverage the Big Ten get's is a little harsh in my opinion it is what it is and it needs to be fixed. But how exactly would the Big Ten restore their image? This is a question I have because sure the Big Ten can have a winning record this bowl season but would that be enough if say Ohio State and Penn State lose in the big games? What if the Big Ten has a losing record and the only teams that win are Ohio State and Penn State? Or is it good enough if either Penn State or Ohio State gets a BCS victory?

I'm a little torn on this because just thinking of the media they can put a negative side on all situations. The only guarantee to get a more positive image would be a winning record and having either Penn State or Ohio State winning with the other playing at least a competitive game. An ideal situation would be Ohio State winning because they have been the target of much of the criticism. Therefore I believe them winning would be huge for the Big Ten especially considering they are playing a Texas team that should be in the national championship.

Let me here all of you out there. What's it going to take for the Big Ten to be considered an elite conference once again?

Thoughts on the Heisman

Well not that I really watched it last night because I didn't really care but I do believe the right guy got it. I like Tebow more but the numbers Bradford put up were just ridiculous no matter what kind of defenses he faced. Every guy had a shot last night but Tebow just didn't really have a chance in my opinion. I think he would have had to of had better stats than last year if they were going to give it to him back to back years. But his numbers were no where close. This year Tebow was able to throw for 2,515 yards and 28 TD's while rushed for 12 TD's. This is compared to last year where he threw for 3,286 yards 32 TD's and rushed for 23 more scores. By just looking at that you can't really take the trophy away from a guy like Bradford that throws for 4,464 yards and 48 TD's.

Likewise Colt McCoy wasn't going to get it either because Bradford also threw for more TD's than McCoy's 32. That's in the same conference which makes it a little easier to choose Bradford over McCoy since they played similar competition. Overall I think they got it right although it was a very tough decision and a case can be made for a number of people that didn't even make it to New York.

Big Ten Bowl Pick'em

With all of the bowls announced I figured I'd take my picks on all of the bowl games where Big Ten teams will be present. Let's get it started because I'm sure I'll be one of the first if not the first to pick these games.

I'll start at the Insight Bowl and work my way up to the Rose Bowl.

Insight- Minnesota vs. Kansas

Minnesota really struggled to end the season. At one point they were looking to fight for a New Years Day bowl game and now they fall all the way back to the bowl that picked the last eligible Big Ten team. I don't know if Minnesota exceeded expectations early in the year and fell back to where they belong or what. Adam Weber and Eric Decker are a dangerous duo but they have lost their last four games and Kansas has an offense that can put up a lot of points however, they give up a lot as well. The big thing for Kansas is that they are coming off a big win against Missouri to finish the season and could be back on track after being ranked earlier in the year.

Pick: Kansas 38, Minnesota 21

Champs Sports Bowl- Wisconsin vs. Florida State

Wisconsin has been the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten this season. Besides a 3-0 start Wisconsin had nothing to cheer about. They lost to anyone good they played and they almost lost to Cal Poly to end the year. In fact they should have lost and because Cal Poly couldn't make extra points they lost. Florida State on the other hand has played in a relatively weak ACC conference and is led by sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder. The issue for him is keeping the ball as he has thrown 13 INT's to his 12 TD's this season. As is the case for most of the Big Ten's bowl games this is practically a home game for Florida State. I believe the toughness of the Big Ten and the disappointment Wisconsin has gone through this year will lead to a very hungry team coming into Orlando.

Pick: Wisconsin 24, Florida State 21

Alamo Bowl- Northwestern vs. Missouri

This one could be a tough draw for the Big Ten. Northwestern had a great year but Missouri is a very tough team and dangerous offense. Northwestern's defense has improved but I don't think they are good enough to stop Missouri's offense. Chase Daniel is too good of a quarterback and will be the best quarterback Northwestern has seen all year. The only way Northwestern can win this game is by forcing turnovers.

Pick: Missouri 42, Northwestern 17

Outback Bowl- Iowa vs. South Carolina

South Carolina is a very beatable team because they lack an offense. However, they do boast the 11th rated defense in the nation. Therefore the Hawkeye's offense will have to be on top of their game. If they play like they did in their 4 losses there is no way they win. Shonn Greene has been everything for the Hawks this year and he will have to have a 100 yard performance again to open up the play action pass. The Hawks defense should force a few turnovers as the Gamecocks offense has been extremely inconsistent. This game will rely on Ricky Stanzi's ability to throw the ball and make plays with his legs because they cannot be one dimensional against South Carolina's defense. The Hawks are on a roll and that will continue once they get to Tampa.

Pick: Iowa 28, South Carolina 13

Capital One Bowl- Michigan State vs. Georgia

Alright Michigan State had a great year in the Big Ten. However, they have only beaten two teams worth mentioning and that's Iowa and Northwestern. I believe Iowa is a better team than Northwestern but Northwestern is ranked so they are still worth mentioning. Georgia was expected to compete for a national championship and were the pre-season #1. However, they have not looked very strong this year. They finished at a solid 9-3 but they were suppose to be much better. Michigan State can win this game by running the football. Georgia Tech was able to win their rivalry game with Georgia to end the year and they rushed for 409 yards. Georgia has a good offense that could be tough on Michigan State but the Spartans rushing attack runs all over Georgia and keeps the Bulldogs offense of the field.

Pick: Michigan State 37, Georgia 30

Fiesta Bowl- Ohio State vs. Texas

This is a great opportunity for the Big Ten and I will only discuss briefly as I went into more depth in my previous post. The Buckeyes have a lot to prove as they have not beaten an elite team in two opportunities this season. Colt McCoy is a Heisman trophy candidate and is tough for anyone to stop. The issue is whether or not Ohio State's defense can hold the Texas' offense down enough.

Pick: Texas 38, Ohio State 21

Rose Bowl- Penn State vs. USC

In what is a home game for USC this won't come easy for Penn State. However, Penn State has something USC hasn't seen most of this year. That is a balanced team. The Nittany Lions have a solid offense that can put up big numbers and a stellar defense that can limit USC's offense. This game could go either way and Penn State's offense has to be on top of its game like it was earlier in the year to have success against this USC defense. I believe this game will be low scoring as both defenses are outstanding and both offenses are inconsistent. If Penn State doesn't turn the ball over I believe they win because USC's offense doesn't have the explosiveness that everyone is used to.

