The 'eliminator' that is Week 11 is upon us and the MAC takes their act to prime time. Well on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night that is. I have fond memories of a "Tuesday Night Tussle" on ESPN8 at Waldo Stadium a few years ago. Too bad the rest of the country couldn't care less about MAC football. Clearly the MAC games are not what we're focusing on as MSU nows has new life in the B1G Legends division and all eyes are on Penn State for all the wrong reasons as their first place football team takes on the Huskers. We even preview a Big East game this week. Let's get to it...
B1G-
Iowa +3 vs. Michigan State
Northwestern -17 vs. Rice
Penn State +3.5 vs. Nebraska
Purdue +7.5 vs. Ohio State
Minnesota +27.5 vs. Wisconsin
Illinois +1 vs. Michigan
ACC-
Georgia Tech -1 vs. Virginia Tech
Clemson -17 vs. Wake Forest
Boston College +3 vs. NC State
Virginia -10 vs. Duke
Florida State -9 vs. Miami (FL)
BIG EAST-
Syracuse +3.5 vs. South Florida
Louisville -3 vs. Pitt
Cincinnati -3.5 vs. West Virginia
MAC-
Toledo -12.5 vs. Western Michigan
Bowling Green +6 vs. Northern Illinois
Temple -13 vs. Miami (OH)
Central Michigan +7 vs. Ohio
Eastern Michigan -3 vs. Buffalo
Akron +6 vs. Kent State
SUN BELT-
Troy OFF vs. North Texas
Arkansas St OFF vs. LA-Lafayette
LA-Monroe OFF vs. Middle Tennessee State
FIU OFF vs. FAU
Marcus says...
Iowa +3 vs. Michigan State
Christmas came early for Sparty last week as Iowa knocked off Michigan while Northwestern shocked the Huskers leaving MSU alone in 1st place in the B1G Legends division. The Spartans control their own destiny for a spot in the inaugural B1G title game and the home stretch starts with the Hawkeyes. Sophomore RB Marcus Coker leads the Iowa offense and has been terrorizing defenses with 8 TDs in his last 4 games. Junior QB James Vandenberg has been a tremendous game manager, even showing signs of play making ability at times. As for MSU, the defense will come to play it just depends on which offense shows up. If the offense that showed up in Iowa City in 2010 comes to play, expect the worst. MSU came in undefeated and lost 37-6. Early feeling is that D’Antonio won’t let that happen 2 years in a row and Sparty gets it done.
Penn State +3.5 vs. Nebraska
It’s difficult to avoid the reprehensible stories of abuse, perjury, and inhumane actions coming out of State College, PA these days. The Nittany Lion football team certainly didn’t have anything to do with how the grown men in the administration acted but they will ulitmately have to overcome the colossal distraction. They are facing a Husker that was shocked at home against Northwestern last week. QB Taylor Martinez had one of his best games of the year through the air, but was contained on the ground along with RB Rex Burkhead. QBs Dan Persa and Kain Colter were able to take apart the Nebraska defense en route to the win. I expect to see a distracted Penn State team run into an angry Nebraska team looking to rebound.
Georgia Tech -1 vs. Virginia Tech
The Georgia Tech team that was once seen as a contender showed up last week to bring Clemson back down to reality. QB Tevin Washington got it done on the ground rushing for 176 yards and 1 score with RB Orwin Smith getting into the end zone twice for the ‘Jackets. The Georgia Tech defense forced Clemson QB Boyd into 2 INTs and really kept the Tiger offense in check. Virginia Tech is 1 game ahead of Georgia Tech in ACC Coastal standing and would like that cushion to be 2 games. The Hokies won a defensive battle against Duke last week. In what Vegas sees as a Pick ‘Em game in the ATL Thursday night I see the Yellow Jackets utilizing the home field advantage and getting it done.
Cincinnati -3.5 vs. West Virginia
The ‘Nati has taken over the distinct honor of the only ranked team out of the Big Least after winning back to back road games over teams we used to write about: South Florida and Pittsburgh. Senior QB Zach Collaros has 22 total TDs this season and is bonafied dual threat. The defense has been uncharacteristically stout giving up only 19.5 points per game, good for 18th in the country. West Virginia had BCS in their sights until dropping a game against Louisville last week giving them 2 losses in their last 3 games. QB Geno Smith is the real deal, but the Mountaineers may have dug too big of a hole for themselves to get into the BCS. Despite that, West Virginia is the better team and gut feeling is they get the Bearcats on the road.
