Results for the Weak: Week 9

The BCS just got a whole lot more interesting after yesterday. Two previously unbeaten teams dropped games to lower ranked opponents and several others struggled to keep their heads above water. The last 6 weeks of this season is going to be very exciting!

The Big Ten race is just about anyone’s to grab. Four teams are tied at the top with one loss, and there is a very real possibility that we could end with a 3-way tie for conference champion. Incidentally, if there are no head-to-head matchups to consider, we would be left with the BCS standing’s to decide our fate. Whoever decided that was a good idea clearly wasn’t thinking straight.

The Big 12 was suddenly thrown into chaos as well with Missouri falling to Nebraska is fairly convincing fashion. Add to that the continued fail that is the Texas Longhorns and you have a recipe for a conference that is completely different than last season. Baylor now sits atop the Big 12 South standings. Talk about your signs of the apocalypse.

Given the wild and wacky weekend, lets see how our fearless thinkers performed this week!

Thursday, October 28th

#16 Florida State at NC State

Final: NC State 28, FSU 24

I said in the picks that NC State could make a fight of this.  This was a three point game until the Seminoles fumbled the ball with precious little time remaining in the 4th quarter.  The turnover allowed the Wolfpack to score the game winning touchdown.  FSU’s dominance in the ACC has been a bit of a surprise so far this year, considering they only recently got rid of Bowden.  NC State has managed to make things reasonable again.

Eric: Florida State 23, NC State 20

Computers: Florida State 38, NC State 33 (71.3%)

Saturday, October 30th

Northwestern at Indiana

Final: Northwestern 20, Indiana 17

The game was a bit closer than I originally thought.  The Hoosier’s tied it up at the half at 10, but were unable to match Northwestern in the second half.  A fourth quarter fieldgoal for the Wildcats was the difference in this one.  Northwestern may now be bowl eligible, but I’m not certain how many more games they’ll win this year playing like this.

Eric: Pretty Kitties 20, Indiana 13

Computers: Northwestern 32, Indiana 27 (74.3%)

Michigan at Penn State

Final: Penn State 41, Michigan 31

I’m going to have to start giving Penn State a little more respect this season.  They jumped out on Michigan big before letting the Wolverine’s claw their way back into it.  This is simply a sign of Michigan’s continued fail in Big Ten football.

Incidentally, who do you think will be the next coach of the Michigan Wolverines?

Eric: Michigan 38, Penn State 17

Computers: Penn State 37, Michigan 21 (88.1%)

Purdue at Illinois

Final: Illinois 44, Purdue 10

This was an easy call.  The Illini jumped all over Purdue and didn’t even give them a chance to fight for it.  I point out that the computers thought that this would be a close one.  Who were they kidding?

Eric: Illinois 28, Purdue 10

Computers: Illinois 25, Purdue 24 (52.5%)

#17 Oklahoma State at Kansas State

Final: T. Boone Picken’s University 24, Kansas State 14

Apparently Kansas State plays with a defense.  The Wildcats held the Cowboys to only 24 points in the game.  Unfortunately their offense only scored 14 on the previously silly TBPU defense.  After the great start this season, Kansas State is starting to drag a bit and still needs 1 win to get bowl eligible.  With 4 left in the season they’ll probably make it, but it’s getting more and more difficult with each passing week.

Eric: T. Boone Picken’s University 42, Kansas State 28

Computers: T. Boone Picken’s University 39, Kansas State 24 (93.1%)

#8 Utah at Air Force

Final: Utah 28, Air Force 23

I think we know who the best team in the Mountain West is this season – and it’s neither of these guys.  Air Force got crushed last week at TCU, but almost took out Utah in Colorado Springs.  In fact, Utah had to hold off 2 4th and shorts at the end of the game to try to keep the Falcons from continuing drives for the endzone.  Talk about playing it close.  The upcoming Utah/TCU game should be an interesting one to keep your eyes on.

Eric: Utah 48, Air Force 14

Computers: Utah 38, AFA 17 (95%)

#25 Baylor at Texas

Final: Baylor 30, Texas 22

Anyone think Texas isn’t in serious trouble at this point?  They are now 4-4 on the season with games against Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic and Texas A&M on their schedule.  I would not be surprised if Texas only won the FAU game out of the rest of those.  Don’t forget, this is the same Longhorns team that lost to Iowa State the week after beating Nebraska.  That begs the question, when was the last time a national title contender did not end up in a bowl game the following season?  Had to be back when nearly only conference champions went to bowl games.

As for the Bears, this was their first win over Texas since 1997 and gives them the top spot in the Big Twelve South for now.  We’ll see if they can hold on to it.  Very impressive so far this season.

Eric: Baylor 27, Texas 17

Computers: Texas 31, Baylor 24 (67.3%)

#2 Oregon at USC

Final: Oregon 53, USC 32

Well, so much for that upset.  The Trojans played lights out football for most of the game and kept Oregon close until midway through the 4th when the Ducks finally pulled away.  We may yet see a PAC-10  team beat Oregon this season.  The question, though, is who?

Eric: USC 42, Oregon 38

Computers: Oregon 36, USC 20 (86.1%)

#6 Missouri at #14 Nebraska

Final: Nebraska 31, Missouri 17

This one wasn’t even as close as the score indicated.  Nebraska jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter and then simply stuck it in idle the rest of the way out.

Think Missouri was suffering a little bit of a hangover?  Nahhh…

Eric: Nebraska 31, Missouri 20

Computers: Missouri 25, Nebraska 23 (63.4%)

#5 Michigan State at #18 Iowa

Final: Iowa 37, Michigan State 6

Speaking of butt-kickings, Iowa just laid the lumber to the previously unbeaten Spartans.  After scoring 30 unanswered in the first half, the Hawkeyes beat Sparty 7-6 in the second.  This was a disgusting display of football superiority.  One that will leave Michigan State fans in tears for quite a while.

Eric: Iowa 24, Michigan State 23

Computers: Iowa 35, Michigan State 25 (70.3%)

How’d we do?

This was a mixed up week in our picks. Some of us did well on some games, and not so well on others. Here’s how things panned out.

• Eric: 7-3 (55-33 season)
• Jeff: 0-10 (49-39)
• Mali: 7-3 (60-28)
• Jim: 6-4 (58-30)
• Joe: 7-3 (62-26)
• Jay: 5-5 (61-27)
• Rob: 6-4 (13-7)

Come on back in a couple days to see next week’s set of picks!