Pick: Penn State 17, USC 14

Big Ten in the BCS

Now that the bowl games have been announced the Big Ten ends up with two teams in the BCS like most suspected. These match ups look like two opportunities to restore the Big Ten's image or get completely blown away.


Lets take a look at the Rose Bowl match up of Penn State vs USC.

USC has looked absolutely dominant since their let down against Oregon State. However, the Pac 10 is not a very strong conference. Therefore Penn State could pose a few problems. For example, USC's offense isn't very explosive and Penn State boasts an excellent defense. Penn State also has an offense that is capable of moving the ball through the air as well as on the ground which will be a very tall task against a USC defense that some are ranking with the best ever.

A huge problem for Penn State is that the game is played in USC's backyard and as Illinois experienced last year it's not easy and definitely not fair. Hopefully Evan Royster can watch and take advantage of how Jacquizz Rodgers was able to run all over that USC defense. That may be Penn State's best chance is holding on to that ball and controlling the clock. I don't believe USC's offense will be very affective so it will definitely come down to their defense and Penn State's ability to hold on to the football.

Next is the Fiesta Bowl match up of Texas and Ohio State.

This game is interesting because Ohio State is a completely different team since they played USC and are much more powerful with Terrelle Pryor at QB. But how will the freshman quarterback play in the big game against and extremely talented opponent? Texas in my mind has every right to be in the championship game and will be extremely pissed off. That could mean Ohio State gets blown out and the Big Ten has to listen to all of the talk on how we suck because Ohio State can't win the big game. Texas is one of the few teams in the Big XII that has a legit defense and this game could end up being trouble for Ohio State.

Ohio State will have to rely on their defense way too much in this game. They can't slow down Colt McCoy and that offense forever. On the other side of the ball Chris "Beanie" Wells can't do everything. That's pretty much what Ohio State will have to hope for however. Since Pryor has been the starting quarterback they have relied on the run way too much to beat a solid opponent. He did nothing in the Penn State game and they lost. That could be the same story here. I hope not because the Big Ten needs this one. Knocking off a team that many think is the best team in the country would be a huge boost!

Come back later when I pick every Big Ten bowl game.

Where the Big Ten Stands

With the Big Ten season being over there isn't a lot to talk about. But one thing has gotten under my skin all year long and that is the Big Ten is not a good conference and gets absolutely no respect in the media or polls.

The media is so stuck up the Big XII and SEC's behinds that they can't see past it. It's all about being flashy. I'm tired of even watching ESPN or College Gameday when it comes to college football because all they talk about is how amazing the Big XII teams are. No that's not right. It's look how good the Big XII offenses are because there is no team without a defense. I hope when the Big XII gets matched up with the SEC and Big Ten that they get totally dominated because their offense can't produce at the high rate everyone saw all season long.

I'm not even going to waste my time looking at any other conferences in this post because the Big Ten is far better than the Pac 10 or ACC or Big East case closed. Sorry USC you can't carry the load for a whole conference and not to mention you lost to an Oregon State team that Penn State completely destroyed 45-14.

So back to the discussion on where the Big Ten stands. For how they are covered in the media they are a distant third. I wouldn't go that far. The SEC has Florida and Alabama is good but I don't think they are the number 1 team in the country. The Big XII has much more fire power in Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Missouri but there is no way for me to say how good these teams are until they play against a defense. To prove the point that all the polls and media care about is flash look at the Big XII situation. How does Oklahoma jump over Texas when Texas for one beat them and Texas only allowed 9 points last week but Oklahoma gave up 41. That makes absolutely no sense and proves that defense doesn't even matter anymore.

In my opinion with equal match ups the Big Ten can hang with the Big XII because of two things. The Big Ten plays defense and many Big Ten teams can run the football and control the clock leaving those high powered offenses on the sideline. I do believe the Big Ten would struggle more with the SEC because they have great defenses. The issue with them is that they only have Florida and Alabama. Besides that every other game with against the Big Ten would be a tossup if not the Big Ten being favored. I hope the Big Ten completely dominates their bowl games especially against the Big XII and SEC. There should be many possibilities as we match up with the Big XII in the Alamo and Insight Bowl and it looks like Ohio State will face Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. Some major points could be gained there for Ohio State and the Big Ten as a whole. Then we've go the SEC in the Capital One and Outback in their own backyards. There's a lot out there to gain and I believe the Big Ten will prove that they are capable of standing with the SEC and Big XII

Big Ten vs MAC

Lately a hot topic has risen in college football. That is that the MAC is gaining ground or as tough as the Big Ten. Blogger Bill Simonson of The Huge Show on November 10th wrote a blog where he felt the MAC was just as good or better than the Big Ten top to bottom this season.

Simonson says "Tell me any Big Ten coach who would want to face Ball State, Central Michigan or Western Michigan this year."

Honestly who wouldn't want to play them. They may be the top of the MAC but put them against the top of the Big Ten and I'd wager that the Big Ten wins all three. The Big Ten is 9-4 against the MAC this season and Simonson likes to base his arguments on the fact that many MAC teams almost beat a Big Ten opponent. Well those almost wins are what makes the difference between the Big Ten and MAC. Although the MAC teams may hang in games or even have a lead they need to be able to finish games.

If Purdue can beat Central Michigan and Indiana can almost beat them I don't think any other coach is going to be scared to take on the Chippewas so don't even bring them up as a scary team.

But lets take a look at the top team in the MAC Ball State. They are a great team and should dominate the MAC. Congrats they beat Indiana this year. But who else? Absolutely no one worth mentioning. They would get worn down by Ohio State or Penn State and could probably get beat by Michigan State or Iowa as well. Now anything can happen any given day but I would put my bet on the Big Ten.

This whole thing is really not even worth arguing because it is absolutely ridiculous. I guess it just got under my skin because it was so stupid. Congrats MAC you are having some success this year but you aren't going to scare anyone from the Big Ten. Plus the MAC being as good as the Big Ten top to bottom. Are you kidding me? Lets look at the top 11 MAC teams matched up with their equal from the Big Ten.

1.Penn State vs Ball State
2.Ohio State vs Central Michigan
3. Michigan State vs Western Michigan
4. Northwestern vs Buffalo
5. Iowa vs Northern Illinois
6. Minnesota vs Bowling Green
7. Illinois vs Akron
8. Wisconsin vs Temple
9. Michigan vs Kent State
10. Indiana vs Miami(OH)
11. Purdue vs Toledo

I don't know about anyone else from the Big Ten but I'm not really scared by this schedule and I think there's a long ways to go before there is anything close to a shift in power.

