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The Obligatory Predictions Competition - Week 6

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Is this an easy week, or a hard week?  You tell us.

1. PURDUE at MINNESOTA, 12:00 p.m. EST (10/10), ESPN 2

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GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts MINNESOTA by 7

I have a vendetta against the Gophers which is slowly being whittled away. I love TCF, I respect the originality of the offense as the OC Fisch is trying new things, and Eric Decker is the best wide receiver in the Midwest. All reasons I should pick the Gophers here against the stumbling Boilers. Buttttt I doubt, I doubt. Purdue has to win a Big Ten game sometime right? Not yet.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts MINNESOTA by 7

I picked Purdue last week, and it bit me in the ass.  I also watched Minnesota give away a comeback at home against Wisky.  The Boilermakers haven't been able to plug their leaky secondary.  I think Mini is the next team to exploit the best 1-4 squad in the FBS.  Take comfort Purdue fans, after this week, I'll be confident calling you the best 1-5 team in the history of college football.


2. MICHIGAN STATE at ILLINOIS, 12:00 p.m. EST (10/10), Big Ten Network

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GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts MICHIGAN STATE by 14

Oddly enough, Vegas gives the 2-3 Spartans a four point edge here. I would think the news of Eddie McGee starting would give Vegas a bit more confidence in a win for Mark Dantonio's troops. However, McGee is a better thrower than Juice Williams, plus you could feel the pressure of expectations for Juice weighing down the Illini program. MSU needs to be less conservative overall - the Spartans should have won by 20 points over Michigan last week.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts MICHIGAN STATE by 7

The Illini are thankful that they finally have an opponent they can beat.  Unfortunately, the Spartans now have a pulse in the wake of their second consecutive triumph over "Big Brother."  I say the most efficient quarterback in the Big Ten puts up big quarter returns against a JV Illinois secondary.  Even if the Spartans struggle to pass, they'll be able to run against the worst rush D in the conference.  Benching Juice Williams is a temporary solution at best.  The Spartans pick up a win on the road against a piecemeal home crowd. 

Star-divide


3. WISCONSIN at No. 9 OHIO STATE, 3:30 p.m. EST (10/10), ABC

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GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts OHIO STATE by 10

Vegas gives the Bucks 14, which seems a bit high. Wisconsin has talented wide receivers and Garrett Graham, plus an effective quarterback in Scott Tolzien. Obviously the oddsmakers have a strong belief in a Buckeye defense that is the best in the Big Ten. Law Buck respects the Badgers for always playing Ohio State tough, but toughness won't be enough to overcome the resurgent Terrelle Pryor and the crazies at Ohio Stadium.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts OHIO STATE by 10

Wisconsin always plays us tough.  At 5-0 the Badgers are the only perfect BCS team to be unranked in the AP poll.  Then again, they haven't beaten an FBS opponent by more than 8 points.  I'm impressed with the run/pass balance Wisky has been able to strike under second-string quarterback turned savior Scott Tolzien.  The Badgers are 14th in the country in rushing.  The Buckeyes are No. 10 in the country in rushing defense.  My biggest concern here is the loss of nosetackle Dexter Larimore.  The loss of this chokehold is something bruiser John Clay will strive to exploit.  I think Ohio State compensates by stacking the box, forcing Tolzien to beat us through the air.  He won't be able to.  The Buckeyes hold down the fort with a shotgun centered run-attack, leaving just one undefeated team in the conference.


