Welcome to the Skull Session.
No more sleeps.
Swing first. Swing fast. Swing hard.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 9, 2023
Then keep on swinging.
Season 2023, Vol. 10 coming soon.pic.twitter.com/QcjOih6PYN
In honor of Veterans Day, I want to thank all who have served in the United States military. You are all heroes. Have a good GAMEDAY.
GET DUMPED THEN, JIM. On Friday, the Big Ten announced that Michigan violated the conference's Sportsmanship Policy and suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh from coaching in the Wolverines' matchups with Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State.
I have seen some call the Big Ten's punishment “weak,” and, to some extent, it is. But it's important to remember that the Big Ten's suspension of Harbaugh is part one of a two-part equation. Sooner or later, the NCAA will complete its investigation, and we could see the National Collegiate Athletic Association tack on additional reprimands to Harbaugh and the Wolverines. I expect to see that happen, and when it does, I believe that it will be the hammer that drops like Mjolnir and pins Michigan down in its unworthiness.
Hopefully, we see that happen.
And, hopefully, we will see Ohio State beat Michigan before it does.
THIS IS (NOT) SPARTA! In a press conference earlier this week, Michigan State interim head coach Harlon Barnett called Ohio State "beatable."
"I know what it is to go down, compete and play hard against these guys," said Barnett, who coached at Michigan State under Mark Dantonio from 2007-17 and Mel Tucker from 2020-23. "They’re beatable guys just like anybody else. We’re going to go down with the mindset to attack them and get a win. That’s my mindset. It will never change. Last week, somebody mentioned spoiler. I’m like, ‘That’s a scrub mentality.' That has never been my mentality, and it will never be.”
But is Ohio State beatable?
In an Al Pacino, "Any Given Sunday" sense, sure. In that sense, The Buckeyes are beatable, as are all college football teams across the United States of America.
But at 7:30 p.m., ANT MEETS BOOT.
Indeed. The 3-6 Spartans meet the No. 1-ranked, 9-0 Buckeyes in Columbus.
Indeed. Indeed. Michigan State, who has suffered blowout losses to Washington and Michigan, meets Ohio State, who has top-10 wins over Notre Dame and Penn State.
Indeed. Indeed. Indeed. Michigan State, whose offense ranks No. 111 and No. 121 in the NCAA at 319.1 yards and 18.2 points per game, meets an Ohio State defense that features JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams and Tommy Eichenberg.
Indeed. Indeed. Indeed. Indeed. Michigan State, whose defense ranks No. 45 and No. 72 in the NCAA at 350.9 yards and 26.6 points allowed per game, meets an Ohio State offense that features TreVeyon Henderson, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
By 11 p.m., ANT WILL BE SMUSHED.
When the scoreboard reaches 0:00, all Buckeye Nation will rejoice — as it should. Over the past three decades, Michigan State has taken much from Ohio State: An undefeated season in 1998, a Big Ten championship in 2013 and another undefeated season (and Big Ten championship) in 2015. That said, there are few JOYS greater than when the Buckeyes beat the Spartans — even after seven consecutive wins for Ohio State.
Tonight, dear Skull Session readers, you will have JOY.
Prediction: Ohio State 44 - Michigan State 3
THE MENU. Outside of Ohio State-Michigan State, the Week 11 college football slate looks scrumdiddlyumptious: No. 3 Michigan at No. 10 Penn State (FOX, Noon) — a must-watch for Buckeye Nation — No. 13 Tennessee at No. 14 Missouri (CBS, 3:30 p.m.), No. 18 Utah at No. 5 Washington (FOX, 3:30 p.m.) and No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Here is the complete schedule for Saturday:
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Alabama at Kentucky | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| Holy Cross at Army | 12:00pm | CBSSN |
| Indiana at Illinois | 12:00pm | BTN |
| Maryland at Nebraska | 12:00pm | Peacock |
| 3 Michigan at 10 Penn State | 12:00pm | FOX |
| Vanderbilt at South Carolina | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Georgia Tech at Clemson | 12:00pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| Virginia Tech at Boston College | 12:00pm | ACCN |
| Texas Tech at 16 Kansas | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| Temple at USF | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tulsa at 23 Tulane | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Old Dominion at Liberty | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UConn at James Madison | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| 21 Arizona at Colorado | 2:00pm | P12N |
| NC State at Wake Forest | 2:00pm | The CW |
| Memphis at Charlotte | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Appalachian State at Georgia State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Troy at ULM | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sam Houston at Louisiana Tech | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Baylor at 25 Kansas State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Nevada at Utah State | 3:00pm | MWN/KJZZ 14 |
