Friday, November 09, 2007

Get Gamm - Week Ten ...
It's well-established that this race is all about NEXT weekend's OSU v. Michigan match-up. In the meantime, three Big Ten teams are trying to get to six wins and a few are trying to add to six or even seven and step up the end bowl result a notch. With time at a premium for me this week, let's get right down to it...

Schedule:
Indiana at Northwestern
Minnesota at Iowa
Michigan at Wisconsin (tiebreaker)
Michigan State at Purdue
Penn State vs. Temple (Philly)
Illinois at Ohio State

Indiana at Northwestern
Hang on to your hats, this could be a barn-burner. Both teams like to spread it out and can score at will. Neither has a particularly sound defense, though Indiana can get after the passer. IU is bowl eligible but might need one more to be on the safe side. NU needs at least one more and this appears to be the best shot. I like the 'cats to stay alive. Northwestern 38 - Indiana 37.

St. Louis Jeff says ... Indiana finally got their sixth win last week. They can very well keep adding to that total on Saturday with a trip to Evanston. This one could become a shootout (as many NW games are), but I'll still go with Indiana on the road. Indiana 31 - Northwestern 24

Minnesota at Iowa
Floyd of Rosedale is on the line when the Gophers head south to take on rival Iowa. The thing is, Minnesota just isn't a good football team and Iowa was buoyed by that win over MSU and is hungry to get to six wins. It will happen as the momentum carries over for a big Iowa win. Iowa 34 - Minnesota 13.

St. Louis Jeff says ... Iowa is looking to become the 8th Big Ten school to be bowl eligible. They'll get there this week playing the worst team in the league. Minnesota is just plain bad. They really haven't a good game all year (maybe NW). Iowa's defense will dominate. Iowa 24 - Minnesota 10

Michigan at Wisconsin
I know this is a Big Ten blog and all, and that I'm supposed to be objective. But I have to get if off my chest. I have NO respect for Mike Hart and I hate the Wolverines. That said, they have rebounded big time since the disastrous start and no matter what happens in Madison, have a shot at the Rose Bowl and Big Ten title. Wisconsin is hungry to avenge last year's only loss and wants to finish out strong. Going with the home crowd advantage in this one. Wisconsin 23 - Michigan 20.

St. Louis Jeff says ... Michigan is on a roll. Madison is a very tough place to play and after a demoralizing 4th quarter in Columbus, they'll be hungry against Michigan. I still think that Michigan is a touch better overall, so I think they'll pull off a win on the road with Henne and "little brother" Hart. Michigan 37 - Wisconsin 34

Michigan State at Purdue
MSU hasn't won in W-L since 1993. The Spartans are coming off yet another gut-wrenching, heart-breaking loss. Purdue got handled by Penn State but still had a shot at the win. The Boilers are playing for where they go, not if they go. State is fighting for its bowl life. If the Spartans can truly play angry, I can see a win. If not, it could be another trip down heartbreak lane. Going green here... Michigan State 30 - Purdue 28.

St. Louis Jeff says ... After three stinging losses, MSU has to go back on the road to face a tough Purdue team. MSU has been close all year in their losses, and unfortunately, I think they may be on the wrong side of another one this week. I hope they prove me wrong! Purdue 31 - Michigan State 28

Penn State vs. Temple
Yawn. Late season OOC game that means zilch. Temple is better than they've been but still should be no match for Penn State. The Nits still have thoughts of a January bowl dancing in their heads. Penn State 41 - Temple 13.

St. Louis Jeff says ... Penn State gets in a nice little scrimmage before heading to East Lansing next week. Penn State rolls. Penn State 35 - Temple 13

Illinois at Ohio State
This one could be interesting. Ohio State is two games from a second straight trip to the BCS title game. Michigan looms. But here sits Illinois - a team that has some nice wins to its credit this year. The thing is, OSU has such speed on defense that it negates Juice and Mendenhall. Illinois stays close early but it gets outlasted. Ohio State 33 - Illinois 14.

St. Louis Jeff says ... Illinois is having a fantastic year. They'll be going to a good bowl, and have losses to only Missouri (#7 in the country), at Iowa which is a tough place to play, and to Michigan. They will add to that loss total this week in Columbus. Ohio State is by far the best team in the country and will not lose at home. Ohio State wins going away. Ohio State 34 - Illinois 20

2 comments:

Dan Meyer said...

Congratulations, Andy :(

Andy Gamm said...

Thanks Dan. I was nervous until the very end. We bended a lot today, but came up with big plays when we needed to. I have to believe that had we not dropped 8 passes, it may have been even better, but I'll take it!

Good luck against IU.