My Big Ten Picks for the Off Week

The off week can be a hard time for a fan. It happens to be even harder when you have a ranked conference rival to look forward to while also kicking off the Big Ten season. IlliniBeat will break down the game between the Illini and the Buckeyes later this week, but before then let's take a look at some games going on during our break.

Cal at Minnesota Cal's Jahvid Best is one of the top five running backs in the country... hands down. Anybody with a carry average over 10 yards per rush after 2 games has my early vote for a Heisman contender. Minnesota, on the other hand, has one of the keys to stopping a great running game, and that is a middle linebacker with good awareness. Nate Triplett has been very solid in the middle for the Golden Gophers. Through 2 games, the senior has already racked up 26 tackles. In the new stadium, I expect Minnesota to keep it close for awhile in front of a pumped home crowd, but in the end there will be too much Best for Brewster's team to overcome. Pick: Cal

Eastern Michigan at Michigan Last week we saw both of these teams fight hard, and for Michigan, it led to the biggest win in Rich Rodriguez's short Wolverine career (over Notre Dame). As for EMU, a late rally almost earned the Eagles a win over Northwestern before falling 24-27. I had doubts about Tate Forcier, but maybe it was just my pre-existing opinion of him after reading his self-promoting web site www.qbforce.com. I think the version of UM that we saw against Notre Dame is about as good as this team can be, but maybe I will be surprised. Either way, this game shouldn't be close. Michigan will have the advantage at size, speed, and skill. There will be no upset in the Big House this weekend. Pick: Michigan

Northern Illinois at Purdue At this point in the season, Purdue may have the most dynamic offense in the Big Ten. People knew that Joey Elliot was going to be throwing the ball around, but what most didn't expect was for Ralph Bolden to come out with this kind of impact. After only 2 games, the Purdue sophomore has already accumulated 357 yards on the ground with 4 scores. Northern Illinois has looked good this year under Coach Jerry Kill. After giving Wisconsin all they could handle in week one, the Huskies pounded Western Illinois 41-7 last week. If this game were being played in DeKalb, I would tell you that it might start off closer than you think... but it's in West Lafayette. I think Purdue wins by a solid margin as their offense is just too much to stop. Pick: Purdue

Ohio State vs Toledo (in Cleveland) Close but no cigar. Ever heard that before? Ohio State fans have been hearing it all week. The national media loves bashing the Big Ten right now, and whether it is fair or not, OSU has felt the brunt of the heat. I think Greg Tressel's team looks solid on defense. On offense, however, I am still looking to see that sense on consistency. We all know that Terrelle Pryor is a home run threat in the running game, but his passing numbers leave you asking for more. The skill positions are decent as always but there are no Chris Wells' or Ted Ginns which make a defensive coordinator game plan differently. Toledo has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Quarterback Aaron Opelt is tossing for 371 yards per contest, and unlike some other throw happy teams, the running game is also producing a solid 185 yards. Averaging 560 yards per game after facing Oregon and Purdue is impressive. Averaging 42.5 points per game is impressive. Giving up 45 points per game is not. The neutral site isn't a disadvantage for OSU either. I have lived in Ohio, and trust me, this is just a chance for the OSU fans in the Cleveland area to see their boys in Scarlet... The Buckeyes have no shortage of fans in any corner of the state. I'm going with Ohio State here, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this were a close game. Pick: Ohio State

Temple at Penn State This game will come and go, but we will still know virtually nothing about Penn State. If Illinois fans are angry over a schedule that seems a little rough, Penn State fans are complaining over just the opposite. Akron, Syracuse, Temple, and Eastern Illinois all at home. The stats should be jumping off of the page right? Wait a minute... Does preseason All Big Ten Running Back Evan Royster only have 100 yards after two games? That doesn't sound right, but it's true. Penn State fans are concerned that when the cupcakes stop getting paid to lose in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions may find themselves in a tough game with no tough game experience. Temple has been called one of the worst programs in college football in recent years, and I would say that there is zero chance that they pull this upset. Pick: Penn State

