Voice of the Hawkeyes Board

Wisc.- Neb. I think this stays close through the first half. More or less trading punches. Nebraska will be able to find success on the ground for awhile, but eventually they will have to pick up the pace, and Martinez will force some plays through the air. Both teams have average defenses at best, and both will be exposed this weekend. Wisconsin does not have the type of weapons outside that the so called "experts" say they do. Wilson, and the respect other teams have for the run game, is what makes the outside guys look good. Toon is decent, the rest are average. Dennard vs. Toon will be a good matchup to watch. Wisky is even lacking the above average TE that they always have. But... they can still pound, and Wilson gives them a dimension with his feet which makes them difficult to defend. I just don't see Nebraska getting the kind of stops needed to go score for score Wisky, and relying on Martinez to throw his way back into the game in the 2nd half will end up ugly. Camp Randall is too tough to overcome at night for the Bugeaters, high scoring game, I'm going 48-30 Wisky.

MSU-OSU MSU has looked good playing bad teams (Fl. Atl., Y'town St., C. Mich.) but in there one game against a decent defense (ND), there O-line deficiencies showed through. MSU averaged only 1.3 yards per rush that game, and ran for less than 30 yards total. I like Cousins throwing the ball, but I see the OSU defense getting him moving around with the pass rush. OSU has there own offensive demons, but Miller is getting better every week, and they should be able to piece together enough offense at home to get the win. 23-17 Buckeyes

Upset of the week - Northwestern (+8.5) should be able to do enough in Persa's first game back to knock off the Fightin' Zook's. Illinois has been skating on thin ice a few times this year, turnovers will doom them in this one.

Nebraska @ Wisconsin is the one I really want to see. Wisconsin's SOS is pathetic. Two of their FBS opponents this year have already lost to FCS schools, Oregon St to Sacramento St and UNLV to Southern Utah. Their toughest game so far is what? Northern Illinois? So its easy to see why they have looked so good. Now they get to play a team that is more than just willing to smack them in the mouth, they are able to.

Nebraska on the other hand has not looked as polished on offense, or defense for that matter, against their opponents. It will be interesting to see if they can come up with some turnovers on defense. Tino Martinez is going to have to play a near perfect game for the Huskers. Not just in terms of not turning the ball over, but making the right reads and adjustments. He's also got to make the big plays.

Wisconsin will get a huge lift being a primetime game on National TV. The crowd will be rocking and rolling. Game will be close, but I like Wisky 24-20.

OSU vs MSU? yech...two flawed teams, but OSU has the better athletes and MSU is @ Columbus. OSU in a romp. 28-7 Enjoy it Buckeye fans, three straight losses are headed your way.