Week 12 Picks

Last week I had a pretty solid week considering my previous disasters. Last week I went 4-2 and I was more than happy with that. This weekend could be one of the toughest weeks to pick because there is so much on the line for many teams. Penn State looks to rebound. Ohio State tries to keep a BCS bowl game in its reach while the Illini just try to make a bowl game. Then there is Minnesota trying to stop their losing streak while Wisconsin is also trying to secure a bowl bid. Also does Iowa have a let down following their huge upset of Penn State? All makes for an exciting weekend.

Ohio State at Illinois- The Buckeyes have plenty to play for this weekend. They will be seeking revenge after the Illini beat them a year ago and they still have a solid shot at a BCS bowl game. The Illini have been extremely inconsistent but they have the talent to beat anyone. They also are trying to make a bowl game. Juice Williams usually plays great in big games however, the Illini may be down after their loss last weekend to Western Michigan. I think the Buckeyes have too many weapons and the Illini defense will struggle to stop Pryor and Wells.
Ohio State 28, Illinois 17

Northwestern at Michigan- The Wildcats are already bowl eligible but they need to work to get into a better bowl game. The Wolverines on the other hand are playing for nothing but pride. They appear to have turned a corner last weekend against Minnesota where they finally played a complete game. The offense also seems to have improved as they have been much more consistent in putting points on the board. This will be Michigan's final home game and they will be looking to keep Northwestern from improving their bowl status.
Michigan 24, Northwestern 21

Indiana at Penn State- Not sure what to say about this game besides watch out Indiana. I really feel bad for them. The Nittany Lions return home after a devastating loss that destroyed their national championship hopes. Indiana has looked a little better than they did early on in the season but they just won't be able to stay in this game. Penn State will be highly motivated and look for Daryll Clark to have an explosive day after a very disappointing game against Iowa. Nittany Lions roll in this one.
Penn State 43, Indiana 21

Purdue at Iowa- Joe Tillers final away game will come in Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes will look to have a much better outing than a year ago on senior day. The Hawkeyes were able to pull off an unthinkable upset last weekend and need to make sure they don't come out flat. Iowa's defense has a history of struggling against the spread pass happy attack of Purdue. The Boilermakers on the other hand have had just a terrible season. The Hawkeyes are looking to push themselves into a New Years Day bowl game. I believe the Hawkeyes have a ton of confidence and that can mean only good things for the offense. Ricky Stanzi has to be sky high and then there is the always effective Shonn Greene. Hawkeyes win this time and send the seniors out right.
Iowa 27, Purdue 13

Minnesota at Wisconsin- The Badgers currently have a 5-5 record and are looking to make themselves bowl eligible. The Gophers on the other hand are trying to finish their season strong however, they have struggled without wideout Eric Decker that has been out with an injury. The Badgers know 7 wins will seal a bowl birth and with Cal Poly next week being pretty much a for sure win this game holds a lot of importance in where the Badgers end up come bowl season.
Wisconsin 37, Minnesota 21

Season Record: 37-18

The Great Football Memories

High school football at Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet, Illinois was probably one of the greatest times of my life. Being on a good team probably made it easy to like but the practices and joking around were right up there with the state championships and all. I decided to ask my friend Chris Clancy who currently plays football for Ball State a few questions about high school and some of his best memories.

First question that came to mind was just how he remembered high school football?

Chris responded....
- "The packed stadium and lights are the things I will always remember."
- "In high school it's so much fun and we were always able to pull off pranks on coach."
- "It seemed more like play than college is I guess."

Second question; what do you miss most about high school football?

Chris......
- "The team. Everyone seemed to get along and just always being with my friends. You get that feel that everyone is together in college but high school everyone gets closer. It's one of those things where in high school you're in class with each other and you always hang out even when football season is over. That's what I'd have to say I miss the most."

Third question; I'm sure there are many good memories but what are some of the best?

Chris.......
- "Well, my favorite is always messing around and listening to Coach Sharp yell "Shit" really loud non stop and then watching him spit when he got really pissed off. Yeah that happened a lot."
- "Winning state junior and senior year I think is one everyone would agree on. Junior year was cool being the first one but going out on top as seniors makes it so much better."
-"I think another great memory from senior year would be getting named captain and then getting to take the stage and receive the state trophy."
-"Sitting on top of the bus through J-town (Joliet) yelling at everyone as we came back home from state and heading back to the school gym for the party."
-"Those would probably be some of my tops along with just having fun at practice every day."
-"Can't forget the pre-game chant either. That always got everyone fired up and was just something that can't be explained but you know what I'm talking about."

Alright so what is something you definitely do not miss?

Chris.....
-"Definitely don't miss the two-a-days in the summer when it was like 100 degrees outside. I guess things aren't too much different now but that's something I'll always not miss."
-"I guess that's it. I'd say getting yelled at by coach but that was pretty funny most of the time."

What's something from high school football you always brag about or still talk about if anything?

Chris....
-"Well having those state championships are something I can say I have that some people don't. I also kind of bring up how we have the most state championships in the state."
-"Just stuff like that because it's fun to talk some smack every once in a while with other guys that brag about their schools."

After that Chris had to get going and he wanted to make sure I put in here that he has a lot to do to make sure they finish undefeated and get in the BCS. I guess I'd have to say that I agree with pretty much everything Chris said about our team and the type of relationship we had. The high school football experience was great and will always be something I'll remember.

Here's a link to the chant/prayer we said before every game. This one is a little different wording just because it was at the pep rally following state. http://joliet.faithsite.com/makewax.asp?UKEY=26955

49ers vs Cards Glog

7:22- It's eight minutes until game time and this NFC West match up features the Card's which are 1st in the division at 5-3 while the 49ers are sitting at 2-6. The game is at Arizona so I'm gonna pick the Card's dominating this game. Well all of the ESPN analysts agree with me so I could be in good shape.

7:30- Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Tony Kornheiser will be calling the action. This is one three man crew that I can actually stand to listen to. Never realized how much Kurt Warner got screwed over in his career until they started talking about it. First St. Louis then NY Giants, and then Arizona tried by drafting Leinart. Leinart just didn't produce enough and now Warner's in charge.

7:34- Got to love Brett Farve's Wrangler jeans commercial. Every time I see that commercial I'm attracted to his gray hair.

7:40- Finally here's the kickoff. The 49ers will receive and Allen Rossum has the ball and he is gone. No one is going to catch him. 49ers up 7-0. So much for my pick I'm about ready to change my mind.