| FIU at Middle Tennessee | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Minnesota at Purdue | 3:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| New Mexico State at WKU | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Northwestern at Wisconsin | 3:30pm | FS1 |
| Rutgers at 22 Iowa | 3:30pm | BTN |
| 13 Tennessee at 14 Missouri | 3:30pm | CBS/Paramount+ |
| 18 Utah at 5 Washington | 3:30pm | FOX |
| Pitt vs Syracuse (in Bronx, NY) | 3:30pm | ACCN |
| Miami (FL) at 4 Florida State | 3:30pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| 15 Oklahoma State at UCF | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| UAB at Navy | 3:30pm | CBSSN |
| Texas State at Coastal Carolina | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Auburn at Arkansas | 4:00pm | SECN |
| Washington State at California | 4:00pm | ESPN2 |
| East Carolina at Florida Atlantic | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Arkansas State at South Alabama | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Stanford at 12 Oregon State | 5:30pm | P12N |
| 9 Ole Miss at 2 Georgia | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Cincinnati at Houston | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| West Virginia at 17 Oklahoma | 7:00pm | FOX |
| Georgia Southern at Marshall | 7:00pm | NFLN |
| San Diego State at Colorado State | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| Florida at 19 LSU | 7:30pm | SECN |
| Michigan State at 1 Ohio State | 7:30pm | NBC/Peacock |
| Mississippi State at Texas A&M | 7:30pm | ESPN2 |
| 7 Texas at TCU | 7:30pm | ABC/ESPN3 |
| Rice at UTSA | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| Duke at 24 North Carolina | 8:00pm | ACCN |
| Arizona State at UCLA | 9:00pm | P12N |
| New Mexico at Boise State | 10:00pm | FS1 |
| Iowa State at BYU | 10:15pm | ESPN |
| USC at 6 Oregon | 10:30pm | FOX |
| Fresno State at San Jose State | 10:30pm | CBSSN |
| Air Force at Hawaii | 11:00pm | Spectrum PPV |
MY PICKS.
Last week, I collected a third consecutive 2-1 record ATS.
The wins? Oklahoma State (+6) vs. Oklahoma and Washington (-3) vs. USC, as the Cowboys defeated the Sooners, 27-24, in Bedlam, and the Huskies beat the Trojans, 52-42, in a Pac-12 shootout. The loss? Notre Dame (-3) at Clemson because "Tyler in Spartanburg" helped Dabo Swinney and the Tigers win, 31-23.
2023 RECORD: 17-10
That's pretty good!
Here are three matchups and spreads I have placed Eleven Warriors Bucks (Monopoly Money) on this weekend:
- No. 13 Tennessee at No. 14 Missouri (+1.5): I’m shocked to see the Vols as favorites. I really am. While Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III's status remains questionable, the Tigers aren’t viewed as highly as they should be for a team that took LSU and Georgia down to the wire. Mizzou is at home, and Tennessee is "beatable." I'll take Eleven Warriors recruiting reporter Garrick Hodge's ‘alma mater’ here.
- No. 18 Utah (+9.5) at No. 5 Washington: Washington is back home after a pair of road games at Stanford and USC, where its defense allowed a combined 1,010 yards and 10 touchdowns. That said, I don't believe the Huskies will shut down Utah like Oregon did. Washington wins; Utah covers.
- No. 7 Texas (-10) at TCU: While Texas-TCU will be the Horned Frogs’ Super Bowl, 10 points is too modest of a spread for a top-10 team vs. a 4-5 opponent with losses to Colorado, WVU, Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech. Buckeye Nation's favorite quarterback Quinn Ewers is back in the lineup and running backs Jonathon Brooks and CJ Baxter should be able to run wild and dominate the Frogs’ defense. Hook 'Em.
BACK TO THE BUCKEYES. One more reminder: Ohio State will wear alternate gray uniforms for the Michigan State game. The Ohio State media team has done a lot of work to market them this week, so I collected all the #content and put that #content below:
Bring on the Chaos pic.twitter.com/8VfASi0UIw
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 9, 2023
coming soon pic.twitter.com/6m71JbKYPw
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 8, 2023
A twist on Tradition pic.twitter.com/98eTBpHIF2
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 7, 2023
Our Tradition, Our way pic.twitter.com/gynUrBCdJ5
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 8, 2023
Liked em so much, we put em on some of our #DevelopedHere Bucks
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 10, 2023
@CJ7STROUD @nbsmallerbear @youngchase907 @jeffokudah @Cantguardmike pic.twitter.com/AW1K4a1iGZ
They're just too cleannnnnnnn.
Can't wait to see them under the lights in front of a packed Ohio Stadium tonight.
THE ELEVEN DUBGATE IS HERE. Today is THE day. The 11th Eleven Dubgate will start at 3 p.m. Eleven Warriors, Boren Brothers, Sloopy's BBQ, Tony's Tailgate, Hollywood Imprints, Land Grant Brewing and several other sponsors would love for all Ohio State fans to attend.
The Eleven Dubgate relies on your donations, all of which will benefit Special Olympics Olentangy. Cash and Venmo (@OSSOSTORM) are both accepted. If you cannot attend the event but would still like to donate, use Venmo and type "Dubgate" in the text field. Every donation is appreciated.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses.
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