4. No. 1 FLORIDA at No. 4 LSU, 8:00 p.m. EST (10/10), CBS

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GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts FLORIDA by 10

The Tigers are primed to be blown out after two wins that could be best described as "lucky." The offense is uninspiring and not cohesive enough to score 30 on Florida. Whether ManGodChild plays or not, the Gators talent is going to make LSU a Blue Bayou. Ooo here's some Roy Orbison lyrics from his epic, Blue Bayou:

I'm going back someday
Come what may
To Blue Bayou
Where the folks are fine
And the world is mine
On Blue Bayou
Where those fishing boats
With their sails afloat
If I could only see
That familiar sunrise
Through sleepy eyes
How happy I'd be

LAW BUCKEYE predicts FLORIDA by 14

LSU is No. 1 in every computer poll at present.  What the machines don't know is how abysmally mediocre they've looked to date.  The Tigers should have lost two weeks ago against Mississippi State.  The Tigers should have lost last week against Georgia.  This week, lady luck runs out when this reptile with lipstick proves it can get by on more than good looks alone.  Whether its Tebow or Brantley, the Gators roll on the road -- avenging their 2007 defeat in the valley.

 

5. MICHIGAN at No. 12 IOWA, 8:05 p.m. EST (10/10), ABC

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GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts IOWA by 10

Vegas makes Iowa an 8 point favorite and if we learned anything from last week (MSU-3 over UM), it's that Vegas reads Michigan pretty well. The Tate Forcier zone read run proved ineffective against both Indiana and Michigan State. Those defenses don't hold a candle to Iowa's bullies, so RichRod is going to have to adapt. I can't, in good faith, pick Michigan here. This Wolverine defense has shown no ability to stop the passing offenses of even mediocre Big Ten teams.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts IOWA by 10

What Graham won't tell you is that Michigan is still premature.  Their best win is a squeaker over Notre Dame, a team that will be put in its place next week when USC stages another slaughter in South Bend.  The biggest blip in this matchup is Tate Forcier's ability to move in space.  Scrambling quarterbacks have frustrated the Hawkeyes on more than one occasion this season (see Northern Iowa's Pat Grace and Arkansas State's Corey Leonard).  I think Iowa's defense will wear out the little engine that could.  Ricky Stanzi lights up the night and the Hawks fly to 10 in a row.

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Can't be any worse than last week, right?

I mean, I’d have to go a complete 0-fer to do any worse.

Minnesota by 6 (at some point, fumbles cease to be a fluke; Purdue crossed that point last week)
MSU by 17 (seriously, have you watched this Illinois team? they’d give the Jim Wacker-era Gophers a run for their money on incompetence)
Ohio State by 6 (Tresselball rules the Midwest again, until the Iowa or Penn State game at least)
LSU by 3 (yes, they’ve looked craptacular compared to the annihilation machine of Florida, but never bet against The Hat in Death Valley at night in a game that should be close)
Iowa by 13 (if MSU can shut down Michigan’s offense – granted, help from the weather, but still – Iowa should have no trouble repeating the feat)

by SpartanDan on Oct 8, 2009 1:15 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

gotta get these in early

before i head to Iowa City to watch a beat-down by the Hawks!

Minny by 7
MSU by 10
OSU by 14
Florida by 7
Iowa by 10 (actually think it will be by 17, but i am playing it safe)

by SeattleHawkeye on Oct 8, 2009 1:28 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

slightly better last week, here's where i make my move

Minnesota by 13
Michigan State by 14
Ohio State by 7
LSU by 7
Iowa by 10

by burncruisin on Oct 8, 2009 2:28 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Good to see

that the founders are back of one mind.

Minnesota by 11
MSU by 9
Ohio State by 16
Florida by 13
Iowa by 8

http://www.rivalryesq.com/
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.

by Bama Hawkeye on Oct 8, 2009 5:10 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It looks like an easy week...

too easy. Those are the worst kind.

Minny by 10
Sparty by 4. Although, I am hoping that this week is the flash-in-the-pan breakout for Illinois, and not next week.
Ohio State by 10.
Florida by 4
Iowa by 10.

And, for the record, Hoosiers by 3.

by hoosierdaddynow on Oct 8, 2009 6:24 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Everyone by 10...

’Sota by 10
Sparty by 10
Buckeyes by 10
Florida by 10
and why not…
Iowa by 10

Don't sell yourself short Judge, you're a tremendous slouch.

by jerdogg1 on Oct 8, 2009 6:26 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I like homefields, except that doesn't overrule don't trust minnesota.