7:43- Lets see Arizona receives and not much excitement there. Here comes the old man Warner. He can still play but he just seems so old.

7:48- Card's drive but couldn't finish the drive and will have to settle for a field goal try. Neil Rackers nails it. 7-3 49ers.

7:51- Back after no exciting commercials. Lets see if the 49ers can pull another miracle. Short kick and the 49ers will take over at their own 19.

7:56- Alright the 49ers just lined up in the Wildcat set with ex-Penn State star Michael Robinson lining up at quarterback. Is this some sort of hot item this year? I swear I've seen it more the past two days than the whole 21 years of my life. Okay I lie I may have seen it but just not as often but it was a thought.

8:05- Issac Bruce. He's another guy that has been around forever. I'm learning so much from this game. I haven't watched the NFL enough to know that so many older guys are still playing. So, since I last posted the Card's yet again couldn't get anything done on offense. I'm getting worried. The 49ers are terrible this year but so is their whole division so who knows how good the Card's are really.

8:18- This game has absolutely nothing going on besides two offense moving a little and then punting. Well it's the end of the first quarter and the score is still 7-3. To save your time here's a recap. The 49ers' Allen Rossum returned the opening kickoff 104 yards for a TD and then on the Card's following possession they kicked a field goal. That's about it, so let's hope for a more exciting rest of the game. 49ers' open the 2nd quarter with the ball on Arizona's 35.

8:23- 49ers TD pass as Shaun Hill tossed a beautiful pass to Josh Morgan. San Fran now up 14-3. My pick continuing to suck. Go figure.

8:30- Well look here. The Card's finally put something together. A quick 4 play drive that lasted 2 min 25 sec. A TD pass from Warner to Boldin from 13 yards out to get the lead back to 4. The score is now 14-10. The Card's just forced a 3 and out and the 49ers are about to punt.

8:42- Arizona is on the drive again. Warner has hit on his last 7 throws and seems to be getting the offense going. This is what I've been expecting throughout this game. Arizona's Hightower fumble's the football and and there is a pile up. The ball is given the to the 49ers but it looked like Hightower was down and this call should be challenged and it is. This should be obvious but I guess you never know. The referee comes back and rules that the runner was down. I was really worried there for a while. Right when things look up for me I thought they were just taken away.

8:50- Two conservative play calls. 2nd and 10 and they call two draws. What a joke. Warner had a much better chance by throwing the football. Rackers lines up for the 33 yard attempt and the kick is good. San Fran 14, Arizona 13. 4:41 left in the half.

9:05- San Francisco is driving again. They now sit at the Arizona 31 with about 1 minute to go in the half. From what little I've seen San Francisco play this year their offense has been able to move the ball a lot better tonight. TD San Franciscon with 29 seconds left in the half. TD pass from Shaun Hill to Vernon Davis. San Fran leads 21-13.

9:10- Arizona runs one pass play and lets the clock run. Halftime. I'd like to reflect on the first half here for a while. What is going on? Arizona's offense has been inconsistent and San Francisco had a few bad drives but other than that they've had no problem. The quarterback change seems to be working out just great for San Francisco as Shaun Hill is 8-17 for 117 yards and 2 TD's. Not too bad for a guy I've never heard of. Is it terrible for me to change my pick at the half? Just kidding. I'm not going to be like that. Arizona is only down 8 and anything can happen. See you when the second half gets started.

9:25- The second half kickoff and Arizona will start with the ball. In the second half I'm looking for Kurt Warner to start playing the way he has all year. Some see him as having a good shot at the MVP this year. He needs to get the offense going because so far the 49ers have been playing much more aggressive football. As I speak Warner is firing the ball around and Arizona is driving.

9:30- The Cardinals face a 4th and 1 from the 5 yard line. TD pass Warner to Fitzgerald. Now that's the way I thought the Cardinals would be playing the whole game. San Fran still leads 21-20 with 11:37 to go in the game.

9:36- Short kickoff again. The Cardinals definitely look scared after the opening kickoff return for a TD. Gives San Fran great starting field position from their 43 yard line.

9:40- Perfect example for why I like college sports more than pro. Hill threw a perfect pass and Vernon Davis got behind the defense. Davis barely reached out his arms to try and catch the ball. He could have at least made a dive at it and he probably would have had a TD. Even if a college player isn't close at least they will dive. Now San Fran faces a 4th a 1 and they will go for the field goal from 41 out and the kick is good. 24-20. The funny thing about that was seeing head coach Mike Singletary and offensive coordinator Mike Martz getting into it as Martz was calling to go for it but didn't get his way. The look on his face when Singletary completely over ruled him.

9:50- Arizona is driving again. Very questionable offensive call gets the Cardinals backed up and not they are just looking to get into field goal range. They call another draw? I can't believe the play calling. They bring out the punter. Arizona needs to start giving themselves a chance and stop calling the draws. Fair catch is called for at about the 49er's 10 yard line.

9:58- Wow a safety lined up offsides to negate an INT return for a TD. Some nice acrobatics however by Antrel Rolle after he thought he had a TD and does a back flip. But wait QB Shaun Hill gets ran into by his guard and he fumbles the ball. Arizona recovers at the 7 yard line and will take over there to start the 4th quarter.

10:08- Arizona does absolutely nothing. The ref's are driving me nuts with all the flags getting overturned. In the meantime Arizona settles for another field goal to make the score 24-23. It's nice to see the ref's ultimately getting the call right but don't throw the flag unless know it happened. Arizona continues to not capitalize and keep settling for field goals.

10:20- Ya know Tony Kornheiser just made an interesting comment that the Cardinals need to win this game to have credibility in this league. Really? I don't know how anyone will give them more credibility for beating a 2-6 team. I think they should just win this game because they are better. Don't worry not much else going on in the game so I'm forced to listen to the announcers talk about things.

10:31- INT by Arizona and they return it to the 5 yard line. Lets see if they can finish this one. 5:00 left in the game. TD pass to Boldin on the bubble screen to give the Cardinals the lead and they will go for two to try for a 7 point lead. Two-point conversion failed and the lead is 5 as Arizona leads 29-24. Plenty of time for San Francisco to come back as there is still 4:16 left.

10:44- Arizona could have had San Fran at 4th and 2 but a stupid late hit gives San Fran a first down and that could cost them the game. Now an offsides as a defensive end jumped before the play. Right now it looks like Arizona is trying to give them the game.

