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Hard to believe that there's only 2 weeks left in the college regular season. It's cupcake week in the SEC. A few big matchups next week but this week there really only is 1 big game so let's get to it
Game of the Week
8 Penn State at 2 Ohio State 12:00 FOX
First off, Fox needs to stop with this nonsense of trying to own the Noon slot by putting their best game there. It is insane that this is a noon game.
Ohio State has looked invincible thus far. Wisconsin is their only ranked win but they have hammered everybody. They have been dominant on offense and defense. No other team can say that. LSU gave up 400 yards rushing last week to Ole Miss. Their defense is suspect. OSU has had no letdown, no close call.
Penn State's offense has struggled because no WR aside from Hamler has made plays. That has limited the offense. On paper, they are loaded at WR with big recruits, but none have stepped up. This week that are listing a walk-on WR from the track team Dan Chisena as one of the starters on the depth chart.
Hamler was knocked out of last week's game with a concussion. He is expected to play but maybe he's not 100%. Even if he is, Penn State still needs another WR to step up because Ohio State won't be stupid like Michigan and leave Hamler one on one with a Safety.
Does Penn State have a shot? Probably not, but PSU has been playing Ohio State close for years even when OSU was a big favorite. But Ohio State has changed their defense. They made it simpler so there are fewer blown coverages.
Penn State's only chance is that Ohio State has not been challenged yet. If they can get an early lead or keep it close, maybe Ohio State starts trying to force big plays. Justin Fields has never been in a close game. Ryan Day has never coached a close game.
The bad news for Penn State is that it is in Ohio State's interest to try to run up the score. Why? Because getting the 1 seed this year could be a huge advantage. It likely means a 1st round matchup vs the Pac 12 champ rather than a date with Clemson, LSU or Ohio State who have looked far better than anybody you could put at #4. You get to avoid that tough matchup and one of those teams knocks out the other. The 1 Seed is huge this year.
As for the Big Ten - the best scenario for them is a last second Penn State win in a great game. Why? Because then it would set up the possibility of 2 Big 10 teams in the playoff. If Penn State went on to with the Big 10 Champ and Ohio State then thumped Michigan, I believe you would have PSU and OSU in the playoff.
Having said all that, I'm hoping Penn State can keep this game within 14. Unless 5 star WR Justin Shorter all of a sudden starts playing like a 5 star, or a bunch of Ohio State mistakes, I just can't see Penn State winning this game.
On to the other far less important games. Pretty ****** week.
Boston College at 16 Notre Dame 2:30 NBC
battle of Catholic schools. Probably a crap game but scraping the barrel this week.
13 Michigan at Indiana 3:30 ESPN
This could be a really good game. Indiana is not great but they are good and if Michigan looks past them to Ohio State next week then this game could be trouble for them. Indiana gave Penn State a tough game. Indiana's offense is good. They handled Penn State's pressure last week and put up 27 points. Michigan is all about pressure. If Indiana can score 27, they have a shot because Shea Patterson is still shaky at times.
Texas at 14 Baylor 3:30 FS1
this game looked better a few weeks ago. Texas has gone downhill. They just lost to Iowa State last week.
UCLA vs 23 USC 3:30 ABC
UCLA needs to win their last 2 to be bowl eligible. USC having a bad year and most expect their coaches to be fired. How up for this is USC? USC fans probably waiting for the offseason where they will be used by a bunch of coaches to get new contracts from their current schools. Hey, USC wants me, you better pay me more to stay.
Game of the Week
8 Penn State at 2 Ohio State 12:00 FOX
First off, Fox needs to stop with this nonsense of trying to own the Noon slot by putting their best game there. It is insane that this is a noon game.
Ohio State has looked invincible thus far. Wisconsin is their only ranked win but they have hammered everybody. They have been dominant on offense and defense. No other team can say that. LSU gave up 400 yards rushing last week to Ole Miss. Their defense is suspect. OSU has had no letdown, no close call.
Penn State's offense has struggled because no WR aside from Hamler has made plays. That has limited the offense. On paper, they are loaded at WR with big recruits, but none have stepped up. This week that are listing a walk-on WR from the track team Dan Chisena as one of the starters on the depth chart.
Hamler was knocked out of last week's game with a concussion. He is expected to play but maybe he's not 100%. Even if he is, Penn State still needs another WR to step up because Ohio State won't be stupid like Michigan and leave Hamler one on one with a Safety.
Does Penn State have a shot? Probably not, but PSU has been playing Ohio State close for years even when OSU was a big favorite. But Ohio State has changed their defense. They made it simpler so there are fewer blown coverages.
Penn State's only chance is that Ohio State has not been challenged yet. If they can get an early lead or keep it close, maybe Ohio State starts trying to force big plays. Justin Fields has never been in a close game. Ryan Day has never coached a close game.
The bad news for Penn State is that it is in Ohio State's interest to try to run up the score. Why? Because getting the 1 seed this year could be a huge advantage. It likely means a 1st round matchup vs the Pac 12 champ rather than a date with Clemson, LSU or Ohio State who have looked far better than anybody you could put at #4. You get to avoid that tough matchup and one of those teams knocks out the other. The 1 Seed is huge this year.
As for the Big Ten - the best scenario for them is a last second Penn State win in a great game. Why? Because then it would set up the possibility of 2 Big 10 teams in the playoff. If Penn State went on to with the Big 10 Champ and Ohio State then thumped Michigan, I believe you would have PSU and OSU in the playoff.
Having said all that, I'm hoping Penn State can keep this game within 14. Unless 5 star WR Justin Shorter all of a sudden starts playing like a 5 star, or a bunch of Ohio State mistakes, I just can't see Penn State winning this game.
On to the other far less important games. Pretty ****** week.
Boston College at 16 Notre Dame 2:30 NBC
battle of Catholic schools. Probably a crap game but scraping the barrel this week.
13 Michigan at Indiana 3:30 ESPN
This could be a really good game. Indiana is not great but they are good and if Michigan looks past them to Ohio State next week then this game could be trouble for them. Indiana gave Penn State a tough game. Indiana's offense is good. They handled Penn State's pressure last week and put up 27 points. Michigan is all about pressure. If Indiana can score 27, they have a shot because Shea Patterson is still shaky at times.
Texas at 14 Baylor 3:30 FS1
this game looked better a few weeks ago. Texas has gone downhill. They just lost to Iowa State last week.
UCLA vs 23 USC 3:30 ABC
UCLA needs to win their last 2 to be bowl eligible. USC having a bad year and most expect their coaches to be fired. How up for this is USC? USC fans probably waiting for the offseason where they will be used by a bunch of coaches to get new contracts from their current schools. Hey, USC wants me, you better pay me more to stay.
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