Boilers by 10
Illini by 8
Buckeyes by 14
Tigers by 8
Hawks by 13

Its a funny story actually.

by Wad on Oct 8, 2009 7:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

we got a rebel here

one of two Illini backers…

The Rivalry, Esq.
Big Ten Football: 3 Yards and a Cloud of Field Turf

by grahamfiller10 on Oct 8, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i usually take time to make a level-headed pick

but since I’m stuck in mediocre-ville, let’s try blurting out picks randomly…

Minnesota by 6
MSU by 17
Buckeyes by 9
Florida by 13
Iowa by 11

"I'm driven by greatness" - Derrick Williams

by HookMania on Oct 8, 2009 8:07 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Week 6 cannot be worse for me than week 5

Minnesota by 10
MSU by 17
OSU by 13
Florida by 20
Michigan by 3

by JRose on Oct 8, 2009 8:14 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Behold, the Power of LeBron

As I’m sure you know, former Wolverine Braylon Edwards was traded from the Browns to the Jets this week after a weekend run-in with a FOL: Friend of LeBron. On Monday, James called Edwards out as childish, and said “the right people will take care of it.” Two days later, Edwards was on a plane out of town. These picks are devoted to the King…here’s hoping he doesn’t banish me, too.

Minn by 10
MSU by 10
OSU by 3
Florida by 7
Iowa by 14

Courting mediocrity since 1964.

by lakeeriemonstar on Oct 8, 2009 8:21 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

message there?

Don’t f*** with Bron Bron..until he leaves for NY next year. Than you can.

The Rivalry, Esq.
Big Ten Football: 3 Yards and a Cloud of Field Turf

by grahamfiller10 on Oct 8, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Shhhhhhh..

Let Cleveland think that they can keep him beyond this year…

http://www.rivalryesq.com/
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.

by Bama Hawkeye on Oct 8, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ahem...SECEDE.

Although they’d probably succeed at keeping him that way, too.

Courting mediocrity since 1964.

by lakeeriemonstar on Oct 8, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Semantics Win!

The Rivalry, Esq.
Big Ten Football: 3 Yards and a Cloud of Field Turf

by grahamfiller10 on Oct 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The irony is

If he leaves for NY, Braylon can go get revenge…

by hmlee on Oct 8, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here's to treading water ...

Minnie by 7
STATE by 7 (please, please, puh-lease don’t collapse with another post-UM hangover)
OSU by 7
Florida by 10
Iowa by 13

Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss. -- Lou Mannheim, Wall Street

by ChiSpartan on Oct 8, 2009 9:46 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Picks

Minn by 10
MSU by 13
OSU by 14
Florida by 6
Iowa by 3

They took the bar, the whole damn bar!

by recoveringfratguy on Oct 8, 2009 9:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm pushing my luck by continuing on this stupid journey

But here’s a shot:

PU at Minny:
  Minny can’t stop a pack of Girl Scouts (sorry, hmlee). PU has an offense that is confusing people at the very least. PU has a defense that surprises people. Minny can’t run and has one offensive player. Minny was supposed to be good. PU was supposed to be bad, but has made things interesting. Does PU give up after 3 close defeats? I don’t think so….yet. PU upsets at the “Bank” (“Vault?” Who cares, it’s Minnesota!), 28-24.

MSU @ Illinois
  OMG JUICE WILLIAMS IS THE BEST QUARTERBACK IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!! God, I hate Illinois. If Zook wasn’t coaching, I’d pick them in a laugher. Since he is, this game is tough to call. I’ll go with Illinois, 24-23, only because I don’t know who else to pick.

Wisky @ OSU
  Yes, Wisky always plays OSU tough. Yes, Wisky is undefeated. Yes, Pryor still makes his throws like a German shot-putter. But OSU = talented and Wisky = poorly coached. This won’t be as close as the score indicates. OSU wins, 27-17.