B1G-
Iowa +3 vs. Michigan State
Northwestern -17 vs. Rice
Penn State +3.5 vs. Nebraska
Purdue +7.5 vs. Ohio State
Minnesota +27.5 vs. Wisconsin
Illinois +1 vs. Michigan
ACC-
Georgia Tech -1 vs. Virginia Tech
Clemson -17 vs. Wake Forest
Boston College +3 vs. NC State
Virginia -10 vs. Duke
Florida State -9 vs. Miami (FL)
BIG EAST-
Syracuse +3.5 vs. South Florida
Louisville -3 vs. Pitt
Cincinnati -3.5 vs. West Virginia
MAC-
Toledo -12.5 vs. Western Michigan
Bowling Green +6 vs. Northern Illinois
Temple -13 vs. Miami (OH)
Central Michigan +7 vs. Ohio
Eastern Michigan -3 vs. Buffalo
Akron +6 vs. Kent State
SUN BELT-
Troy OFF vs. North Texas
Arkansas St OFF vs. LA-Lafayette
LA-Monroe OFF vs. Middle Tennessee State
FIU OFF vs. FAU
Marcus says...
Iowa +3 vs. Michigan State
Christmas came early for Sparty last week as Iowa knocked off Michigan while Northwestern shocked the Huskers leaving MSU alone in 1st place in the B1G Legends division. The Spartans control their own destiny for a spot in the inaugural B1G title game and the home stretch starts with the Hawkeyes. Sophomore RB Marcus Coker leads the Iowa offense and has been terrorizing defenses with 8 TDs in his last 4 games. Junior QB James Vandenberg has been a tremendous game manager, even showing signs of play making ability at times. As for MSU, the defense will come to play it just depends on which offense shows up. If the offense that showed up in Iowa City in 2010 comes to play, expect the worst. MSU came in undefeated and lost 37-6. Early feeling is that D’Antonio won’t let that happen 2 years in a row and Sparty gets it done.
Penn State +3.5 vs. Nebraska
It’s difficult to avoid the reprehensible stories of abuse, perjury, and inhumane actions coming out of State College, PA these days. The Nittany Lion football team certainly didn’t have anything to do with how the grown men in the administration acted but they will ulitmately have to overcome the colossal distraction. They are facing a Husker that was shocked at home against Northwestern last week. QB Taylor Martinez had one of his best games of the year through the air, but was contained on the ground along with RB Rex Burkhead. QBs Dan Persa and Kain Colter were able to take apart the Nebraska defense en route to the win. I expect to see a distracted Penn State team run into an angry Nebraska team looking to rebound.
Georgia Tech -1 vs. Virginia Tech
The Georgia Tech team that was once seen as a contender showed up last week to bring Clemson back down to reality. QB Tevin Washington got it done on the ground rushing for 176 yards and 1 score with RB Orwin Smith getting into the end zone twice for the ‘Jackets. The Georgia Tech defense forced Clemson QB Boyd into 2 INTs and really kept the Tiger offense in check. Virginia Tech is 1 game ahead of Georgia Tech in ACC Coastal standing and would like that cushion to be 2 games. The Hokies won a defensive battle against Duke last week. In what Vegas sees as a Pick ‘Em game in the ATL Thursday night I see the Yellow Jackets utilizing the home field advantage and getting it done.
Cincinnati -3.5 vs. West Virginia
The ‘Nati has taken over the distinct honor of the only ranked team out of the Big Least after winning back to back road games over teams we used to write about: South Florida and Pittsburgh. Senior QB Zach Collaros has 22 total TDs this season and is bonafied dual threat. The defense has been uncharacteristically stout giving up only 19.5 points per game, good for 18th in the country. West Virginia had BCS in their sights until dropping a game against Louisville last week giving them 2 losses in their last 3 games. QB Geno Smith is the real deal, but the Mountaineers may have dug too big of a hole for themselves to get into the BCS. Despite that, West Virginia is the better team and gut feeling is they get the Bearcats on the road.
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