By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
Six Huge Ten groups had been ranked within the second CFP rankings, with two of the West Coast colleges included: Oregon at No. 8 and USC at No. 17.
If the playoffs had been to start this week, the Geese could be joined within the playoff discipline by Ohio State and Indiana, who maintained their rankings of first and second, respectively.
The 4 groups from the West had some up and down performances final week.
Oregon and USC bought a pair of wins, because the Trojans pulled away from Northwestern and the Geese gutted one out in opposition to Iowa.
On the opposite facet of issues, UCLA hung powerful with Nebraska whereas Washington was shocked by Wisconsin.
This week, 16 Huge Ten groups are in motion throughout eight convention video games. Every week we take a look at six convention video games with a give attention to colleges from the area, plus two others.
The 2 video games we skip this weekend are Michigan touring to Wrigley Subject to fulfill Northwestern, and Indiana internet hosting Wisconsin.
Count on loads of motion on the bottom within the first contest, and count on a Michigan win. In the meantime, the dominant Hoosiers will show approach an excessive amount of for the Badgers.
And with that here’s a take a look at the six Huge Ten video games we’re highlighting.
N0. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 17 USC Trojans
Saturday, November 15
12:30 PM PT, Huge Ten Community
Line: USC –6.5
Over/Below: 49.5
This one pits a few elite items head-to-head.
The USC offense is second within the nation with a Huge Ten greatest 503 yards per sport. The Iowa protection is fourth within the nation, yielding simply 250.2 yards of offense per sport.
One thing has to provide.
Iowa’s protection is limiting opponents to simply 13.7 factors per sport, they usually induced every kind of issues for Oregon final week.
Jayden Maiava has been stellar this season, and he has been capable of do harm each together with his arm and working the soccer when wanted.
The flexibility of Lincoln Riley’s offense is an enormous distinction from current years. And the Trojan offense is much from a one-trick pony.
Makai Lemon leads the Huge Ten with 937 yards receiving, and King Miller can beat groups on the bottom.
Iowa’s sport in opposition to the Geese was extraordinarily bodily, and the lengthy highway journey may very well be problematic over the course of the sport.
USC has been superb at dwelling this season and that benefit may very well be huge: The Trojans are undefeated within the Coliseum (5-0), outscoring Huge Ten opponents 114-61 in LA.
Relationship again to 2021, Iowa has misplaced 12 in a row vs. ranked opponents; that streak will run to 13 when it’s over.
The Hawkeyes are strong in all three phases, and their protection can be an issue for the Trojans, however USC does sufficient to win and get the duvet late.
In opposition to the unfold: USC
Factors Whole: Below
Outright winner: USC
Maryland Terrapins at Illinois Combating Illini
Saturday, November 15
12:30 PM PT, FS1
Line: Illinois –14.5
Over/Below: 53.5
Imentioned at the beginning of the season that the Terps might have to get to a bowl sport this season or it may sign the tip of the Mike Locksley period in Faculty Park.
Properly, following the loss to Rutgers final week, Maryland is sitting at 4-5 on the season with a go to from Michigan subsequent week, adopted by a visit to MSU.
Evidently, the Terps discover themselves up in opposition to it, and this highway journey to Champaign looms massive.
I nonetheless have loads of religion in Malik Washington, and the true freshman has been strong all season, however has not had loads of assist round him on the offensive facet of the ball.
UMD might want to lean closely on their younger QB on this one.
Illinois doesn’t have an amazing move rush, and the Illini protection is horrible on third down.
Washington might want to make loads of performs if the Terps are to achieve success—and the Terps might want to keep forward of the chains.
A vibrant spot for Maryland on protection has been taking the ball away. The Terps are second within the nation with 17 interceptions this season.
Luke Altmyer is finishing 70% of his passes for Illinois, and the senior is aware of the best way to deal with the ball. He can’t get baited into forcing dangerous throws on Saturday.
The Illini can even make the most of a Maryland run protection that’s not good.
Kaden Feagin may have a breakout sport working the ball and search for Altmyer to achieve yardage on some designed runs.
Illinois ought to win this one comfortably and draw back within the second half.
In opposition to the unfold: Illinois
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: Illinois
Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans
Saturday, November 15
12:30 PM PT, CBS
Line: Penn State –7.5
Over/Below: 49.5
Choosing a sixth sport to write down about this week was tough.
We’re leaving the No. 2 crew within the nation alone as Indiana faces Wisconsin coming off an upset win.
Michigan and Northwestern presents loads of intrigue and the Cats’ floor assault may make it attention-grabbing.
However for me this one, for the Land-Grant Trophy appears to be essentially the most attention-grabbing of the three choices.
Positive, each groups are at present entrenched in six-game shedding streaks, however hey, somebody has to get the win this week.
Penn State confirmed loads of struggle within the shut loss to Indiana final week and the Lions have an opportunity to complete sturdy and find yourself in a bowl sport by working the desk down the stretch.
Ethan Grunkemeyer regarded strong in simply his third profession begin in opposition to the Hoosiers final week, and the PSU floor assault was superb.
