B50 Predictions

Last Week: Wait a moment, hold on, OK, never mind. For a minute there I thought Indiana scored again. Fortunately the Buckeyes escaped(?) Bloomington with a 52-49 win. Braxton Miller had another great game, at the same time West Virginia was getting destroyed by Texas Tech. Perhaps Miller made up some ground in the Heisman race. Zach Boren was moved to linebacker and lead the team in tackles, a valid testimony to the current state of our defense. Hopefully, the defense improves each game the rest of the year. As for our picks, Brent and Rick both were 5-0 last weekend, which gives Rick the current lead.

This Week: Ohio State has a huge lead in the overall series with Purdue, but you would not know from the past ten years or so. The Boilers seem to have the Buckeyes number but not in Columbus. Can OSU avenge the overtime loss last year and remain unbeaten on the season? .... LSU will try for a second huge conference win as they travel to play Texas A&M. For some strange reason the polls and computers still love the Tigers. The Aggies will be looking to give them their second loss in the conference and turn Les Miles and the boys in to spoilers the rest of the season ... As big as Tigers-Aggies will be, the big game in the SEC (also known as "America's Conference") will be South Carolina at Florida. The Gamecocks need to get back in the division race while the Gators are trying to build on their perfect season and keep pace with the Crimson Tide ... Michigan State will head to Ann Arbor as they have won four straight against rival Wolverines. For the last three years, Michigan was undefeated and ranked when they lost to the Spartans. Will they reverse that pattern this year and give Denard Robinson his only win over Sparty?

Here are our Week 8 Picks - Good Luck to All - Gregg

2012

Record

Purdue @

Ohio State

Bbaver: Pick: Ohio State – Tough to get a read on Purdue; they’ve certainly played poorly as of late, but have caused

problems for OSU the past decade or so. Not so tough to get a read on Ohio State – their offense is going to

score often and their defense is going to keep an opponent in the game. OSU 45 Purdue 28

Gregg: There is absolutely no way Urban Meyer is going to let the defense have the kind of performance they had last week against Indiana. It would not surprise me if Fickell's job is on notice. Purdue has given up 771 yards on the ground the last two weeks.

Expect the Buckeyes to have a big game on both sides of the ball and secure a huge win. Ohio State 49-13.

Joe-S-U: OSU over Purdue- Is it way too much to hope Zach Boren has the same type of effect on the OSU defense that

Chris Gamble had in 2002? Yeah, I know, it's way too much to expect...

Dr. Mark: OSU by 20 we should continue to score. Boren had 11 tackles to lead the team—interesting

that our fullback was the leading tackler.

PJSBuck: Purdue (Purdon’t) at OSU -This SHOULDN’T be a close game but I have a feeling it may solely due to our defense. Purdue

has put up points on offense this year, BUT only when going against weaker defenses. Some thought that Purdue’s DEFENSE might

be a solid unit at pre-season but they have turned out to be vulnerable and have given up a lot of points at times. Michigan

scored 44 and Wisky 38 points and both were losses for Purdue. For Ohio State: Urban Meyer said publicly (again) he was going

to have to get intimately involved in the entire defense this week to try and determine where the problems are. Here are some

clues of defensive problems for us: What does it say about our linebacking corps when Zach Boren can switch mid-year to LB

and in just 5 days of practice become the leading tackler (in just one game) against Indiana?? Answer - depth problems,

injuries and lack of previous player development (at least these). Consistency problems and injuries dilute any team’s

capabilities as well as mess with minds of players. Whether it is inconsistency OR marginal coach/play calling, we are WAY

too passive defense. The TRUE Silver Bullets left when Pagac and Dantonio left. Who knows whether Luke feels he CAN call

an aggressive game due to personnel issues (injuries, youth, etc.). Anyway, this game COULD be another sloppy victory. I say

sloppy only because I doubt if whatever is going on with our defense can be corrected in the last half of this season. In

business, a leader with the performance of Luke Fickell the last two years would be updating their resume.

Prediction: OSU 52, Purdon’t 28. NOTE to team Doctors – get plenty of Prilosec and Tums for Urban.

Pia Pete: The Boilermakers have been a pesky thorn in the side of the Buckeyes for years.

If the defense shows up this will be a beat down.

OSU 44 - PU 28

Coach Rick: Okay, let’s start off with last week, there appears to have been a let down on defense after the Nebraska game.

I personally believe that was the last time we will the defense allow that many points for the rest of the season.

OSU wins by 24 in this game and allows only 3 points.

Steven: Purdue is giving up close to 200 yards per game on the ground this season, and slightly over that through the air.

