It was a tougher slate of games for the Big Ten in the second week, but the conference came out 8-3, losing by just 7 combined points in the losses. Unfortunately, MSU was one of the victims in said losses. I, also, was 8-3 for the week, accurately called all of the games except for MSU vs. Central Michigan (obviously), Minnesota vs. Air Force and Western Michigan vs. Indiana. For the season I am 18-4.
Syracuse vs. Penn State
Prediction: Penn State wins 51-7
Result: Penn State wins 28-7
Penn State controlled the game but didn’t dominate it offensively as I thought they would, but beat the regardless Orange 28-7. The Nittany Lions had 240 yards through the air but only gained 78 yards rushing.
Fresno State vs. Wisconsin
Prediction: Wisconsin wins 21-18
Result: Wisconsin wins 34-31
I really felt like this one was going to be close, and it sure was. Wisconsin was down four with about 5:45 remaining when they scored a TD and went ahead by three points. But Fresno State kicked a field goal with :20 to go sending the game into overtime. The Bulldogs then threw an interception in the second OT, opening the door for Wisconsin to kick a field goal and win the game 34-31.
Eastern Michigan vs. Northwestern
Northwestern's Stefan Demos kicks the game winning 50-yard field goal against Eastern Michigan in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 27-24. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Prediction: Northwestern wins 35-3
Result: Northwestern wins 27-24
Northwestern took control early, leading by as much as 18 points going into the half. But the EMUs rallied back, scoring a touchdown in the third quarter and two TDs in the fourth to tie the game. Northwestern still had one drive left in them, as they took the ball down the field and with :06 left to go in the game booted a 49-yard field goal to take the lead and seal the win.
Iowa vs. Iowa State
Prediction: Iowa wins 28-17
Result: Iowa wins 35-3
Iowa State got on the board first, but it was all Hawkeyes after that, as Ricky Bobby Stanzi completed 18-for-34 and 197 yards with 4 TDs. Hawkeye freshman running back Brandon Wegher helped to solidify Iowa’s rushing attack with 101 yards on 15 carries with one TD.
Western Michigan vs. Indiana
Prediction: Western Michigan wins 24-21
Result: Indiana wins 23-19
It was another crazy finish in this one, as Indiana did everything they could do to throw this game away and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Midway through the 4th quarter, Indiana decided to kick a field goal on 4th-and-short to take what would have been a 9-point lead. But the kick was blocked, and Western drove down the field to the Indiana 5-yard line. But the Bronco quarterback was hit behind the line and fumbled the ball, with the Hoosiers recovering. Game over, right? Wrong. The Indiana punter would step out of the back of the end zone, giving Western one last chance. The Broncos ran the old hook-and-lateral play with :23 to go, but couldn’t get into the end zone and fell to the Hoosiers 23-19.
Notre Dame vs. Michigan
Charlie Weis wonders if it's time to head to the Old Country Buffet yet. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Prediction: Michigan wins 24-21
Result: Michigan wins 38-34
In the Battle of WhoNeedsItMore, Michigan took the early lead 14-3 after the first quarter. But Notre Dame picked apart the Michigan secondary in the second quarter, scoring 17 points and going into the half with the lead 20-17. After two more Michigan touchdowns, Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clauson threw a 21-yard strike to Golden Tate. Instead of kicking the extra point, the Irish decided to go for the two point conversion to bring the game within a field goal, and effort that proved to be unsuccessful. ND would score another TD though, again going for the two point conversion, this time with success. But with :11 left, Forcier threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Greg Matthews and Michigan won 38-34.
Central Michigan vs. Michigan State:
Prediction: MSU wins 31-17
Result: CMU wins 29-27
What went wrong? Oh let us count the ways.
Air Force vs. Minnesota
Prediction: Air Force wins 31-28
Result: Minnesota wins 20-13
In case you haven’t caught this by now, I’ve subtly been dogging the Gophers all season. So much has been said about the new stadium, it’s as though no one realizes that stadiums don’t win games, players win games. And, apparently, Minnesota’s players won a game in the new stadium. Or maybe the stadium won the game, hell I don’t know. Minnesota trailed 10-3 going into the fourth quarter, but two touchdowns and a field goal later and the Gophers were solidly in the lead, finally winning the game 20-13
Illinois State vs. Illinois
Prediction: Illinois wins 38-10
Result: Illinois wins 45-17
Illini quarterback Juice Williams was injured on the first drive of the game, but backup Eddie McGee lead the Illini to a 45-17 win against the overmatched Redbirds.
USC vs. Ohio State
Brutus frustrated, grrrrrr. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
Prediction: USC wins 34-24
Result: USC wins 18-15
Ohio State played tough the whole way, but it was the final USC possession that won the game, as Matt Barkley handed off to Stafon Johnson for a 2-yard touchdown to take the lead 16-15. USC then added a two point conversion to go up by a field goal, and that’s how things ended.
Purdue vs. Oregon
Prediction: Oregon wins 28-10
Result: Oregon wins 38-36
Purdue went tit-for-tat with Oregon at Autzen, but a failed two point conversion prevented the Boilers from tying the game as the Ducks bounce back to win 38-36.
This Week: 8-3
Overall: 18-4
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