That floor sport ought to have the ability to take this one over.
MSU has allowed 187.5 dashing yards per sport during the last 4 video games and that can be distinction. Penn State will get the win whereas the Spartans proceed to slip.
In opposition to the unfold: Penn State
Factors Whole: Below
Outright winner: Penn State
Purdue Boilermakers at Washington Huskies
Saturday, November 15
4:00 PM PT, FS1
Line: Washington –16.5
Over/Below: 53.5
Washington is coming off a tough loss to Wisconsin final week and the Huskies might have are available in just a little too overconfident.
That shouldn’t be the problem this week in opposition to the Boilermakers.
It additionally received’t harm that Washington is not going to must face the Badgers run protection once more, both.
Whereas Purdue doesn’t have almost the defensive acumen the Badgers provide, they do have Barry Odom directing the ship and a little bit of a blueprint from final week.
Wisconsin performed loads of zone and had been capable of maintain Demond Williams bottled up and in entrance of them.
Search for Purdue to deploy the identical scheme in an effort to decelerate the Huskies floor assault.
The issue is the Boilers haven’t been nice at stopping the run this season and it hardly appears they are going to be in a position fully cease the UW offensive assault.
Final week, Purdue did a reasonably good job of taking the run sport away from Ohio State and the Buckeyes beat up on them with the move.
Search for Denzel Boston, if he is ready to play, and the opposite Washington receivers to search out smooth spots within the zone this week. The UW passing assault will take no matter Purdue offers them.
If the Huskies can begin quick and set up issues early by means of the air—and get Jonah Coleman (additionally questionable) happening the bottom—they might put this one away early.
In opposition to the unfold: Washington
Factors Whole: Below
Outright winner: Washington
UCLA Bruins at No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday, November 15
4:30 PM PT, NBC
Line: Ohio State –31.5
Over/Below: 48.5
The Bruins have completed a great job of holding collectively and persevering with to battle by means of a tumultuous season.
At 3-6, UCLA may nonetheless change into bowl-eligible had been they to run the desk, however that might require an enormous highway upset this weekend.
The final time Nico Iamaleava performed in Ohio Stadium, issues didn’t go so scorching for him and UT within the playoffs final December. The QB struggled to throw the ball and located little room to run, ending with 47 yards on 20 carries.
He did discover the tip zone twice, nonetheless, and if he can duplicate these scores this week, it is perhaps a reasonable success.
The Buckeyes have solely allowed 100+ dashing yards as soon as in a sport; within the opener, Texas tallied 166.
UCLA goes to have a tough time working the ball, however the Bruins will seemingly want Iamaleava to make some performs on the bottom, both by design or by improvising.
The issue is, the Bucks is perhaps even higher in opposition to the move.
Solely Illinois has thrown for 200+ in opposition to them they usually have held 4 of their 9 opponents to underneath 100 yards by means of the air.
Ought to the Bruins discover away to maneuver, the ball they might want to cope with Julian Sayin and an OSU offense stuffed with playmakers.
If the Bruins are to maintain this one attention-grabbing, they’ll have to create a number of turnovers and a few explosive performs on offense.
The OSU protection doesn’t hand over loads of huge performs, although.
This season the Buckeyes have allowed the second-fewest performs of 10 and 20+ yards this season, and no one has allowed fewer performs of 30+ yards than Ohio State.
As for these turnovers, the OSU offense has solely given it up six occasions this season, the third-fewest in America.
In opposition to the unfold: Ohio State
Factors Whole: Below
Outright winner: Ohio State
Minnesota Golden Gophers at No. 8 Oregon Geese
Friday, November 14
6:00 PM PT, FOX
Line: Oregon –25.5
Over/Below: 44.5
This contest, sandwiched between the emotional win at Iowa and a go to from longtime rival USC, has all of the markings of a possible lure sport.
Oregon could be clever to not overlook the Gophers. It is a sneaky good Minnesota crew.
However Dan Lanning is a grasp motivator, and I feel he’ll be sure that the Geese are ready.
Minnesota will depend on a bodily working sport and attempt to management the time of possession.
Oregon has been good in opposition to the run this season. Final week, the Geese restricted a potent Iowa floor assault to simply 2.35 yards per carry.
If Oregon’s entrance seven can restrict Minnesota’s floor assault and maintain the Gophers from managing the clock, the sport may get out of hand in a rush.
It additionally will imply Oregon can give attention to the move and convey the strain.
Nonetheless, If Minnesota is ready to transfer the ball on the bottom it is going to open issues up for Drake Lindsey to throw the ball.
The freshman QB has thrown for 222.5 yards per sport in Minnesota’s six wins and simply 136 per outing within the three losses.
Minnesota has completed an amazing job of stopping the run this season however has had some points in a number of Huge Ten video games. Oregon ought to have the ability to management the road on offense and produce.
Backside line, Oregon wins and they’ll draw back late, however the Gophers may cling round longer than lots of people count on.
In opposition to the unfold: Minnesota
Factors Whole: Below
Outright winner: Oregon
writes about varied subjects for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and information, school sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Middle (SERC).
