OT-Upset Alert, Wisky>OSU and Illini>MSU
Let's do some golf channel analysis and give a Solid or Shank response for the upsets described below.
Wisky over OSU - Solid or Shank?
I call this the upset game of the week in the Big Ten. Wisky keeps getting better over the weeks and i think they have OSU's number.
Illinois over MSU - Solid or Shank?
Ok, by now you're asking, is this really an upset call? Umm, maybe considering the Illini record at the time being. I threw it in just because i think Sparty will continue to self destruct after their superbowl victory last week. The Illini are looking to make something happen with a new QB at the helm and likely see MSU as the sucker they have been waiting for.
Of course, we can discuss an upset victory over Iowa but we have done that enough on here already.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
about OSU and their chances of winning games but I'm bored. I can't see Wisconsin going into the 'Shoe and winning. Tolzien has looked impressive but that defense is going to eat the Badgers alive. Wisconsin's defense will keep it (sort of) close but the Bucks pull away early and never look back. Shank.
Illinois could finally get their first win over a FBS team! Honestly though, Illinois has looked just awful in every game this year against the FBS. Here's to hoping Illinois gets it together and wins at home. This is a more solid upset bid than the last game, though, and I hope the Illini pull it off.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^
I agree with both somewhat, but Wisconsin may have a better chance than you think. If they get it rolling early it could be interesting. MSU will have a letdown but Illinois is terrible. Maybe...
October 5th, 2009 at 7:54 PM ^
and wait for the game to play out. Wisconsin is improving every week so this could be a breakout game for them.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
Wisconsin's win at home over MSU was the best game that the Badgers have played in about two years. I don't think that their MSU home win was representative of much of anything. They didn't exactly repeat the performance against Minnesota. There is absolutely no reason to suspect that they will beat OSU in Columbus. UW is a 13/14-point underdog.
I also see no reason to think that Illinois, with Juice Williams benched (?!), will dominate the Spartans. Nobody seems to know how to handicap Illinois this year; they are +4.0 points versus MSU, and so it is not a huge upset if they do win. But I don't see Illinois winning if they are that desperate at the QB position.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
Why the hell is Illinois so terrible? Weren't they coming into this season with high hopes before throwing up a dud against Missouri? Talk about a let down if you're Juice Williams - he never could put together a whole season...
October 5th, 2009 at 10:45 PM ^
And it rhymes with "Schnook".
October 6th, 2009 at 12:03 PM ^
Look?
Took?
Nook?
Rook?
Cook?
Hook?
What is it?!?!?
What is it?!?!?
October 5th, 2009 at 8:08 PM ^
Solid for Wisconsin over OSU and Shank for Illini versus MSU.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:11 PM ^
will bounce Bucky. OSU is the best defense in the Big 10 by far and they will go unbeaten most likely.
I actually like the Illinois over MSU pick. I'm not convinced Sparty proved anything this past weekend except that they only truely care about one game.
They are still undersized almost everywhere, they are still prone to turnovers and make undisciplined mistakes with penalties.
Add in the usual big emotional letdown after beating Michigan and you have trouble.
After beating Michigan
2008-- win by 1 over UW
2001-- lost to Indiana a 5-6 team
1999-- lost to Purdue 52-28, a 7-5 team
1995-- beat a 2-9 Indiana team
1993-- lost to Ohio State
October 5th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
They completely laid down to not just Purdue as you mention but also to Wisconsin the week after (40-10) to blow any chance they had at the Rose Bowl.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:16 PM ^
seems unlikely
October 5th, 2009 at 8:22 PM ^
No way Bucky is beating Brutus in C'bus.
If MSU is going to Illinois, I'll go with it. MSU can't be very good if they barely beat Michigan. If the game is in Lansing, I'll go with Sparty.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
I think Illinois is going to play with fire under their ass considering discussions surrounding Zook's job security.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:53 PM ^
Badgers won in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Only the 2003 win was in Madison. Tressel's only 3-3 against Wisconsin, but 2-0 against Bielema. Last year's game in Madison was close, though--Pryor scored the game-winner with 1:08 left in a 20-17 win.
I would expect Ohio State to win because of their overall advantage in talent, but if the Badgers can rattle Pryor a bit I think they stand a chance.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
Barry Alvarez comes down as cameo-coach. I don't know that ole Barry's dominance over JT (or Coop FTM) is relevant to the current dynamic.
A close (ATS fail) game (-14 right now, wtf?) but I have yet to be impressed by their (UW) defense. ~363 ppg against so-so competition. TOM at +5 (7f, 8int) which makes their 24.6 papg even more questionable.
The OSU front 7 keep the ground game in check. Front 4 keep enough pressure on Tolz to force throws into coverage. Coleman being back will help.