10:50- Too many penalties are now moving the 49ers farther away. As I type the last sentence they get a huge play and now a manageable 3rd and 3. Hill tries a shovel pass and it is picked off by Adrian Wilson. 2:24 to go in the game.

10:53- Two minute warning and the Cardinals face a 3rd and 2 when action continues. Hightower gets stuffed for a 3 yard loss. San Francisco will have good field position with no timeouts and about a minute to go.

10:57- San Francisco gets the ball at Arizona's 42 with 1:06 to go. Hill pass for the first down and out of bounds. 57 seconds to go ball at the 29. Pass to Jason Hill to the 15 yard line and out of bounds again! 1st and 10 from the 15 with 52 seconds to go. Arizona has to protect the sidelines. Another pass to Jason Hill and the ball is at the 1 with 30 seconds ticking. Spike the ball with 20 seconds to go. 2nd and goal from the 1. Time out Arizona.

11:02- Here we go. Run with Gore and he gets tripped up and they spike it with 2 seconds to go. Play is under review to see if Gore went down because of contact. A defender did tag him on the back so the play should stand as called that he was down. San Francisco tries to run the ball on the final play and they don't make it!

11:05- Questionable play call but Arizona escapes with a 29-24 win.

-Kyle

Week 11 Picks

Alright so I'm looking to do much better than last weekend because that was just pathetic. This weekends games look extremely competitive and anything could happen in most of these games. But here we go and I will hope for the best.

Ohio State at Northwestern- This match up between two ranked teams could be close as Northwestern's spread offense attack can give anyone troubles if it is on top of its game. I believe Chris "Beanie" Wells and Terrelle Pryor will be too much for the Wildcat's defense. Northwestern may be able to put points on the board but they will not be able to stop the Buckeyes.
Ohio State 37, Northwestern 24

Purdue at Michigan State- Can Purdue's offense continue where it left off versus Michigan last weekend? That is the big question mark around this game. If they can then they can definitely beat Michigan State. The problem is that last weekend was the only game they did anything. Michigan State is at home and will not look past the Boilermakers as they still have Big Ten Title hopes. Too much Javon Ringer and enough passing by Hoyer to put the Spartans on top.
Michigan State 27, Purdue 17

Wisconsin at Indiana- The Badgers need this win to have bowl hopes. Wisconsin is the much better team but they haven't been able to play up to the expectations. The Badgers should be able to control the game on the ground. Indiana just doesn't have enough weapons to beat Wisconsin.
Wisconsin 35, Indiana 20

Michigan at Minnesota- Can Minnesota rebound after being knocked off by the Wildcats last weekend. Michigan was able to put up the points against Purdue but still fell short. This is a tough pick because Michigan's defense is strong enough to stop Minnesota but will Michigan's offense be able to get things together again. I see the Wolverines knocking off the Gophers as the Michigan defense limits the Gophers.
Michigan 24, Minnesota 17

Illinois at Western Michigan- After last weekend, I wonder if Illinois' defense can keep it going. Also can the offense rebound after doing absolutely nothing last weekend against Iowa. Juice Williams should be able to dominate the Bronco's defense but the defense will need to have another solid showing. Another thing working against the Illini is that they have not been able to put together back to back victories. I think Illinois continues to play better and play a complete game.
Illinois 48, Western Michigan 32

Penn State at Iowa- The Nittany Lions look to continue their quest towards the National Championship. They are coming off a bye week which hasn't been a good thing for Big Ten teams this season. The Nittany Lions have a lot of weapons and this game could be on the shoulders of Penn State's defense. If the Hawkeyes want to pull off the upset they are going to need to shut down the Nittany Lion's offense. The atmosphere in Kinnick Stadium will be electric but not sure if that's enough.
Penn State 28, Iowa 17

Look back at Week 10 Picks

This week absolutely sucked. Go figure I talk of Minnesota getting knocked off and they do when I pick them to win. Illinois' defense finally shows up to play a complete game and knock off Iowa. The only real good thing I had going for me was Central Michigan beating Indiana. Besides that it was an awful week and my first losing record for a week at 2-3. Lets take a look.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota- I thought Northwestern would struggle without Bacher and Sutton. However, the defense stepped their game up and returned an INT for a TD with 12 seconds to go for the win. Backup QB Kafka played good enough to win as he was able to rush for 217 yards and threw for 2 TD's.
My Pick: Minn 27, NW 17 Score: NW 24, Minn 17

Wisconsin at Michigan State- I knew this game would come down to the wire. Like every other game in the Big Ten it came down to the final moments as Michigan State kicked a 44 yard field goal with 7 seconds to go. Ringer struggled to 54 yards and may be slowing down after all of the carries he has piled up early in the year.
My Pick: MSU 24, Wisc 21 Score: MSU 25, Wisc 24

Central Michigan at Indiana- I expected Central Michigan's offense to be too much for Indiana but the game ended up closer than I thought. The game was tight until Central Michigan was finally able to get the W with a TD run in the 4th quarter.
My Pick: CM 35, Indiana 20 Score: CM 37, Indiana 34

Michigan at Purdue- For the way Purdue and Michigan have struggled on the offensive side of the ball I thought this game would come down to defense for sure. However, there was no defense to be found in this game. Purdue looked like the offense I expected to see all year long and this was with their backup QB Justin Siller that was able to throw for 3 TD's and no INT's. Purdue finally wins and snaps a 5 game losing streak.
My Pick: Mich 17, Purdue 10 Score: Purdue 48, Mich 42

Iowa at Illinois- I expected the Iowa defense to be able to limit the Illini offense. The thing I didn't expect was the ability of Illinois' defense to play a complete game. Shonn Greene got his 100 yards but it was nothing to brag about. He was shut down the entire game until late. The turnover bug came back to bite Iowa's offense and once again they can't finish when they get in the red zone. Iowa came back to make it close but Illinois was able to get the victory with a late field goal.
My Pick: Iowa 27, Illinois 17 Score: Illinois 27, Iowa 24

Season Record:33-16

A Look at Penn State

With Penn State coming to Iowa City this weekend many sports analysts say that this could be Penn State's last hurdle before rolling past their remaining opponents. Of course the Hawkeyes will be down after their defeat to the Illini so how long will they be able to hang on in this ball game? It is possible that they upset Penn State if the offense plays better but that could be a big IF. Penn State's defense is much tougher than the Illini's. The only positive is that the Illini have a similar offensive scheme like the Nittany Lions and the Hawkeye defense was able to pretty much shut down the Illini offense besides the final series where Illinois practically walked down the field. However, Penn State does have more playmakers than the Illini.