If the Bucks don’t put up 500 yards on the Boilers at home, then everything is broken. If everything clicks, OSU should

put up over 50. That should be just enough to down a Purdue team that can’t get out of its own way, but will

somehow put up 300 yards of offense against the Buckeyes. OSU 53-24.

Guest Picker - Josh Watson: Ohio State for the win. This one will be a good one and the bitter taste of last weeks close win and the

loss in West Lafayette last year, the defense will want to prove something. Boren as LB? Nice fit for the defense. Expect Miller and

Hyde to rack up the yardage and points, and Philly Brown to do his thing. I would like to see Kenny Guiton play too. His last three

times in were scoring drives, even though we were in the red-zone. Bucks win convincingly

FINAL: Ohio State 29 Purdue 22 OT

(8-0) (3-4)

LSU @ Texas A&M

Bbaver: Pick: LSU – Johnny Football finally gets slowed down by Tiger defense. LSU wins a tight one.

Gregg: I am not buying the Tiger win last week. It was at home and South Carolina may have been looking to their game

in Florida this week. This one is in Texas and it would be a big victory for the Aggies in their first year in the SEC.

Besides I am interested in seeing if the pollsters will dare drop LSU out of the top ten.

Joe-S-U: LSU over Texas A&M- I'm willing to sacrifice this point/pick for the Aggies to once and

for all bury Miles' overrated bunch. Although LSU could lose and move up.

Dr. Mark: LSU by 10 will get big boost from last week’s win but am still pulling for South Carolina to win SEC playoff.

PJSBuck: LSU SHOULD win this but I see a very good and close game on this. I am almost tempted to predict an upset,

oh well what the hell – Prediction: Texas A&M 24 LSU 17.

Pia Pete: LSU has the guns to roll but A&M can put points on the board. Tiger defense is too much.

LSU 24 - A&M 13

Coach Rick: After this game a SEC team drops out of the rankings. Texas A&M was ranked in my top 25, and I am not sure why I had them there, I guess I thought they were still in the Big 12 conference, any way, LSU wins big here in a very lopsided game.

Steven: LSU at Texas A&M – Does anyone really think that LSU is really all that good? They did beat a good South Carolina team,

but the win was far from convincing enough for me to keep them in the top 10, (click here for this week’s Buckeye50.com Top 25).

LSU’s defense is certainly there, but as I pointed out last week, the majority of their wins are against inferior competition. I think

they hit an offense that can overcome them this weekend. If the Aggies can score 24, they win the game. A&M 28-17.

Guest Picker - Josh Watson: I do not like LSU, but I think they are better than A&M. Expect a close game. LSU wins.

FINAL: LSU 24 Texas A&M 19

(7-1) (5-2)

South Carolina @ Florida

Bbaver: Pick: Florida – Appears that Will Muschamp know what he is doing, after a rough ride in his first season.

If Lattimore can’t go, that’s a decent blow to the Gamecock’s chances.

Gregg: This is Meyer's recruits are now figuring out Muschamp's system. This team is a lot better then the team that beat

the Buckeyes last year in a bowl game. Expect Spurrier to put up a fight but in the end, the Florida D wins this one.

Joe-S-U: Florida over South Carolina- Maybe Muschamp can coach a little?

Dr. Mark: Florida by 3 .. I want USC to win but Florida has looked good, Lattimore needs to play better.

PJSBuck: Not much of an SEC fan but this will be just flat out great football to watch. DVR this one! I could create a case

for either team. One hand it is hard to think of South Carolina losing two back to back but it is also hard to think Florida

would lose to SC at home this year. I am going with Urban’s roots. Prediction: Florida 35 South Carolina 28.

Pia Pete: In the Swamp? Gators all the way.

UF 34 - SC 21

Coach Rick: The good news for South Carolina is the schedule gets easier after this game. The bad news for them, they need

to travel in this game. I always look for the best defense and in this game I will go with Florida’s defense to score once

and make the difference here.

Steven: Swamp fever gobbles up another one. Look for the Florida defense to bottle up Lattimore

and make it very rough going for the Ol’ Ball Coach. Gators 28-17.

Guest Picker - Josh Watson: This is where the GameDay is going, and this is going to be a close one, two good defenses, but I

like South Carolina' chances better. I think the Gators will be hyped to play, and even though LSU lost to Florida, who in turn

beat South Carolina, I think Spurrier wants a trip to Atlanta this December. Gamecocks win.

FINAL: Florida 44 South Carolina 11

(7-0) (6-2)

Michigan State @ Michigan

Bbaver: Pick: Michigan – Big Brother finally back on top. Not Sparty’s year.

