11W Weekend Update: Sponsored by HATE
With a win, Leach and Harrell can clinch the Big 12 South.After passing off the most boring slate of football to Jason last week, this coming weekend will begin to decide where teams will end up in the bowls.
The television gods have given us a full day of games, starting with The Game at noon.
I don’t recall an Ohio State/Michigan game that has drawn less hype, but it is still the ninth straight season where this game has at least one team that could win a share of the Big Ten title with a victory.
No matter how low RichRod has taken that program, they still have a chance to rise up and knock OSU from a possible BCS game and fourth straight conference title.
National Games
#9 Boise State at Nevada, 4:05PM – No National TV
The Broncos close out the season with this visit to Reno and a home tilt against Fresno State. These two teams played to a 69-67 overtime thriller last year and Nevada lost to Texas Tech 35-19 at home earlier this season, so this game could swing either way. Something tells me though, the BCS is hoping for a Boise loss.
#17 BYU at #8 Utah, 6:00PM – The Mtn. Network
The battle of Mormons takes place in Salt Lake City and will decide the winner of the Mountain West conference. Of course the Utes are looking for an undefeated regular season and a berth in the BCS. BYU lost to TCU in week seven, being held to 7 points, but have still managed to score 400 on the season, while Utah has gone for 401. Each team has won 6 times in their last 12 meetings, with 10 of those games being decided by a touchdown or less.
#18 Oregon State at Arizona, 7:00PM – FOX Sports Regional
Can the Beavers really pull off the PAC 10 title? This is their last road trip, before taking part in the Civil War at home next weekend. Freshman sensation, Jacquizz Rogers leads the conference in rushing and is ninth in the country with 1,233 yards. The Beavers have won 8 of the last 9, but ‘Zona is 4-1 at home, with their only loss coming at the hands of USC, 17-10.
#20 Pittsburgh at #19 Cincinnati, 7:15 – ESPN2
The winner of this game will control their own destiny in the battle for an automatic BCS bid. The Bearcats have played 5 of their last 7 on the road and will close out the season hosting Syracuse and traveling out to Hawaii. This could be the final run for Brian Kelly at Cincy, as he most certainly will be coaching at a larger school next year.
The Stache has his troops positioned for another Big East title, but with games left against West Virginia and UConn, there is little doubt they won’t be there in the end. They do have history on their side though, beating Cincy all seven times they have played, including three inside the Big East.
#1 Texas Tech at #5 Oklahoma, 8:00PM – ABC
Be sure not to get too drunk during the day or plan for a nap, because you obviously don’t want to miss this one. I love Big Ten football, but watching this Big 12 South shake out over the last few weeks has been a treat.
Oklahoma comes in averaging 51.2 points per game, while TT is scoring 47.9. If for some crazy reason you have not seen Graham Harrell play, please set aside some time to watch him. Over the last month, against three ranked opponents, the Heisman front runner has gone 110 for 145 (76%), for 1,316 yards, 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Not to be outdone, Sam Bradford has thrown for 3,406 yards, 38 touchdowns and 6 interceptions this season. The Sooners have failed to score 45 or more points only once this year and have gone for 58,62 and 66 points in their last three games. Will they continue the trend and reach 70 Saturday? It just may take that many points to take down the Red Raiders.
Big Ten Games
#14 Michigan State at #7 Penn State, 3:30PM – ABC
The Big Ten title will be decided in Happy Valley, as a victory for Penn State sends them to the Rose Bowl and will give MSU their 11th straight loss against a ranked opponent. A win by Sparty and the Buckeyes will be making their second trip out west this year.
How much juice does Javon Ringer have left? MSU has played one ranked team (OSU) this year and it was the only time Ringer failed to get at least 21 rushing attempts. His 353 carries leads the nation by 77 and his 20 touchdowns also ranks at the top.
Penn State will look to send JoePa off to his hip replacement surgery with his third Big Ten title. The Nittany Lions have only given up 91 points in conference play and the original white out will be in full effect at Beaver Stadium. For my money, Penn State’s defense was the best OSU has faced all year and if the Bucks shut down Ringer, I don’t see why that would be any different for PSU on Saturday.
Iowa at Minnesota, 7:05PM – BTN
The Floyd of Rosedale trophy is up for grabs, as the Gophers will play their last game in the Metrodome. After going winless last year within the conference, Minny has a chance to finish .500 and could end up with 8 wins, but come into the contest having lost three straight.
Minnesota will have to shut down Shonn Greene if they have any shot of winning. Greene ran for 211 yards against Purdue last week and incredibly is looking to run for 100+ yards in every game this season. His 1585 yards lead the nation and the Gophers yield a 140 rushing yards per game, so the Hawkeyes should be able to roll to their 8th win.
Can it be Saturday already?!
I have been hoping for Boise, Utah and Ball U to lose all year. These teams would have at least 3 losses in a real conference.
