Joe O's College Pick Six: Does #1 Go Down Again?
By Joe Ostrowski--
#1 Ohio St(6-0) @ #18 Wisconsin(5-1) – 6pm
OSU favored by 3.5
Terrelle Pryor has shown us that he doesn't need his legs to be effective. Last week, the Ohio St signal caller threw for a career high 334 yards after straining his quad the previous week. But, that was in Columbus & against Indiana's dreadful defense. Wisconsin has been averaging 241 yards a game on the ground. Last week, OSU's test was the Hoosier's passing game. This week, it's the Badger's running game. The computers have the top ranked Buckeyes at #10 since none of their opponents are in the top 25. This is just The Vest's 2nd road game this year. It was a bad look 2 weeks ago down in Champaign. Give me the home dog that's 40-4 at Camp Randall since the start of the '04 season.
PICK: WIS +3.5
Illinois(3-2) @ #13 Michigan St(6-0) – 11am
MSU favored by 7
When the above .500 Illini are being discussed, it's about running back Mikel LeShoure who has over 100 yards in 4 of their 5 games. It's their defense that has kept them in every game & is 20th best in the country. Include their 2 losses to now #1 Ohio St & #21 Mizzou. The Michigan St doubters were proven wrong when MSU strolled into Ann Arbor to beat Michigan for the 3rd straight time & baffle everyone's former Heisman favorite, Denard Robinson. Kirk Cousins is running the Spartan offense with a 167 passer rating. RB Edwin Baker is 10th in the country with 683 rushing yards. It's Sparty's homecoming, give me the green.
PICK: MSU -7
#15 Iowa(4-1) @ Michigan(5-1) – 230pm
IOWA favored by 3
Denard Robinson faced his first tough test a week ago in Michigan St & failed miserably. Shoelace threw 3 interceptions. He gets to attempt to bounce back against the best defense in not only the Big Ten, but also the nation. Here come the Hawkeyes. Iowa hasn't given up a touchdown since losing at Arizona on September 18th. Michigan's defense has the ability to make Ricky Stanzi look like the Heisman contender in this matchup. The Wolverines' Robinson gave a passionate speech after last week's loss. Talk isn't going to help Michigan stop anybody. Rich Rod's seat gets hotter.
PICK: IOWA -3
Western Michigan(2-3) @ Notre Dame(3-3) – 130pm
ND favored by 24
Golden domers will take a 3-3 record through the rough part of their schedule. After a 23-point home loss to Stanford, it looked like Brian Kelly could be staring at a 1-5 start. Games against Western Michigan, Navy, & Tulsa SHOULD bring the Irish to 6-3. Dayne Crist has thrown for exactly 1,600 yards, but one of his favorite targets, TE Kyle Rudolph, is done for the season with a hamstring injury. It was about a year ago the last time ND beat someone by at least 4 scores. Notre Dame is playing better, but they're still 100th in the country in pass defense. They move to 4-3, but 24 points is a lot.
PICK: WMU +24
#12 Arkansas(4-1) @ #7 Auburn(6-0) – 230pm
AUB favored by 4
The best quarterbacks in the SEC go head to head in Auburn, AL. It's a couple of guys who are both transfers & have opposite styles. Arkansas' Ryan Mallett is airing it out for the Hogs at 358 passing yards per game, 2nd in the nation. Auburn's Cam Newton has the 4th best passer rating at 180.7 & is rushing for over 100 yards a week. Newton will remind you of Vince Young in his Longhorn days. The Auburn Tigers have come out a strong 3-0 in conference play, but Arkansas' only loss was to Alabama after leading the entire way. Here's another example of the SEC beating up on each other. The Tigers are handed their first loss.
PICK: ARK +4
SATURDAY'S LOCK
Mississippi(3-2) @ #8 Alabama(5-1) - 8pm
ALA favored by 20.5
After suffering their first loss since the '09 Sugar Bowl, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has spent the week tearing his team down. Last week's South Carolina upset over the Tide was QB Greg McElroy's 1st loss since 8th grade. Both Alabama & Mississippi have been scoring into the upper 30s all season. The difference is on the defensive side of the ball. Ole Miss is allowing 33 points per game, while Bama is giving up just 13 a contest. Mississippi's two losses were to Jacksonville St & Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide have won 17 in a row in Tuscaloosa & need to be impressive in their victories as the BCS gets released after this week. Bama makes a statement.
PICK: ALA –20.5
Last Week: 2-3-1
Joe Ostrowski is the executive producer of The Laurence Holmes Show & can be heard Saturdays 8pm-midnight on 670 The Score.
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