I think OSU dominates TOP with a grinding rushing attack and takes up big chunks via PA. 24-17.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:23 PM ^
I think there's a pretty good chance that State curb stomps Illinois. They might be the worst team in the Big 10.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
I think Zooker has his team fired up and ready to go...MSU goes down saturday
October 5th, 2009 at 8:50 PM ^
Zook can fire them up as much as possible but it doesn't change the fact that the dude can't coach.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
The Bucks seem to struggle with Wisc. over the years, if Wisc gets the power running game going look out. Wisc. 28 OSU 24
Juice is benched and has been horrible. New QB and Benn needs more stats to be a top draft pick. Prediction: Benn has a huge day against a poor Sparty secondary. Ill 34 MSU 24.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^
is exactly based on OSU's struggle with Wisky over the last 6 years. They are 3-3 against the Badgers, with two of those loses happening at the Shoe. Beware Brutus, three times a charm.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:44 PM ^
Good lookin joelrodz. This has been a pretty even series since 99. I like my pick even bettter now. A power run game to soften that D line and now the Bucks will have to respect the pass against a pretty damn good qb. Go badgers!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
Just because I am going to the Wisconsin OSU game with a die-hard OSU fan I REALLY hope Bucky wins
October 5th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
I think Wisconsin will give OSU a game, but I don't know if they'll pull it off.
Illinois may beat MSU. They've looked awful but they have too much talent to be this bad all season, even with Zook coaching them. At some point they're going to get it together - and MSU is due for its post-UM letdown.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
Wiscy will likely put up a good fight against OSU. Wiscy's weakness is at pass defense (80th nationally), and OSU (97th in passing) doesn't seem capable of really exploiting it as much as other teams in the Big 10. Both teams' strength lies with their running games, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Wisconsin have some success against OSU's vaunted defense, especially if they have some success with play action to the TE Graham. Ultimately, I think OSU will pull out the win, even though this might be one of those games where Pryor throws for 150 yds on 10/25 passing and has a couple nice runs sprinkled amongst general ineptitude.
As for MSU-Illinois, I think MSU will be down for this game a bit, but Illinois is pretty bad. Of course, one does have to remember that the Illini just played OSU and PSU in successive weeks, two teams with top-15 defenses. I still Illinois is the inferior team, but I do expect them to put up some points on MSU and make a game of it. MSU will probably pull the game out, but you would have to be a masochist or an alumni to actively watch this game.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
Don't know if it's been mentioned, but Juice has been benched. EDIT: Yes it has.
Their new QB isn't good either. Illinois is terrible. MSU should win by double digits. Wisconsin is good, but won't win @OSU. If it was at home it might be a close game.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:19 PM ^
I wonder if Illinois has an MSU game clock in their locker room, and that's why they have sucked against everyone else this year?
Seriously, though, I'm looking for a Sparty letdown. The only question is whether it will be enough for what has turned out to be an ill Illinois team to take advantage of.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:24 AM ^
That really pisses me off is even if Michigan State looses the rest of their games they still beat us. THATS what really (and I quote peter griffin) grinds my gears...
October 6th, 2009 at 3:28 AM ^
Not sure, but both are good calls. My prediction is that Wisconsin will win a share of the Big Ten. They might drop a game to someone (OSU even), but they are getting better every week and are a well rounded team. John Clay is starting to put up monster numbers and Tolzien is a major upside surprise. They could easily go through the Big Ten with only one loss and I do not think anyone is going to be undefeated.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:40 PM ^
...but I don't think so.
I was at the OSU-Wisconsin night game in Madison last year, and it was not anywhere near as close as the score suggested. The Buckeyes had them in hand.
Again, going by what they showed in their game against MSU, Wisconsin looked like a Big Ten contender. But I think any regular observer of the Badgers would concede that that game was one of their best in recent memory.
Wisconsin's wins over the Buckeyes in the last ten years have been mostly minor and/or major self-destruction efforts on the part of OSU. Fumbles, interceptions, penalty mistakes, etc.
I agree with you that Wisconsin has some good things going for it. Clay is in the first tier of strong, reliable RB's in the Big Ten. Gilreath can hurt you. Toon is a weapon -- sometimes, when they can get the ball to him. And the big thing, just as you say, was Tolzien's breakout game versus MSU; but that was Tolzien's ONLY effort like that this year. What I saw in the MSU-UW game was an uncannily perfect bunch of play-calling by UW on both offense and defense. It seemed as though the UW coordinators never guessed wrong. I think the Badgers are a good team, and a team that can play with anybody if they get good breaks, but they were freakishly fortunate against MSU.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:35 PM ^
If you were at the game last season, how'd you forget that Wisconsin had the lead with 2 minutes go?