| As the midpoint of conference play approaches, | | | | Minnesota will have to regroup quickly as Paul |
| the Big Ten clearly appears to be separated into | | | | Bunyan's Axe will be up for grabs when they visit |
| two tiers. Four of the six games last week were | | | | Madison. The Badgers will enter their Homecoming |
| routs, including the nation's No. 1 team, Ohio State, | | | | game as a 10.5-point favorite, and I would not |
| taking care of in-state mid-major Bowling Green | | | | expect Minnesota to struggle running the ball yet |
| by a score of 35-7 at the Horseshoe. | | | | again. However, an interesting stat from last |
| In my opinion, the top tier is filled by the | | | | week's game is that QB Cupito threw for 348 |
| Buckeyes, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. With | | | | yards. Pass defense may be the one weakness |
| limited exception, I would not expect any of | | | | of the Badgers unit. Michigan will enter Happy |
| these four teams to lose to the bottom seven. | | | | Valley as a touchdown favorite looking to keep |
| Wisconsin may struggle with its trip to West | | | | their perfect season alive. To me, they are by far |
| Lafayette in two weeks and Iowa may be given | | | | the better team and I would only consider playing |
| a battle at the end the season with a trip to the | | | | the chalk. |
| Twin Cities. Will one of these two games be our | | | | Finally, a game that few people were able to |
| Big Ten Game of the Year? Only time will tell but | | | | watch was a border battle between Wisconsin |
| there is a good chance. | | | | and Northwestern. The game was on ESPN 360 |
| Other then that, four teams should end the | | | | and bar owners in Madison were struggling to find |
| season with impressive records and two should | | | | equipment that would allow this Internet feed to |
| receive BCS bids. I really hope Michigan and Ohio | | | | be able to be seen on big screen TVs. From what |
| State can go into their Nov. 18 meeting | | | | I heard, not many of them had success and thus |
| undefeated, as it would bring great recognition to | | | | business suffered. |
| the conference. The winner of the game would | | | | Northwestern had traditionally been a thorn in the |
| easily finish the season atop the BCS standings | | | | side of the Badgers, as they haven't beaten them |
| and earn a spot in the national title game in | | | | two out of the last three years (including last |
| Glendale, Arizona, which will be called by former | | | | season's 51-48 thriller). The Badgers jumped out |
| Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez. | | | | to a 10-0 led and it appeared to be an easy |
| The following will recap some of the action from | | | | victory for them. The Cats did run off the next |
| last week and preview an important week ahead: | | | | nine points to get within one, but that was all they |
| A wild game took place in Champaign, Illinois, | | | | could do. Wisconsin gradually pulled away for a |
| when the Hoosiers came calling on Saturday. Illinois | | | | 41-9 victory. |
| was coming off an impressive win and we felt | | | | Northwestern has lost their identity with the |
| that the situation was right to pull the trigger on | | | | sudden passing of Coach Randy Walker and their |
| them as an eight-point favorite over Indiana. The | | | | offense is just a shadow of what it was in the |
| Hoosiers were really struggling, having lost three | | | | past. They finished with just 216 yards of offense |
| straight home games, and were | | | | and the spread is not fooling anybody. RB PJ Hill |
| mixing-and-matching their offensive line. Things | | | | continues to surprise opponents with his rushing |
| went as expected in the first quarter when Illinois | | | | ability and is the conference leader in yards. He |
| put 22 points on the board en route to an early | | | | has gone over the century mark in five of his six |
| 25-7 lead. I felt this game was in the bag, but | | | | games and should eclipse the 1,000-mark next |
| then the Hoosiers rattled off 24 straight points to | | | | week. |
| take six-point lead. The teams went | | | | Next up for the Cats is a home date with Purdue. |
| back-and-forth from that point and Indiana | | | | The Boilers enter as a touchdown favorite and it |
| eventually claimed the victory on a 33-yard field | | | | will be interesting to see which team responds, as |
| goal by Austin Starr as time expired. | | | | both were blown out last week. This would be a |