But what about their remaining opponents Indiana and Michigan State?

I don't think Indiana has a chance because for one they have to travel to Happy Valley. They have been way too inconsistent and there is no way their defense stops the Nittany Lion offense. Daryll Clark and Co. will have their way against Indiana.

Then there is the season finale against Michigan State which is also in Happy Valley. This could be tough with it being the Nittany Lions final home game of the season. They could be one win away from the National Championship and they will be heavily motivated to win. Michigan State however, is a veteran group that could take it to Penn State. If they are able to dominate time of possession with the running of Javon Ringer they have a chance. Hoyer will be forced to make plays but I think if Michigan State is able to pass to set up the run they could hang around for a while. Of course who knows if Michigan State's defense is capable of stopping Penn State's offense at all. Should be interesting.

Who do you think has the best chance of knocking off Penn State if anyone?

Week 10 Picks

Last weekend I was disappointed by my two losses but whatever I'm over it. This weekend could be even more difficult to pick because the top two teams in the Big Ten have bye weeks. Therefore every match up is pretty even. However, injuries could play a part in games if Purdue's Curtis Painter can't go and if Northwestern must play without CJ Bacher after they have already lost Tyrell Sutton. Lets take a look at what I think about Week 10 and hopefully it shapes up to be better than Week 9

Northwestern at 17 Minnesota- Okay, so I'm waiting for Minnesota to fall because I don't think they can keep playing the way they have. Maybe that's because I'm used to them being so bad but whatever. The big question mark here for me is whether CJ Bacher plays or not. If he does it is possible that they win. If not I think Minnesota rolls especially at home. I think Adam Weber is a strong QB and will perform well enough to get the win whether Bacher plays or not.
Minnesota 27, Northwestern 17

Wisconsin at 21 Michigan State- Can Michigan State avoid a let down after beating Michigan last weekend? Will Wisconsin continue to improve after a big win against Illinois? Those are two big question marks as Wisconsin's defense is capable of stopping the run and are very experience however, they haven't played up to their potential. Michigan State obviously has a strong running attack with Ringer but the quarterback play of Hoyer has continued to improve providing a balanced offense. Wisconsin loses Beckum to injury last weekend and Sherer looks to get his first win on the road. I don't picture it happening.
Michigan State 24, Wisconsin 21

Central Michigan at Indiana- Alright with the possibility of Kellen Lewis being ready to play this weekend gives Indiana a problem before the game even starts. Do you start Lewis or stick with Chappell who led the Hoosiers to a victory last weekend? Central Michigan is riding high and are currently on a 4 game winning streak. Dan LeFevour is the leader of Central Michigan at the quarterback position and may be one of the top QB's in college football. He spreads the ball around too much for Indiana to keep up. The trickery will not work for Indiana two weeks in a row.
Central Michigan 35, Indiana 20

Michigan at Purdue- Purdue may be without quarterback Curtis Painter but that may be a good thing as he hasn't been able to do anything this year. Whether he plays in this one or not doesn't matter in my opinion. This game will be won on defense and that's the one thing Michigan has. They force some key turnovers in a low scoring affair.
Michigan 17, Purdue 10

Iowa at Illinois- This game could depend where each team is come the end of the regular season. Illinois stands at 4-4 and Iowa is 5-3. Both have tough stretches and need this game to have a solid shot at a bowl game. Iowa will need two wins to get in a bowl and Illinois probably needs 3. What will give? Iowa is led by Shonn Greene who has been spectacular this season and faces an Illini defense that has been anything but solid. Shonn Greene will have a big day but will the Iowa defense be able to stop Juice Williams. Iowa can't win a shootout here and will have to focus on stopping the Illini offense. Ron Zook called his team out after last weekends loss to Wisconsin. How will his team respond? Is the recent leave of absence from the team by running back Daniel Dufrene a sign that players are giving up or can't take it? This game should be intense and could go either way.
Iowa 27, Illinois 17

Season Record: 31-13

A look back at Week 9 Picks

Well, I guess I picked the wrong upset this past weekend. I was waiting for Minnesota to be slow off the bye week and I'm just waiting for Purdue's offense to have one decent game. Of course now their quarterback Curtis Painter is injured so who knows what will happen. They could be better off after the way he has played this season. On another note Northwestern looked absolutely terrible and injuries to Bacher and Sutton also don't look good for their future. But lets take a look back at my picks.

Northwestern at Indiana- I never would have pictured Indiana beating Northwestern especially without Kellen Lewis at quarterback. However, a little trickery and 5 turnovers proved to be the difference in this game as Indiana pulled out everything they could to win this one. Injuries to Tyrell Sutton and CJ Bacher hindered the Wildcats and could be a devastating blow to their season as Sutton will be out the rest of the season.
My Pick: Northwestern 38, Indiana 21 Score: Indiana 21, Northwestern 19

Minnesota at Purdue- Minnesota was able to reverse the bye week curse as they were the first team in the Big Ten to win the game following their bye week. Purdue kept it close and played tough for a half but Minnesota was able to force 4 turnovers and Purdue needed to play a perfect offensive game to win this one. Curtis Painter had to leave the game with an injury and Purdue's offense could never get it going once again.
My Pick: Purdue 28, Minnesota 17 Score: Minnesota 17, Purdue 6

Illinois at Wisconsin- Granted I picked this game because I thought no way does Wisconsin lose again at home and I just couldn't imagine them going 0-5 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin seemed to play with a little more intensity on their homecoming and Dustin Sherer looked like a much better quarterback in his second start. Wisconsin was able to pound the ball with the run and Juice Williams played his worst game of the year as he threw 3 INT's. Bad news for the Badgers though when TE Travis Beckum was taken off the field and never returned.
My Pick: Wisconsin 28, Illinois 21 Score: Wisconsin 27, Illinois 17

Michigan State at Michigan- The rivalry continued and it was a tough battle through three quarters as the game was tied at 21. However, behind Javon Ringer's running and Brian Hoyer's passing the Spartans were able to win in the Big House for the first time since 1990. Ringer continued to show why he is one of the best running back's in the country in the 2nd quarter when he bounced off Michigan defenders and dashed towards the end zone for a 64 yard TD run to give the Spartans the lead 14-7. Michigan State ended up putting the game away with two TD's in the fourth quarter.
My Pick: MSU 21, Michigan 17 Score: MSU 35, Michigan 21

