Q: We’ll get to the Big Ten, but let’s start at the World’s Largest Outdoor Beverage Get-Together with our undisputed #1 Georgia who’s a 14 point favorite in Jacksonville currently against their rival Florida Gators? Any upset potential?
Jake: Is Anthony Richardson playing quarterback for the Gators? That’s the biggest question mark. Mullen has been reluctant this season to give the full reigns to his young QB in favor of the more seasoned Emory Jones who is solid, but unspectacular. Richardson is ELECTRIC.
Two weeks ago in their loss to LSU, Richardson and Jones practically split the snaps in half, even finishing with the same exact number of pass attempts. Richardson threw two picks and three touchdowns in a good performance, but Florida’s defense got gashed on the ground and they played from behind all day long. There’s enough talent on Florida for an upset, but they haven’t looked cohesive on offense and don’t want to pick a quarterback even though they’re 7 games in. That makes you think coach Dan Mullen is grabbing for straws at this point.
Georgia, on the other hand, has been mauling everyone. Running the ball down everyone’s throat. And suffocating you on defense with a dominant d-line. They have barely been tested this year, and this won’t be the week
#1 Georgia rolls. Getting the Dawgs to the SEC title game healthy is all I ask.
Georgia 38 Florida 14
Ty B: To beat Georgia, you’re going to have to play a low-scoring game. Can Florida keep Georgia to 20 or less points? I don’t think that’s likely after they gave up 49 points to an LSU team that’s been woefully inconsistent.
Georgia’s defense is too good to fall into a shootout with Florida. The Dawgs have yet to give up more than 13 points in a game all season. I don’t see the Gators being the offense to change that.
Georgia 41 Florida 10
Q: But first, we start the day in East Lansing with Gameday and Big Noon Kickoff on hand for #6 Michigan at #8 Michigan State. Nobody thought this would be a battle of unbeaten before the season started. Who ya got: lil bro or big bro?
Jake: This game will be classic knock-down-drag-out, 3 yards and a cloud of dust Big Ten football. Neither team has a great win on their schedule just yet, so they’re both looking to make an impact. They both have dominant rushing attacks and stout defenses. The edge at QB has to go to Payton Thorne of MSU who has been efficient this year and isn’t afraid to push the ball down the fiel. WR’s Jaden Reed and Jalen Nailor are both over 500 yards each on the year and will present the biggest test for Michigan’s secondary this year.
Michigan QB Cade Macnamara hasn’t been asked to do as much. Lucky for UM they have two impressive backs in Blake Coirum and Hassan Haskins, both over 600 and 700 yards this year respectively. Kenneth Walker on the other side for MSU has 997 and has been a workhorse after transferring from Wake Forest (imagine if Wake had him this year…)
The fact is, neither team has played a good team this year. Michigan beat Washington in their big non-conference matchup and Washington is bad. Miami was ranked 24 when Michigan State beat them on the road. Miami is a mess and their coach might get fired. This is the beginning of the B1G round-robin and these times are finally getting tested.
My gut tells me to go with the home team and take the points, but with Penn State letting me down (we’ll get to them) I’m manifesting an 11-0 Michigan hosting a 10-1 Ohio State for The Game so… I guess Go Blue?
Michigan 24 Michigan State 23
Ty B: Hail Sparty! Hail State! What a quick rebuild it’s been for Mel Tucker and company in East Lansing. The better offense wins this one as the Big-10 isn’t just a smashmouth conference anymore!
Michigan State 33 Michigan 27
Q: The #20 Penn State at #5 Ohio State game has lost a bit of luster due to the Nittany Lions; 9OT loss to Illinois. Can they keep up with the Buckeyes?
Jake: This game is always complicated for me. To be honest, my first love in college football was Ohio State. Remember Flat Stanley? Mine visited Ohio Stadium with my uncle. I caught a TD pass in Ohio Stadium when I was young. It runs deep with the Buckeyes. I have a picture somewhere with Archie Griffin’s Heisman. (one of them) My uncle is a professor at OSU and I have some great memories of going to games and visiting Columbus that I cherish.
BUT my parents and brother HATE Ohio State. In our house, loyalties lie with Texas and Penn State.
So obviously this whole idea was to the dismay of my parents as it was happening. There are many Saturdays growing up where I was public enemy number 1 in my house. I took some fat L’’s (2005 Penn State-Ohio State and 2009 Fiesta Bowl Texas-Ohio State). Eventually, as any good son would, I started rooting for Penn State against Ohio State. To this point I have not been properly compensated for that change of heart often. (We’ll always have 2016, PSU fans).
So that’s the short version but as you can tell, this game is always an emotional experience. Even though the Buckeyes have dominated lately (they’ve dominated the entire conference), it’s developed into one of the Big Ten’s premier rivalries. And trust me as someone who has lived in both the heart of Ohio and Pennsylvania, it’s as natural of a geographic rivalry as you can.
So I say all that because unfortunately, I don’t think the game is going to be very interesting. Penn State’s offense has been anemic all year outside of some big plays in the air to Jahan Dotson and others. Dotson is the reason for hope in this game on the offensive side for the Nittany Lions. He might even be the best receiver in this game. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave have gotten all the hype, but Dotson is currently the #1 ranked receiver atop Mel Kiper’s Big Board.
Dotson is going to have to take over against a weaker Ohio State secondary for Penn State to keep pace. Sean Clifford looked iffy last week returning from a rib injury, but coach James Franklin says that he should be close to 100% this week. The Nittany Lions rush offense has been non-existent, can they get something going on Saturday?
The real matchup is Ohio State’s high-flying aerial attack vs. Penn State’s incredibly stout defense. This is the biggest test by far for the Buckeyes offense, which has scored over 40 points since losing to Oregon earlier in the year. CJ Stroud has hit his stride after a tough start to the season, and looks like the Heisman candidate we thought he would be. Penn State’s defense has the athletes to give the recievers trouble, but the injuries to their defensive line will be the matchup to watch. If the Lions can’t get pressure on Stroud, they are in for a long night. They need to be creative in their approach to getting to the QB.
At the end of the night, the Buckeyes will be too much.
Ohio State 31 Penn State 20
Q: Penn State kind of ruined our super B1G weekend, but the Big Ten East round-robin needed a true #4 seed underdog to cheer for so why not Penn State(?). Regardless, how do you think the Big Ten East shakes out? (rank in order)
Jake:
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
Going chalk, but I have no reason to believe Ohio State doesn’t end up winning the Big Ten and making the playoff until proven otherwise. I also think Penn State clips Michigan at home in their “signature” win, Michigan State beats PSU, and Ohio State defeats all three.
Q: #10 Ole Miss visits #18 Auburn in a battle for second place in the SEC West. Ole Miss has to win out and hopes for Bama to slip up (potentially to Auburn, ironically) to take the division. Auburn just has to win out, but that obviously includes a clash with Bama (albeit in Jordan-Hare Stadium). Who ya got?
Jake: When in doubt, trust Lane Kiffin? Truthfully, Auburn doesn’t have the horses to keep up with a healthy Matt Corrall and the Ole Miss offense. This game stays close into the second half, but Ole Miss pulse away late with some big plays and some Kiffin magic.
Ole Miss 38 Auburn 24
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