| This was an embarrassing loss for Illinois, as they | | | | game to stay away from since both teams have |
| could have moved the program to the next level. | | | | problems stopping opponents. The over looks to |
| That could have set up a shot at three | | | | be the only possibility. |
| consecutive victories and it would have given the | | | | The other intriguing game next week features |
| Illini a winning record in conference play. The | | | | the No. 1 team in the land heading to East Lansing |
| Fighting Illini rushed for 209 yards, yet their | | | | to take on the Spartans. Michigan State realizes |
| downfall was that they only converted 1-of-11 | | | | this game is their season and their last chance to |
| chances on third down. | | | | showcase their underachieving talent on the |
| I don't think too many people are upset about the | | | | national stage. I said two weeks ago they would |
| coaching change that was made when they | | | | get the Bucks or the Wolverines. They didn't beat |
| replaced Urban Meyer. But no matter who the | | | | Michigan, so who what to expect this week. The |
| coach is, this team continues to underachieve as | | | | talent is there, but their minds tend to drift. |
| they have talent on paper. Next up for Illinois is a | | | | Final Thoughts from Around College Football |
| home date with Ohio. They enter as a touchdown | | | | 1) For those of you who played Mississippi State, |
| favorite and they are 10-2 straight up against the | | | | you had to have been heartbroken when two |
| MAC. The Hoosiers hope to build upon this | | | | touchdowns were scored with under three |
| shocking upset when they welcome Iowa to | | | | minutes to play. The dagger was a 50-yard punt |
| Memorial Stadium. The early line has Iowa as a | | | | return by Vaughn Rivers with 1:07 left that |
| 17.5-point favorite and I would not expect this | | | | pushed the lead to 28 points. |
| game to be close. | | | | 2) When gambling, I always like to bet with big |
| Another impressive victory by a road team saw | | | | game coaches, as they seem to do whatever it |
| Penn State going into the Twin Cities and coming | | | | takes to win. Urban Meyer fits that bill along with |
| away with a one-point overtime win. The most | | | | Pete Carroll. Les Miles does not and thus I have |
| intriguing stat of this game was that the Golden | | | | no confidence in his ability in an evenly matched |
| Gophers were held to just 67 yards rushing. This | | | | game. |
| is a team that makes a living of the ground and | | | | 3) Teams continue to pound San Diego State. I |
| that is quite an accomplishment for Joe Pa and his | | | | had a chance to see them in person and the |
| Lions. Minnesota has seen a big drop-off in talent | | | | offensive unit is definitely one of the worst in the |
| at the running back position and Amir Pinnix was | | | | nation. Continue to lay the big numbers until they |
| not able to get the job done. | | | | can prove to me that can score consistently. |
| This game was close throughout as no team had | | | | Coming off a blowout victory with our, "Revenge |
| more then a 7-point lead and then Minnesota | | | | Game of the Year" we will carry that over into |
| scored with just over one minute remaining to | | | | this Saturday's card when we release our |
| send it into overtime. They converted quickly in | | | | "Underdog Game of the Year." This team has an |
| OT when Bryan Cupito threw a 25-yard | | | | outstanding chance to win this game straight up |
| touchdown pass to Eric Decker to give the | | | | and I will be taking a serious look at the |
| Gophers a six-point lead. However, Jason Giannini's | | | | moneyline. |
| extra point hit the upright and bounced back. That | | | | For those of you that have not tried our hockey |
| give the Lions confidence, and Tony Hunt's | | | | service, I would encourage you to do so. We are |
| two-yard run and accompanying extra point gave | | | | offering a special through Sunday, Oct. 15, where |
| them the win. | | | | you can get a week of selections for only $20. I |
| Will this game give Penn State momentum going | | | | make the selections myself and cater to the |
| back home to take on the Wolverines? It | | | | gambler that likes to bet big bucks on one game |
| certainly could. Revenge will be on their minds | | | | each night. We expect another big week in |
| after the heartbreaking loss in Ann Arbor last | | | | football and would like you aboard. |
| year. | | | | |