Prognosticating 11-7

So Week One of my Picks Against The Spread did not go exactly as I planned.  I found one thing out for certain, though.  THESE GAMES ARE FIXED!  First, Ohio State was favored by 44 - they win by 45 as New Mexico State's quarterback Threet's it into the end zone for a defensive touchdown..  Iowa is favored by 17.5, and is getting their lunch handed to them by Indiana.  Then one play single handedly changed the momentum and outcome of that entire game.  This play made 1997 Nebraska's "Kick Play" blush.  Instead of being up 28-7, the score is 21-14 and the rest is history.  Iowa would go onto win by 18 POINTS, covering the spread by a half a point.  The next two I don't have a good excuse for, because Michigan and USC both got their Double Decker's with Special Sauce handed to them.  However, Penn State saved the day by covering the 17 point spread, and beating Northwestern by 21.  That sets my record at a putrid 1-4 as we move into the home stretch of the Big Ten season.  On with the picks!

MINNESOTA (+7) vs. Illinois


Minnesota, minus Eric Decker, somehow beat the Michigan State Spartans last week on a late touchdown, and this week they are matched up against the Fighting Illini, fresh off their beat down of Michigan.  I'm not sure which Minnesota offense will show up in this one, as they had been struggling bad without Decker, only to lay 45 on Sparty last week.  I feel like last week was a mirage, as they just don't have the play makers to consistently score points.  Illinois, on the other hand, has a ton of play makers, led by Juice Williams.  If Juice can somehow picture Minnesota with winged helmets, then he will likely throw for 200 and run for 100 more. I like Illinois to cover in this one, with a possible outright win not out of the question.

IOWA (+16.5) vs. Northwestern


One of these weeks, Ricky Stanzi is going to cost the Hawkeyes a game.  You just cannot keep throwing 5 interceptions a game and expect to win.  The amazing thing is that he did exactly that last week against Indiana.  Can you imagine how bad Michigan would lose right now if Tate tossed 5 interceptions in a game?  I digress, as Iowa stays at home against a Northwestern squad that is pretty mediocre.  They hung with Penn State for a half last week, but then got blown out in the 4th quarter.  Iowa will be riding pretty high after their come from behind miracle last week, but I like Northwestern to cover the points, with Iowa still winning the game.

PENN STATE (+3.5) vs. Ohio State


The game of the week in the Big Ten, as the Buckeyes roll into Happy Valley to take on the JoePa's.  Last time the Bucks and Nitts hooked up, Terrelle Pryor fumbled a quarterback sneak and was later seen crying on the bench.  This time, Pryor heads into Happy Valley, where 105,000 fans will lay into him for spurning the home-state school for the hated Buckeyes.  This game hinges on which Terrelle Pryor shows up.  If Pryor makes plays with his legs and does not throw the ball into double and triple coverages, the Buckeyes have a shot.  Even if he does that, they still have a shot because their defense will likely keep them in the game.  That said, I think Darryl Clark and the PSU offense are coming into their own right now.  If the PSU O-Line can give Clark time, he can find holes in that that Ohio State defense.  I like Penn State to cover in this one, on the strength of some key Pryor turnovers.

ALABAMA (+7.5) vs. LSU


The Mad-hatter takes the Bayou Bengals into Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide, in what is Alabama's last true test before they match up with Florida.  LSU has been getting by on smoke and mirrors offensively this season, which is not something you want to say when you have Alabama's defense standing across from you.  However, Alabama has also been struggling offensively through the air, as QB Greg McElroy has been inefficient and turnover prone.  I look for Les Miles to pull out all the stops in this one - Fake FG's and Punts, trick plays, and some Wildcat stuff with freshman QB Russell Shepherd.  Will it be enough to win?  I don't think so, but - I think it will be enough to cover the 7.5 as Alabama's offense will also struggle to score points.  I'll take LSU.


MICHIGAN (+6) vs. Purdue


I have all kinds of bad feelings about this game.  First, Purdue has been the most Jekkyl and Hyde team in the Big Ten, with a win over Ohio State and near wins over Notre Dame and Oregon, but also a 38-0 loss to Wisconsin last week.  Which Purdue team will show up?  For that matter, which Michigan team will show up?  Brandon Minor supposedly had his best week of practice this week, which bodes well for the Michigan offense as they try to get back on track.  RS-Freshman Patrick Omameh will likely see time at guard this week as Mark Huyge moves back out to his more natural RT position in place of an injured Perry Dorrenstein.  How will Omameh handle his first extended time in a game?  Also, will the defense continue to give up big plays?  Purdue will run the football effectively if Michigan is forced to play two-deep safeties.  One thing I will look for is can the Michigan defense generate some turnovers?  It has been three games since the defense has had one, so I think this is the week for at least two takeaways.  Also, Michigan has never lost with me in attendance, so that streak will have to continue.  I like MICHIGAN to cover the six, and beat the Boilermakers making them bowl eligible.

Other news around the sports world:

• So baseball season is finally over, as the Yankees finally live up to their billing again.  If I have said it once, I'll say it a million times; it will be a sad day for Yankee fans (and fans of baseball in general) when Mariano Rivera decides to hang up his pinstripes.  It is amazing how he has dominated the game with one pitch (the legendary cut fastball).  Major league hitters know what is coming, yet they still cannot hit it.  It was also really awkward listening to Hideki Matsui give his MVP acceptance speech in Japanese.  You would think after 8 or 9 years in America he would be able to give a couple sentences in English.  
• Things get even more comical in Berea, as GM Randy Kokinas is supposedly escorted out of Browns Headquarters.  I give Eric Mangini one more week of bad football before he is fired.  This begs the question: who do Browns fans want as their next coach?  Bill Cowher would be an obvious choice, but would he really take over this pathetic franchise?  
• #15 Michigan basketball (wow, that feels good to say in the pre-season) starts their season tonight with an exhibition game against Wayne State.  It should be an exciting year for the Wolverines, as the Big Ten is loaded.  I will go into more detail about this team as football season draws to a close, but I expect this season to be a roller coaster.  With trips to Kansas, Utah, at home against UConn, and a run in the Old Spice Classic, the Wolverines will have a challenging non-conference slate to go along with the grueling Big Ten.  At one point, Michigan will most likely be ranked outside the Top 25, but I expect nothing less than another Big Dance trip (I'm thinking Sweet Sixteen and more this year). 

That is all for today.  Hopefully the picks go a little better this week, and Michigan finally gets that elusive 6th win.

NRTTS

Coach Deuce