“in a real conference” eh?
sounds a lot like what everyone says about OSU when we go undefeated or close to it…
LOL @ Nik- your correct sir
I too wish it was saturday, so we can make some meatchicken stew…..mmmmmmm
Don’t count on me not being too drunk to watch the Oklahoma game….by the time Michigan is leaving columbus I’ll be shitfaced hoping that Sparty can come thru….by the time 8 pm rolls around I will prolly be face down on the floor
Yea… we all know that the SEC and BIG-12 (this year) are the only really tough conferences…. (because CBS and ESPN say so)
No Palm Beach,
MARK MAY SAID SO! and we all know how important and influential his insight is…..
All the Analysts (supposed) forget that Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State have had success vs the SEC
palm beach, i’m not saying it’s true or anything, just saying that we’re talking exactly like the guys from the SEC…
also, probably a stupid question, but does anyone know what channel the game is on? ABC? and it should be nation-wide, right?
SKI>>>>>>>>>Don’t forget about that SEC butt sucker Gary Danielson who will soon be on his knees for the highest bidder when the SEC goes to ESPN in a few years… bye bye CBS
ABC…. Nationwide……. High Noon!!!!!!!!
AH!!!!!
T – 50 hours and 45 minutes!
So guys I was watching a re-run of The Game ‘88 on ESPN Classic last night, well, because I’m a buckeye Homer and was only in kindygarten when it originally aired…but man, Coop LOVED the fullback handoff. I mean he really used it as his Bread & Butter play…dont get me wrong, the line was blocking excellent and they had Frey the Immobile as QB, but that Graham kid was eating up yards on the Miiiiiiiichigan D.
I was genuinly entertained by that game seeing as how I’d never seen it…..and something about lineman wearing armpads….I mean….uhhhhhh…..great game fellas LOL
Please don’t ever bring up Coop’s name again on this blog… the man is an F’ing Jinx…….. he could eat up yards vs Mich and then find a way to lose.
Thanx
Sorry PB-
Your right sir, but my point was that I hadn’t seen more than one fullback handoff in a game since Alstott ‘97
Only kidding Ski..
I agree… I love that play too… Just hate the Coop…. Tress never uses the fullback…. 5th or 6th receiver option maybe… never carries the ball… Only a few times with Brandon Joe.
FB Brandon Smith has seen a few touches this year.
Catches only I mean… I don’t think he has run the ball.
The Best Fullback ever was Nicky Sualua… he blasted huge holes for Eddie George…. Aram Olson was supposed to do that for Beanie, but he was a bust and went down like the Titanic with a stupid foot injury.
No, Tress never hands off to the fullback…. he did that with Brandon Joe out of necessity when MO left the team and we were stuck with Lydell Ross.
Check this out, I was just reading an article on Bucknuts and we have something else to play for on Saturday
“A victory over Michigan would move the Buckeyes into first place in the all-time Big Ten football standings.
Michigan enters Saturday’s game with a slight advantage in winning percentage (72.4 percent to 72.2 percent) all-time. A Buckeye victory would move Ohio State in front (72.283 percent to 72.282 percent).”
Thatsa niiiiiiiiiiiiice
Brandon Joe. Now he was a fullback’s fullback. There’s nothing better than one of those guys crushing a linebacker to spring the tailback loose. One or two of those guys in the 2009 recruiting class, please.
yes… I agree Tom– Beanie has been succeeding in spite of the line and fullbacks– Imagine if we had a good line or fullback!!!
that would be out of HOUND PB
please explain “out of hound”… I have seen it a few times????
Corey!!! Get the link! LOL
Out of Hound = Out of Hand
One of the writers on this gloroius site, made a simple typo that turned into legend
Yeah 11W’s own little internet meme, started as a typo in this article, everyone took it and ran with it: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/11/its-ugly-but-its-a-near-healthy-ugly.html
Thank you… and a legend is born!
“Thank you… and a legend is born!”
Oh, let’s not get out of hound.
Dang. It is a legend!
speaking of recruits…
http://www.freep.com/article/20081119/SPORTS06/81118103
Speaking of recruits…
http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/3708403
Michigan decommit ATH Kevin Newsome may be visiting Cbus for the game. Not a stellar QB at this point but would still be fun taking another player that Michigan wanted.
Thats a vicotory in-itself flip
I read that the other day…. he is a raw athlete that could fit in many places… I love the Mobile, athletic QB’s vs the Statues–way more options and Daniels is great at coaching them!!!!
This guy is on the roster playing DB…. could he get some time as 3rd string QB next year??
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87746&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1383734&Q_SEASON=2008
Could someone please clear this up for my dumb ass, if Ohio St. wins tomorrow they WILL be at least Big Ten C0-Champs, right??
ball,
They will at least be Big Ten Co-Champs with Penn State. Penn State will get the automatic bid. If Michigan st beats Penn State we will still be co champs with Michigan st but we get the automatic bid.
WOW! Brian from MGOBlog really IS a hippie…..I always assumed that was simply smut being thrown his way from liking a shitbag team, but he really is a tree hugger. Thats kinda cool….in a shitty “I would suck off Mike Hart” kinda way
Thanks, and if OSU wins tomorrow, then theyll be some crazy shit goin on I dont know about, cuz tomorrow is Friday.