Gregg: It is very clear MSU has very little offense this year and have depended on their defense just to get to their current 4-3 record. This is a far cry from their preseason expectations as they were picked to win the Big Ten and challenge for a spot in the national championship game. Michigan on the other hand, is starting to bring things together on both offense and defense. If the

Spartans try the cheap shots to try to stop Robinson like they were using against the Bucks earlier this season they

might have a chance. But I expect Denard to have over 300 yards of offense and finally get a victory against the Green.

Joe-S-U: Michigan over Michigan State- If Robinson and Bell are at the top of their games,

this one might be over in about an hour and a half.

Dr. Mark: Michigan by 10- will stick with my Spartan theme that MSU not quite ready for consistent big winning.

How long Michigan can keep winning on Denard’s legs instead of his suspect arm remains to be seen.

PJSBuck: Light up the DVR for this one as well. Michigan’s “D” should take care of the meager offensive threats MSU has at this point. HOWEVER, not too fast, Dantonio and Narduzzi will have the Spartan defense ready to “salvage the season.” Could be close at first but TBGUN pulls away with Denard (a.k.a. Bob Marley of Ann Arbor) and his beautiful strands of canal water dreadlocks having a big day. Prediction: TBGUN 35 MSU 27. Second prediction: Mark Dantonio’s face freezes in a permanent new level of frowning

Pia Pete: GO GREEN! Sparty 21 - TBGUN 17

Coach Rick: Michigan will remain undefeated in the conference after this game. It really is not going

to be that good of a game, unless you are a Michigan fan.

Steven: Neither of these teams are really all that good, but the Wolverines defense is catching up faster to their offense than

Sparty is doing in reverse. Michigan State’s offense won’t be able to outscore Michigan, and their defense, while good,

won’t be able to keep the Wolverines down enough to give their offense a chance. UM 34-21.

Guest Picker - Josh Watson: Painful to pick TBGUN, but I think Denard will get his first and only win against a rival this season. I think Sparty is decent, and defense is good, but Michigan is like Stella and got their groove back. I don't think Maxwell will be able to put

up as many points as Robinson can.

FINAL: Michigan 12 Michigan State 10

(5-2) (4-4)

Kansas State @ West Virginia

Bbaver: Pick: West Virginia – Great matchup here – the best offense in the Big 12 vs. the

best defense in the Big 12. Should be interesting.

Gregg: This is a bad week to be going into Morgantown for the Wildcats. I do not see Geno having two tough weeks in a row. Expect the Mountaineers to get back on track in another wild Big 12 game.

Joe-S-U: W Va. over Kansas State- Some preview I read of this game, written by a spelling-challenged individual, talked about

"Gene" Smith having to have a big day. If only Gene Smith were having a big day somewhere other than Columbus.

Dr. Mark: K state by 7 -- WVA needs to play some defense.. can anyone tell me why WVA didn’t join the Big Ten?

PJSBuck: If you have storage space for more DVR-ing, record this as well. Should be a great and entertaining game. Will provide separation in the Big 12. I think West Virginia was exposed last week against Texas Tech and will also be exposed again this week.

K-State is playing well on both sides of the ball, and giving up only about 16 points per game, even against solid offenses.

I think this will be VERY tight. Prediction: Kansas State 49 WVU 45.

Pia Pete: The Wheels come off the K-State bandwagon.

WVU 52 - KSU 44

Coach Rick: I think the Wildcats are for real this season. With this game a lot of things will happen. One thing is a Heisman

hopeful will be knocked out of the running. The next thing is that K-State becomes in the ranks of a top team for a season.

I think that K-State goes into West Virginia and win 35 to 17.

Steven: Another unbeaten goes down this weekend. I’m guessing the Texas Tech game was an anomaly for West Virginia, and

Geno Smith and the ‘eers will have the offense ratcheted up back at home. He’s still my pick for Heisman. He better show

it this game, or Braxton Miller is going to run away with it. WVU 49-27.

Guest Picker - Josh Watson (8-2): Well, this one is an interesting one. Earlier I called that West Virginia will be going to the beg dance, but like Ohio State, West Virginia can not be one dimensional. I think Kansas State has a good defense, which will bend at times, but I think they have their sights set for the NC game. The have already defeated Oklahoma, and going on a road against a WV team still licking their wounds, I think they will find the opportune time to strike in a close one. As an Ohio State fan, I would like to see Kansas State win to eliminate Geno from the Heisman, but I am also fearful that Klein will jump Miller Time. I am also picking Kansas State

to keep the break up of the SEC in the top 5.

FINAL: Kansas State 55 West Virginia 14

(7-0) (5-2)

(For Entertainment Purposes Only!)