13 October 2011

NCAA Week 7

Even fewer good games than last week. . .

Michigan +2 1/2 at Michigan State: This one's for the prestigious Paul Bunyan trophy, so you know each team will lay it all on the line.  Of course, we don't need to tell you these two teams really don’t like each other (but, of course, they do respect each other), and that what has happened in the past will not matter this Saturday in East Lansing, and that you can throw out the records, and that it’s all gonna come down to which team wants it more, which team is willing to leave it all on the field, and which team is willing to play the whole sixty minutes, and which team is able to play it one snap at a time, and which team plays until the last whistle blows.  In the end, there will be no moral victories, and, of course, it’ll be a shame either one of these teams has to lose, but the team that wins will most likely be the one that sets the tone early, protects the ball, stays within itself, yet manages to play with child-like enthusiasm.  Remember, the game will most likely be won in the trenches, but when all is said and done, it could all come to down to which team has the ball last. . .got it?  Michigan State has the better defense, the better running backs, the better special teams, the better passing QB.  Michigan has. . .Denard Robinson running the ball.  State stopped Robinson from making the big plays last year, forced him to throw, and, inevitably, he chucked 3 sad-looking INTs.  What could possibly be different this year?  The only real advantage Michigan has is that Robinson, despite his almost automatic 3 INTs against any decent defense, never loses confidence in himself, while State's Kirk Cousins sometimes has looked like a collegiate Tony Romo, with dumb late game INTs.  But for that to happen this week, Michigan will have to keep the game close well into the 4th quarter.  I just don't see that happening.  State will pound U-M with their big backs, and eventually Baker or Bell will bust one or two big ones, then Robinson will toss a couple INTs and the game is out of Michigan's reach.  I won't take back all the semi-nice things I said about Hoke after the NWU game if Michigan loses, because they just don't match-up well against Dantonio's sodbusters.  Michigan State.

Indiana +40 at Wisconsin.  40 points?!?!  The last time I saw a conference game spread this big was back in Harbaugh's first year, when Stanford was getting 42 at USC. . .and Stanford won the game outright.  Indiana ain't gonna beat Wisconsin.  You got a much better chance of the Rapture happening Saturday than Indiana winning.  Last year's game was 83 - 20.  83.  And Wisconsin didn't have their fancy negro QB last year.  Wisconsin.

Oklahoma State at Texas +7 1/2: As bad as Texas got their ass beat last week, they're only getting 7 1/2?  Oklahoma State has a better offense than Oklahoma, and while their defense is a little shabby, there's no way Texas can score enough to keep this one close.  Oklahoma State.

Ohio State +3 1/2 at Illinois.  The Buckeyes only chance to avoid falling below .500 and losing a third straight conference game is if Braxton Miller plays.  If the Buckeyes are forced to play 45 yr old 10th yr senior qb Joe Bauserman or third-stringer Kenny Guiton, the Illini will win easily.  Even with Miller, I'll pick Illinois.  Illinois is a lot like Michigan,  6 - 0, and only played one decent team, Arizona State at home, and they won a squeaker 17 - 14.  Ohio State is an average team with Miller, without him, they stink.  Illinois.

Clemson at Maryland +8: I got a bad feeling about this one for old boy Dabo Swinney.  Tajh Boyd is a little nicked up, and Maryland has played West Virginia and Georgia Tech tough.  Upset Special of the Week: Maryland.

Arizona State +14 at Oregon.  The Sun Devils (good name) gave the Ducks (dumb name) a decent game last year. . .and LaMichael (dumb name) James might not play this week for the Ducks (dumb name).  Oregon's been just a little off this year, like they're still hungover from fumbling away the LSU game.  I don't think ASU will win, but they should cover.  Arizona State.

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