The Ohio State Buckeyes (3-3 0-2) travel to Champaign after a monumental loss in Lincoln to Nebraska.
The 16th ranked and undefeated Illinois Fighting Illini (6-0 2-0) await them and by the records,Illinois looks to be good shape in this one.
However,a closer look shows one quality team (Arizona State) on the Illinois hit list and a few near misses against lesser opponents.
No doubt that Illinois has plenty of firepower,but Braxton Miller will start at QB for Ohio State.
If Miller plays as he did against Nebraska before being injured and can play the entire game,I like the Buckeyes chances...
Texas Tech (4-1 1-1) hosts 17th ranked Kansas State (5-0 2-0) in Lubbock after suffering their first loss of the season 45-40 in a wild game against Texas A&M.
Texas Tech lost leading rusher Eric Stephens for the season to a knee injury against the Aggies and someone will have to step up and replace Stephens,if the Red Raiders are to maintain the run/pass balance that they have used this season.
K-State is a ground based team,so the Tech run defense might make the difference in this one.
Again as in most Tech games-look for lots of scoring...
Boise State ( 5-0) makes its Mountain West debut in Fort Collins against Colorado State (3-2 1-0).
CSU is weak against the pass-Look for another huge game for Kellen Moore.
Boise has been rolling against better teams than the Rams,so name your score...
Bowling Green (3-3 1-1) hosts its hated rival Toledo (3-3 2-0) in the battle for the peace pipe.
Toledo,who could be 5-1 with a break at Ohio State or least 4-2 with competent officiating at Syracuse, is along with Western Michigan-the class of the MAC.
BG lost to the Broncos last week and test the Rockets this week,
The game of the week is out west with 18th ranked Arizona State (5-1 3-0) hits Eugene and the ninth ranked Ducks (4-1 2-0).
LaMichael James is iffy for the Ducks,but ASU lost their only road test this season in Illinois....
The Cleveland Browns (2-2) are in Oakland and the 3-2 Oakland Raiders.
The Browns might not have Alex Mack,a key part of the offensive line or Joe Haden,the only player on the team that can cover someone.
Unless Jason Campbell plays like the Washington version of Jason Campbell,I look for lots of puzzled looks for Pat Shurmur on a long afternoon....
The game of the week is in Detroit?
Yep,the surprise bowl is at Ford Field as the 5-0 Lions host the 4-1 49ers.
Something tells me that this one looks closer than it will be on the field and of the two,I believe that the Lions are the more talented team....
Our picks
Ohio State over Illinois 17-16
Kansas State over Texas Tech 36-33
Boise State over Colorado State 53-10
Toledo over Bowling Green 35-17
Oregon over Arizona State 42-24
Raiders over Browns 27-14
Lions over 49ers 30-16
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