Penn State at Ohio State-The game everyone was looking forward to ended up living up to the hype as it went down to the wire. It was a defensive battle all game long and Penn State proved that they can still beat a quality opponent even if their offense isn't putting up the big numbers. The Nittany Lions held on to the ball and their defense were able to force two turnovers. The biggest came on a third and 1 early in the 4th quarter when defensive back Mark Rubin forced a Terrelle Pryor fumble on a QB sneak that he tried to break outside. The Buckeyes had a 3 point lead at that point until backup QB Pat Devlin's 1 yard touchdown that put Penn State on top for good. I thought this would be won by a defense but I didn't expect the game to be this low scoring. A great game and Penn State now has the inside track to a Big Ten Title and a chance at the national championship.
My Pick: Penn State 38, Ohio State 27 Score: Penn State 13, Ohio State 6

A 3-2 week. Nothing great but nothing I can really complain too much about. I still want to have a perfect week and I hope to do better in Week 10.

Top 10 games from the Big Ten this season

Many games this season said a lot about teams and some were taken over by a single player. But I think I've got a pretty good top 10 games from this season after digging through each week. So here they are.

10) Oregon 32 at Purdue 26- This was a game I really enjoyed watching. Going to double OT is definitely a reason I enjoyed watching it. But from an importance aspect, I think this game played a huge role in where Purdue stands right now. They should have knocked off the 16th ranked team at that point and it would have given them a ton of confidence. But there season has been a very disappointing one and Curtis Painter has not been able to get anything done all year.

9) Ohio State 20 at Wisconsin 17- This was a big game for both teams as Ohio State needed to win to get any respect. If they would have lost the whole nation would have turned against them. As for Wisconsin it just continued a their losing streak that went to 4 games. If Wisconsin could have won this they may have been able to get things back together.

8) Missouri 52 vs. Illinois 42- A game played in St. Louis was a coming out party for Juice Williams. In a losing effort he was able to show everyone in the country that he has improved as a quarterback as he passed for 451 yards and 5 TD's. He out performed Chase Daniel and put to rest all of those that doubted his throwing ability. A shootout that I loved watching as a fan because both offenses were firing. However, it did show that both teams would struggle the rest of the season because neither team had a defense.

7) Utah 25 at Michigan 23- For the second straight year Michigan gets upset at home in Week 1. Granted as the season went on this may have not really been that big of an upset. But it is still significant as Michigan showed it was re-building and lost in the Big House once again.

6)Illinois 24 at Penn State 38- Up until this point I wasn't completely sure where Penn State stood because they never really played anyone. After watching this game I was sold that Penn State was for real and was the best in the Big Ten. The balanced offensive attack was just too much for Illinois and Derrick Williams' 94 yard kickoff return for a TD was just a great show.

5) Iowa State 5 at Iowa 17- This game was big as Iowa was able to regain the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Brodell's first career punt return for a TD put the game away. This game is always important for the Hawkeyes because it seems to always affect both teams season. This one is in there mainly because it was a game that kept popping in my head when I was trying to think of a top 10.

4) Ohio State 3, USC 35- This was the game everyone was looking forward to since the beginning of the year. It was Ohio State's chance to prove they belong and USC was looking to deny them the chance. This game showed that Ohio State has a long ways to go before they are national championship contenders. It could also be a preview to the Rose Bowl. I wonder who will win that one?

3) Wisconsin 25 at Michigan 27- I loved this game because I'd said Wisconsin was overrated all year. This game is the start of Wisconsin's downward spiral to the bottom of the Big Ten. Wisconsin had the game won but Michigan scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to get the win.

2) Wisconsin 16 at Iowa 38- The continued fall of Wisconsin and a rising star finally has the performance that no one can ignore. All year Shonn Greene was rushing for over 100 yards and was a solid performer week in and week out. This game finally got him some recognition as he busted out for 217 yards and 4 TD's. If he even gets invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation this is the game everyone can point to.

1) Penn State 13 at Ohio State 6- A game with the Big Ten Title at stake and a chance at the national championship on the line. This game had to be number one. It was a defensive battle that went back and fourth. Penn State got over a big hurdle as Ohio State has dominated the Big Ten year after year and now Penn State controls its own destiny to take over. This game also keeps their hopes of the national championship alive.

A look back at why Penn State beat Ohio State

So last night showdown was just as I expected it would be; a defensive battle that the Nittany Lions pulled off. It was obvious that Penn State was the better team and a team that is much more ready to make a run at the national championship.

Not to hate a on Terrelle Pryor because he is a great player, but being a freshman showed by the mistakes he made and the play calling of Ohio State. Yes the game was close, but Ohio State really couldn't move the ball on offense. I'd say this is because Pryor is a freshman and they weren't willing to stretch the field as often as Penn State. Even though Penn State didn't complete many long passes they were at least willing to try which opened up the running game.

Ohio State on the other hand constantly looked conservative and it showed as Chris Wells couldn't get anything going on the ground because Penn State just had to focus on him. Without Wells being able to run Ohio State was going to be in trouble.

As far as defense the game went just as I expected it would. I knew the game would be won by the defense that was able to force mistakes or slow down the other offense. I figured Penn State would give Pryor a lot of trouble because they are the best defense Ohio State has faced all year. A freshman mistake is what ultimately cost Ohio State the game. With the lead in the 4th quarter and a 3rd and 1 Pryor was expected to just sneak it up the middle and get the first down. However, he tries to bounce it outside and make the big play which he fumbled away when defensive back Mark Rubin knocked the ball loose with his left hand. This will certainly be a mistake Pryor will learn from especially with a strong defense and the lead. As for the interception it's really not a big deal because he just threw the ball to the end zone with little time left hoping to tie the game up. Amazing that it takes desperation for Ohio State to throw the ball down field. If they did it a little more earlier the game could have turned out better for them.

Overall, this game did show the nation that Penn State is for real and Ohio State has a long ways to go before it can be considered a national contender. At this rate they would lose to any SEC or Big XII team because they lack the ability to move the ball if "Beanie" Wells isn't able to get his 100 yards. They showed last night that they aren't going to spread the field and even though they have big play receivers in Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie they haven't been a factor since Pryor became the starting quarterback. This makes their offense predictable and they have to rely on their defense to score or give them good field position.