Wofford at Wisconsin If you like seeing the passing game in action, then change the channel. Wofford is a very run heavy team who uses the triple option. Quarterback Mitch Allen has only 7 completions on the season and has run for more yards than he has passed for. Wisconsin's running game should have a big, big day. Wofford's defensive line is very young and undersized compared to Wisconsin's offensive front. I think John Clay will have around 150 yards on the ground with two scores and Wisconsin should cruise to an easy win. Pick: Wisconsin

Arizona at Iowa This one is my pick for the underrated match-up of the week for conference teams. The Iowa defense is good as always. The Arizona offense can really run the ball, which any good coach will tell you opens up the offense. Wildcat sophomore quarterback Matt Scott is a name that many people don't know, but he can run a good offense. The win over Central Michigan is looking even better now that CSU has beaten Michigan State. Iowa will will force you to earn your yards every year. The defense is a given. The offense was thought to have taken a big hit when starting running back Jewel Hampton was declared out for the season with a knee injury, but back-ups Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have done a great job stepping up. Say what you want about quarterback Rick Stanzie, but his career record is pretty darn good. If people think that OSU and PSU are the cream of the crop this year in the Big Ten, I think Iowa is just a step behind. The Iowa defense outshines Arizona's run game, and Kirk Ferentz leads his team to another home win at the always rough Kinnick Stadium. Pick: Iowa

Indiana at Akron I would love to pick Akron here in the "upset", but I simply can't do it. Akron's offense is just anemic. When you have beaten punching bag Morgan State 41-0... and your team still only has one rushing touchdown... and it came from your leading ball carrier who is getting a slim 2.1 yards per carry... you have issues. Bill Lynch will be the coach of a 3-0 team with the win, but don't go shooting off fireworks yet. I have watched Indiana play and I have been very underwhelmed. They barely won their first two games against Western Michigan and Eastern Kentucky and when you watch film, their clips seems to be in slow motion compared to other Big Ten teams. I would still be surprised if the Hoosiers won 6 games this year and went to a bowl, but not shocked with the free wins they scheduled. Pick: Indiana

Northwestern at Syracuse Wildcat Coach Pat Fitzgerald graduated from Northwestern in 1996, and Orange coach Doug Marrone from Syracuse in 1985. They now lead their former teams into battle in New York's Carrier Dome. The story of the year for the Orange, of course, is starting quarterback Greg Paulus who transferred from Duke where he played on the basketball team. That's all good and fine for writing a story, but when it comes to winning football games, it's not a good sign when a former basketball player transfers in and is the best quarterback on the team. Northwestern has featured a very balanced offense. The main thing that needs to improve is the passing offense in the red zone. Quarterback Mike Kafka has thrown for 350 yards and a respectable 66% completion percentage. However with no touchdown passes, Kafka's career totals remain 3 touchdowns and 8 interceptions... not a ratio coaches like to see. Pick: Northwestern

Michigan State at Notre Dame This is obviously the game of the week in the Big Ten. After being ranked and anointed as the team that would bring Notre Dame football back to prominence, the Irish fell flat on their faces against the Michigan Wolverines. Let's look at what we know about these teams. Charlie Weis' support was short-lived, and he is feeling the pressure. I don't care who you are, that has to affect your mental state. You can't tell me that when Charlie Weis knew he was about to lose to Michigan, his job security never flashed through his mind. Michigan State has won 6 straight times in South Bend, so no one will be intimidated wearing Green. What do I see as the key here? The Notre Dame passing game should dominate the Michigan State secondary. MSU lost to Central Michigan and stand-out quarterback Dan Lefevour because he was able to carve the Spartans up for over 300 passing yards. I believe that Jimmy Clausen will have a big day and that the Irish will finally snap the home losing streak to MSU. Pick: Notre Dame