Florida @ LSU
  Why does nobody realize that LSU is the most overrated team in the top 5? Their offense is worse than Iowa’s. Their offense is worse than ND’s defense, for the love! Florida wins this thing big, and I don’t care if Tebow plays (it’ll be closer if he does, actually). Florida, 30-10.

UM @ Iowa
  Iowa terrifies me. And I’m a fan! But UM isn’t there yet. Close, but not quite. Iowa should hit Forcier a few times, harder than he’d prefer, and he’ll get dancer’s feet in the pocket (see: Clark, Daryll). Iowa’s offense still doesn’t work like a well-oiled machine, but they get enough field position to win. Iowa, 24-17.

by imadirtyoldman on Oct 8, 2009 9:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Here we go....

- Minnesota by 17
- Michigan State by 10
- Ohio State by 14
- LSU by 3
- Michigan by 10

by Chadnudj on Oct 8, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Mediocre is my middle name

Minnesota by 13 (never trust a coach with a mustache)
Michigan State by 14 (never trust a coach with the last name Zook)
Ohio State by 9 (never pick a team with a mascot that wears a turtleneck)
LSU by 2 (I’ve got nothing here…you get out of the Big Ten and I’m useless)
Iowa by 7 (never trust a team with a decline in family values)

by gophersports on Oct 8, 2009 10:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

my picks

Minn by 7
MSU by 10
Ohio State by 10
Florida by 14
Iowa by 14

by DMAN2303 on Oct 8, 2009 11:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Continuing my descent to shit-pick hell.

1) Purdue @ Minny – Minnesota by 10
2) MSU @ IL – MSU by 14
3) Wisc @ tOSU – tOSU by 7
4) FL @ LSU – FL by 10
5) MI @ Iowa – Iowa by 7

by txhawkeye on Oct 8, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hmm

Minny by 4
MSU by 10
OSU by 9
FL by 7
Iowa by 10

by RossWB on Oct 8, 2009 3:59 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Week 6

Minnesota by 14
Michigan State by 10
Ohio State by 13
LSU by 6
Iowa by 14

by Pete Rossman on Oct 8, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Goin for a gamble here...

Purdue by 7
MSU by 10
OSU by 3 (happy to be wrong, but can only allow myself 1 upset per week)
Florida by 10
Iowa by 7

by hmlee on Oct 8, 2009 5:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

purdont!

bahahaha I’ve been waiting to use that..original, I know

The Rivalry, Esq.
Big Ten Football: 3 Yards and a Cloud of Field Turf

by grahamfiller10 on Oct 8, 2009 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well then...

Minnesota by 3
MSU by 7
Ohio State by 10
Florida by 10
Iowa by 10

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Oct 8, 2009 6:37 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

...further down the spiral

Purdue by 7 (I’m guessing this is going to be a weird one where both teams attempt to give the game away, but Minnesota does so last; and to add insult to injury also out-gains Purdue by a large margin)
MSU by 10 (MSU will look like they might have a let-down after the OT win, but settle down once they realize they’re playing a horrendously coached Illinois)
OSU by 14 (OSU’s D plays like they did against USC, and their O will be OK which should be more than enough against Wisky’s D)
Florida by 14 (both have great defenses, only one has a consistent offense; the fact that LSU is at home keeps this game closer than it would be otherwise—and Tebow doesn’t play but you won’t know that by listening to the game since the CBS staff all have giant Teboners)
Iowa by 17 (I think Iowa’s D hurts Skinny Forcier and forces RRod to opt for Robinson who will have a few exciting runs but a lot more costly mistakes)

by Estrada on Oct 8, 2009 9:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I am really stinking it up around here...

My first week was clearly a fluke! Here’s to another attempt at glory…

Minny by 6
MSU by 14
OSU by 3
Florida by 17
Iowa by 10

Joe Paterno is my adopted grandfather.
Nittany Lion Love,
Meredith

by PaternosGranddaughter on Oct 9, 2009 9:37 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Min by 7
Mich State by 4
Ohio State by 17
UF by 7
Iowa by 14 Go Hawkeyes

by Bud Elliott on Oct 9, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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