Penn State is the team to beat in the Big Ten and I couldn't be happier to finally give another team a chance to prove themselves on the national stage rather than seeing Ohio State get blown out again. I hope Penn State makes the national championship and I believe they can win it to restore faith in the Big Ten.

Week 9 Picks

So last weekend I was an upset pick away from having a perfect week. This weekend I'm looking for perfection and this weekend could be one of the toughest to pick. The top two teams will face off in Columbus. Can Wisconsin win a Big Ten game or will they continue to fall? Can Minnesota keep it up or will they continue like every other team in the Big Ten that has had a bye and lost the following week? The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry takes place and Michigan State looks to rebound after being smacked in the face by Ohio State. Will be an interesting weekend and the Big Ten Title could be decided this weekend.

Lets get it started.....

Northwestern at Indiana- This is an intriguing game because I'm just waiting for the Indiana offense to explode. Will CJ Bacher continue his hot streak and keep the Wildcats rolling? I see Northwestern struggling on the road but Bacher and Sutton prove too tall a task for a struggling Indiana secondary.
Northwestern 38, Indiana 21

Minnesota at Purdue- What happens here? Does Curtis Painter continue to struggle and lose his teammates? Or does he respond to his running back Korey Sheets calling him out? Sheets has been solid all year long but he can't carry the whole team. Minnesota has been surprising all year and they could already be destined for a loss as every team has following a bye week in the Big Ten this season. Quarterback Adam Weber has been able to lead the offense well all year and has been in control. The defense also looked strong against Illinois and forced turnovers to beat Illinois in Champaign. I think Purdue responds at home and Curtis Painter responds to adversity.
Purdue 28, Minnesota 17

Illinois at Wisconsin- This game is a tough call because Wisconsin is capable of being a good team and they are always tough at Camp Randall. The issue is that they haven't been able to protect their home field this season. The Illini have been inconsistent all year and they looked spectacular against Indiana last weekend but who hasn't. Juice Williams is capable of beating anyone anywhere but Wisconsin is hungry. The Illini have a lot of weapons and Jason Ford emerged as a solid running back last weekend. This game all depends on Wisconsin's defense as they have not played very well of late. I'm going with Wisconsin to finally get a Big Ten win because no way do they lose again at home and go 0-5 in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin 28, Illinois 21

Michigan State at Michigan- The rivalry continues as Michigan State looks to prove they are a solid team after being dominated by Ohio State. Michigan is just looking to find their identity as they looked like they were capable of playing with Penn State for a half and then they just fell apart. I'm not saying they are even close to Penn State but still they were able to play with them for a half. Michigan is at home and will be fired up for this game. The defense is strong and they must focus on stopping Javon Ringer. I'm not sure where to go with this one but I'll go with Michigan State just because I feel they are the better team.
Michigan State 21, Michigan 17

Penn State at Ohio State- So it's down to the Big Game with so many implications on the line. The Big Ten Title a possible National Championship birth. This game looks to be a classic as the top defense of the Big Ten faces the top offense. Penn State's offense has been unstoppable and Ohio State is always tough on defense. However, I think Penn State's offense is better than USC's and has more weapons which could be a problem for Ohio State. Penn State also has a solid defense but they have to face Chris "Beanie" Wells who always plays good in big games and Terrelle Pryor continues to impress me as he shows much more maturity than his age. The game is at Columbus but I see Penn State forcing a couple of costly turnovers that gives Penn State the victory.
Penn State 38, Ohio State 27


Season Record: 28-11

A look back at Week 8

Alright so last weekend was good because it showed that there are two teams that separate themselves at the top. In my opinion Penn State is the clear cut number one and Ohio State is number two. Of course these two could swap places after this weekend but there's no way anyone is going to jump over them no matter who loses.

But lets take a look back at my picks last week as I tried to be bold and make an upset pick. However, it back fired on me and kept me from my first perfect weekend. My overall record this season now stands at 28-11.

Ohio State vs. Michigan State- I thought I had something here when I picked Michigan State to continue to impress the nation by knocking off the Buckeyes. I doubted Ohio States ability on offense after what it did against Purdue. However, I now know to never doubt the Buckeyes and Terrelle Pryor as they are a much stronger team with Pryor and a healthy Wells.
My Pick: OSU 17, MSU 24
Score: OSU 45, MSU 7

Purdue vs. Northwestern- After the way Purdue has struggled this seemed like a no brainer. The Wildcats were able to overpower the Boilermakers as Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter continues to struggle as he threw three picks. The Wildcats were also able to comeback after their first loss of the season to Michigan State. Northwestern continues to impress as they now stand at 6-1 on the season and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
My Pick: NW 28, Purdue 17
Score: NW 48, Purdue 26

Wisconsin vs. Iowa- I predicted the game would be decided on the ground and boy was it ever. Shonn Greene rushed for 217 yards and outscored the Badgers on his own. I wasn't too far off on the score and my prediction that the Iowa defense would be able to stop the run and force turnovers also wasn't a bad one as they tallied three interceptions. Wisconsin continues to free fall as they have lost 4 in a row and Iowa seems to be back on track as the offense looks to be gaining momentum.
My Pick: Iowa 27, Wisconsin 13
Score: Iowa 38, Wisconsin 16

Michigan vs. Penn State- Penn State continued to show why it is one of the best if not the best team in the country. The Nittany Lions started off slow as Michigan was able to get out to a 10-0 start. But the Nittany Lions weren't going to be denied a victory over Michigan. The Nittany Lions were able to score 39 unanswered points to blow away Michigan and continue their quest for a Big Ten Title and the National Championship.
My Pick: PSU 38, Michigan 10
Score: PSU 46, Michigan 17

Indiana vs. Illinois- Going into this game I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Could Indiana's offense get things going against an inconsistent Illini defense? Will the Illini play to their potential and blow Indiana away? There were just too many questions as Illinois hasn't played to their potential consistently and Indiana has just looked terrible. However, the Illini defense showed up to play and looked the best they have all year in my opinion. The offense also looked explosive as Juice Williams continues to impress as he threw 3 TD's. Then there was the surprise performance from running back Jason Ford that had a breakout performance rushing for 172 yards and 3 TD's of his own. The Illini showed just how dangerous they can be but they have also had a habit of having a let down after playing well.
My Pick: Illinois 38, Indiana 17
Score: Illinois 55, Indiana 13

Power Rankings
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Northwestern
4. Minnesota
5. Michigan State
6. Iowa
7. Illinois
8. Purdue
9.Michigan
10. Wisconsin
11. Indiana